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TNT JOURNEY: Ultimate Resbaker Arabelle dela Cruz’s captivating run to the Tawag ng Tanghalan Grand Finals

Article (news)

Gerry Plaza

<div> </div><div> </div><p>Her mesmerizing beauty and captivating voice may be overwhelming but the fighter in her truly made her a fierce competitor through the grueling stages of <a target="_blank" href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tawagngtanghalan"><u><strong>Tawag Ng Tanghalan</strong></u></a>. </p><div> </div><p>And now, Arabelle dela Cruz, “<em>Ang Maanghang Lupet ng Kantahan Ng Laguna</em>”, entered the Grand Finals, emerging as one of the two last qualifying Ultimate Resbakers marching to Ang Huling Tapatan next week.</p><div> </div><p>As Hurado Ogie Alcasid pointed out, she’s a “<em>star</em>” that won’t be missed. And truly she showed every piece of it through her journey on <a target="_blank" href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tawagngtanghalan"><u><strong>TNT</strong></u></a>.</p><div> </div><p>When we were first introduced to her, we were already spellbound by her beauty queen looks, enamored by cooking skills yet bamboozled by her love for spicy food.</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MyRXQUHD8qk" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>But nothing quite prepared us with the way she rendered Rihanna’s “<em>Halo</em>” for the first time that truly impressed us all, and led her to take the Golden Microphone for the first time.</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NiRyW7yhE3I" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>And eventually became the daily champion.</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6EPOz2zG3fc" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>She would then defend her throne the best possible way, with her version of Christina Aguilera’s “<em>Beautiful</em>”</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fTQRKngYBsk" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>And retain it for the second day</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zrEcj5KbMyk" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Arabelle would then still take hold of it for the third straight day with a heartwarming rendition of Bette Midler’s “<em>Wind Beneath My Wings.</em>”</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/__WAJ-Uv1fg" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NYCaMCyWyzY" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>And then she made it four in a row with this astounding interpretation of Whitney Houston’s “<em>I Will Always Love You</em>”</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhcKgNRw6Ig" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uV4FHmaPvgg" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>She then baffled everyone with her range and reach when she sung Leonard Cohen’s “<em>Hallelujah</em>” in the most inspiring way.</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y84LxXS53GE" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>And her fifth straight reign as defending champion made her a semifinalist.</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZYoc1rdr7b8" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>The streak goes on and Arabelle went on to the next level with her soulful rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s “<em>One Night Only.</em>”</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fwk7Wb2dBt4" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>And this made her keep the crown for the sixth day.</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nW4qm8gVv9E" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>And, Arabelle never lost her touch for the seventh day with her stirring version of Adele’s “<em>When We Were Young.</em>”</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dq-D8lcIOz0" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Remaining as the defending champion for the seventh time.</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AtAc8wWZDvc" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Arabelle then faced a formidable challenge on the eighth day as champion, but she still weathered it and came up victorious with a winning rendition of Rivermaya’s “<em>Himala.</em>”</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m1pfdbkKELg" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>And kept the crown</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g5FzjbRuD6M" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>But then on the ninth day, she still gave a wonderful performance of Adele’s “<em>Someone Like You</em>” but her reign ended when the challenger from Visayas Ignacio Ondoy became the new champion with his impressive version of Dan Hill’s “<em>Sometimes When We Touch.</em>”</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lf7b7rPpfKE" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LzjtOGEN9rY" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Arabelle would still astonish everyone in the semifinal round but was not enough to earn a seat to the Grand Finals, until the biggest opportunity came for yet another chance at glory, the Ultimate Resbak. Here, she got the chance to again vie for that prestigious slot in <em>Ang Huling Tapatan</em>.</p><div> </div><p>Emerging on the seat of power on the final showdown, Arabelle gave this incredible, moving version of Christina Aguilera’s “<em>Hurt,</em>” which even brought hurados to tears.</p><div> </div><div><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="545" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3HC2inrRTcs" width="969"></iframe></div><div> </div><p>And, after text and online votes from the Madlang People came in and tabulated together with hurado scores, Arabelle finally became a Grand Finalist!</p><div> </div><p>Wishing Arabelle the best in the final stop of her journey in <em>Ang Huling Tapatan</em> all next week on <a target="_blank" href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/tawagngtanghalan"><u><strong>Tawag ng Tanghalan</strong></u></a> on <a target="_blank" href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/itsshowtime"><u><strong>It’s Showtime</strong></u></a>.</p>

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