Negrense Joshua Augustine Pineda bagged the prestigious Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World and the Junior Grand Vocalist of the World titles at the 2011 World Championships of the Performing Arts in Hollywood, California, Saturday, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday.

Pineda, 11, and in sixth grade, plays the role of Chito, Michael V‘s son, in GMA-7′s situational comedy Pepito Manaloto.

He is the son of sales engineer Augusto Pineda and Jesusa Pineda, a former English teacher of the University of St. La Salle high school in Bacolod City, who are from Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

Jesusa said her son began singing Gospel songs when he was four and later performed at malls, hotels and corporate events.

Joshua was enrolled at the grade school of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College in Talisay City and went to church at the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

He is now enrolled in a home study program at the Victory Elijah Schools Systems in Antipolo City.

When he joined the Young Voices of Negros they performed at the Assumption College in Makati City two years ago and he was discovered by television personality, Kuya Germs, who gave him a role in the Pepito Manaloto show on GMA, his mother said.

Jesusa said she resigned from her job at USLS to watch her son in Manila, and she and her husband were overjoyed to see him win in the world championship. We watched the show on the internet from the Philippines, she said.

His winning song was Frank Sinatra’s “They can’t take that away from me”.

But his mother also said his favorite Gospel song is “Upon this Rock”.

Marañon and Sagay Mayor Rafael Leo Cueva also said they are very proud of Joshua’s achievement.

Ever since he was small Joshua has shown that he is very talented, we wish him all the best for the future, the mayor said.

Joshua’s parents thanked Marañon and Cueva for helping make it possible for their son to go to the United States to compete.

They also thanked Grace Morizawa, John Raymond Castiller, Wilson Maghari and Ferdinand Tordecilla for taking care of their son before, during and after the competition.*CPG

source: Visayan Daily star

King of Hollywood – Joshua Pineda makes his mark at WCOPA

MANILA, Philippines – Another batch of talented Pinoy entertainment hopefuls have made their mark in the prestigious World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA).

Kapuso child actor Joshua Pineda triumphed in this year’s WCOPA—which ran from July 15 to 24 and held in Hollywood in Los Angeles, California—by winning the Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World and the Junior Grand Vocalist of the World titles.

According to a report on GMA News, Pineda is a third grade student hailing from Negros Occidental who is a regular cast member in the comedy “Pepito Manaloto,” which airs on GMA Channel 7.

The same report also stated that Pineda started singing at an early age, memorizing gospel songs when he was only four years old—performing the same pieces at malls, hotels, and corporate events.

Meanwhile, sand art artist Joseph Erwin Valerio, more known as “Joseph The Artist,” was named Variety World Champion in WCOPA, according to a report in “Paparazzi,” Sunday, July 24.

The same report cited that another Pinoy, Joshua Davis—also known as “The Yoyo Tricker”—bagged the Junior Variety Grand Champion plum.

Davis and Valerio were respectively crowned Ultimate Talentados in the first and second season of TV5′s “Talentadong Pinoy.”

The WCOPA is, according to its official website, an “Olympics-styled competition developed as an outlet for aspiring international performers eager for “experience, education, recognition and networking opportunities.”

The WCOPA was founded by Griff O’Neil in 1996. It is already on its 15th year.

Filipinos that have made their mark in the competition before include singers Jed Madela (2005 Grand Champion Performer of the World) and Rhap Salazar (2009 Junior Grand Champion Solo Vocalist of the World and  Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World).

source: Manila Bulletin july 28, 2011