Protege David John Llanas believes his being part of the Final 20 was providential

David John Llanas is one of the 20 Protege aspirants. I'm sure many of you would like to know more about the Protege from Cagayan de Oro. In a recent interview, David John shared his audition experiences.

David John Llanas

19 years old, Cagayan De Oro City (Mindanao)

4^th year, BS Psychology

Protégé of Phillip Salvador

TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW

(exclusive to bloggers)

David is supposed to be graduating from college this October, but he has to take a respite from what would have been his last semester in school since he joined Protégé. He plans to complete his last semester in college, though, after the competition.

How did you learn about the audition?

“Nasa school po ako nun, I was helping the college freshmen in organizing their organization trip po kasi yun po yung last day ng org-trip namin sa school po. Parang pa-welcome namin sa mga freshmen, especially sa mga Psychology majors*. Sinabihan po ako ng girlfriend ko na i-try ko daw mag-audition kasi kagagaling lang din niya nun sa audition pero hindi po siya nakapasok. Tapos sabi ko, ‘wag nalang, di na siguro ako makakahabol kasi mga 2:30pm na nun e.’ Pero sabi niya at ng iba kong mga co-officers ‘sige na, David, i-try mo lang, wala namang mawawala pag sinubukan mo e’.”

*David is an officer of their college’s B.S. Psychology organization. He is an academic achiever in school.

“Na-convince nila ako kaya umuwi muna ako, malapit nang mag-3:00pm noon (4:00pm was the cut-off for the auditions). Yung bahay kasi namin malapit lang naman sa school kasi lumipat kami doon matapos kami ma-Sendong sa dati naming tinitirhan. Tapos nung nasa bahay na ako, hinanap ko yung birth certificate ko. Ang suwerte ko nga e kasi sa aming lahat sa pamilya, yung birth certificate ko lang ang hindi na-damage ng Sendong.”

“Tapos sinabi ko sa girlfriend ko, ‘samahan mo ako.’ Sabi naman ng girlfriend ko, ‘wag nalang kasi parang bitin na sa oras, next time nalang.’ Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘OK lang yun e di kapag dumating tayo doon tapos hindi na ako umabot, ibig sabihin hindi talaga ‘yun para sa akin.’”

The audition (first screening) was held at the SM Cagayan de Oro.

“Nung nag-aabang na kami ng taxi, tatlong taxi ang dumaan sa amin pero lahat may mga sakay. E malapit nang mag alas-4 nun kaya sinabi ko na kapag ang susunod na dadaang taxi sa harapan namin ay may sakay, back-out na tayo. E may dumaan na taxi – pero may sakay nga. Give up na sana ako kaya lang sinabi ng girlfriend ko, ‘wag muna, mag-antay daw muna kami ng isa pa at kapag may sakay ulit ‘yun saka kami hindi tutuloy. Tapos may dumaan na taxi – this time, wala nang laman, kaya tumuloy na kami.”

“Pagdating namin sa registration area, tatlo nalang kaming nakahabol sa audition at ako nalang yung nag-iisang lalaki dun sa tatlo. Tapos nag-audition ako at exactly 4:00pm and there were about 400 or 500 auditionees.”

David made it to the initial screening and was called-back a week later for the second screening held at SM Davao. A few days later, he received news that he was part of the Final 20 proteges (one of four from Mindanao).

“Na-realize ko po that this is God’s plan. Kasi from the very start, wala naman po talaga akong planong mag-audition tapos parang lahat ng pinagdaanan ko from day one until now parang God really made a way para mapunta po ako dito – yung birth ceritificate, yung taxi, yung cut-off n asana pero nakapasok ako – lahat yun. Kaya thankful po ako.”

Note:

Catch the daily updates on the lives of each protégé from Monday to Friday (evenings) on Inside Protégé hosted by Jennylyn Mercado on GMA-7 and the online webshow Protégé Pa-Like hosted by Maxene Magalona available on GMA Network Protege.

Watch the weekly live gala nights hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Carla Abellana every Sunday, 8:30pm on GMA-7.