MANILA, Philippines - "The X Factor Philippines" finalists Allen Sta. Maria, Kedebon Colim, Jeric Medina, Gabriel Maturan and grand winner KZ Tandingan on Wednesday shared their love for their second "father," Concert King Martin Nievera, one of the mentor-judges of the hit talent show.
The finalists praised Nievera for his generosity such that he even allowed them to stay in his house.
On ABS-CBN's morning show "KrisTV," finalists revealed that they been staying in Nievera's house for two months already.
"Not weeks, two months na siguro," Colim said.
According to Nievera, he had to fix the attic for his adopted kids and even furnished it with a TV set, video games and other stuff.
Nievera admitted that he fell in love with the young singers.
"I love these kids. I fell in love with them. I fall in love with people I work with, that's something I try to make that I sure I do. With the production, the people behind us, the cameramen, I fall in love with them, especially how many months we were together, every day together. So we've fallen in love with each other. I was given the Boys category and I adopted them as sons and it's so much fan," Nievera explained.
After the show, Nievera said that his "kids" are still very much welcome to stay in his house.
"If they want, they are more than welcome. The third floor is there. It's all theirs," he said.
KZ finds new dad
Guesting on the morning show, grand winner Tandingan also admitted that one of the most important lessons she got from the show came from Nievera.
Tandingan said Nievera taught her that it's very important that she should always listen and to always keep her feet on the ground.
"Sabi niya dapat daw tandaan talaga na as an artist you should always learn to listen. Kahit na 30 years siya sa industry, marami pa din kailangang matutunan. At saka 'yung there are no small gigs. Kahit two minutes lang at kahit gaano ka-short 'yung performance na ibibigay sa iyo, always make sure na you make the most out of it kasi kailangang ma-remember ng tao na ganoon ka as a performer," Tandingan said.
The grand winner also became teary eyed when she was asked to give her message to Nievera.
"Dad, salamat po. Kasi sa mga panahon na hindi namin nakakasama si Charice kasi busy din siya sa paggawa ng materials namin sa 'X Factor' ay in-adopt niyo kami hindi niyo kami pinabayaan. Tapos kahit wala ang family namin, you never made us feel na kailangan naming ma-homesick," she said.
Tandingan, a 21-year-old aspiring singer from Digos who almost lost her voice from a throat problem in high school, was named the first winner of “The X Factor Philippines” on Sunday night at the Pagcor Theater.
Tandingan, an early favorite on the latest ABS-CBN talent search, bested Maturan and the group Daddy’s Home during the show’s star-studded season finale after garnering 54.77% of the total viewers’ votes.
source: abs-cbnnews.com
