Despite the usual break during Holy Week, ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown Grand Champion’ Carmelle Collado remained active—not on the concert stage, but in church service.
The 17-year-old singer from Sipocot, Camarines Sur returned to her hometown as early as Holy Wednesday to participate in religious activities close to her heart. She attended a local procession, joined the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday for the Diocese of Libmanan priests’ renewal of vows, and is scheduled to take part in various liturgical events throughout the week, including Good Friday and Black Saturday ceremonies.
On Easter Sunday, April 20, Carmelle will sing the responsorial psalm ‘Ito ang Araw’ before heading back to Manila to prepare for her first international performance in Saudi Arabia.
Her unwavering faith and commitment to the Church have earned praise online, especially as she remains grounded despite her growing popularity. “Nakakatuwang very dedicated si Carmelle sa kanyang pagiging Sagrado Katoliko,” said one admirer. “Kahit marami nang nakakakilala sa kanya, tuloy pa rin ang kanyang mga church activities.”
Carmelle is set to perform on April 23 and 25 at the first-ever Al Khobar Season in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held at Al Khobar Askan Park. The four-day cultural celebration themed ‘Passport to the World: A Step Into Your Homeland’ will showcase Filipino talents and OFW performers.
This marks a major milestone for the young singer, who continues to rise after winning ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown’ with a powerful rendition of ‘A Natural Woman’ by Aretha Franklin, scoring the highest grade of 98 from the judges.
A student at King Thomas Learning Center, Inc., Carmelle’s journey to success began long before ‘TNT’. She competed in ‘The Voice Kids Philippines’ Season 4 in 2019 under Kamp Kawayan and became a finalist. That same year, she made history at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in the U.S., taking home seven gold medals—the most for any Filipino in a single year.
However, her momentum slowed down during the pandemic. “Noong nag-pandemic, tumigil ang pasok ng trabaho kaya naman pinili ko munang mag-focus sa pag-aaral,” she shared in a past ‘It’s Showtime’ episode. “Ang Tawag ng Tanghalan ang nagbigay sa akin ng second chance para ipagpatuloy ang aking pangarap.”
Even her ‘TNT’ journey had its setbacks—Carmelle was initially eliminated but returned through the ‘Resbakbakan’ round. She stunned both the judges and the audience with her comeback, earning a spot in the finals and eventually claiming the crown.
