By Glen Andrea Omandam
Fourth-year Silliman University (SU) Chemistry student Danica Paalaman won this year’s Sillimanians Got Talent (SGT) title in her first-ever singing competition, besting seven contestants last Aug. 21 at the Hibalag grounds.
Paalaman sang her winning piece, “Ang Buhay Ko” by Asin, which her mother chose to represent her journey from the province of Valencia to Dumaguete City.
The song is a reflective song about personal freedom, life’s struggles, and choosing one’s own path through music with lyrics conveying a sense of self-awareness and determination.
She also dedicated her piece to her parents who became the inspiration for the performance because of their sacrifices and acceptance.
“They’re the one who raised me, they’re the one who knows me, what I am and still even though I’m part of the LGBT+ community, they still accepted me as who I am,” she said.
Meanwhile, the SU Student Government (SUSG) Advocacy Committee Co-Chairperson Tisha Roen Retuerto said the committee prioritized the selection of this year’s judges.
“We wanted to have a well-rounded set of judges. That’s why we settled with having one instrumentalist, one singer, and one dancer,” Retuerto said. “We had a diverse set of judges who can bring us a diverse set of opinions.”
SGT 2025 Champion Isabel Garsuta, Silliman Idol 2025 Champion Alriz Gonzales, and Artistic Director of Sidlakan Dance Company Vic Nocete comprised this year’s panel of judges.
Retuerto also said SGT received more auditions this year compared to last year, increasing from seven to nine contestants, which included one duo.
“It really shows that not only do Sillimanians have such incredible talents and pieces but they’re artists that deserve these platforms to showcase their art [and] talent,” she said.
Meanwhile, SUSG Advocacy Committee Co-Chairperson Leo-jee Lagas said they saw SGT as a platform to showcase the diverse talents of Sillimanians to both new and returning students.
“There was a lot of anxiety [on] our part if we could really present that to the student body. And I believe that through our preparations, we saw so much talent, saw so much potential,” he said.
The annual talent-based competition held during the Hibalag Booth Festival is organized by the SUSG Advocacy Committee.
