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Stars morph into fans as Archuleta drops by GMA


MANILA, Philippines - And the stars morphed into fans when David Archuleta wowed the crowd at GMA Network’s “SIS" on Thursday. As the first runner-up of "American Idol Season 7" whisked the red carpet, hordes of adulating fans, mostly relatives of GMA employees, became amateur paparazzi clicking their digital cameras and camera phones to freeze the image of the adorable 18-year-old celebrity with a mega-watt smile. A burst of confetti and screams soon followed. Carmina Villaroel, one-third of the "SIS" hosts who was visibly mesmerized by Archuleta’s charm, asked for water during the first commercial break. "Pwede bang humingi ng tubig, nauuhaw ako [Can I ask for water, I’m thirsty]," Villaroel was heard saying over the microphone after shaking hands with the ex-Idol crooner. Villaroel’s co-hosts, sisters Janice and Gelli de Belen, soon took out their digital cameras and asked Archuleta for a few pictures. Soon enough, every time the live "SIS" broadcast paused for commercial breaks, the trio began inviting their children, who like their mothers, were squealing giddily. 'Armed' fans They were the luckier ones. Actress Chynna Ortaleza only managed (at first) to hand out her copy of Archuleta’s self-titled debut album to a "SIS" staff pleading to get it signed. Other celebrities like "Starstruck" avenger Rich Asuncion, fashion designer JC Buendia, couple Jan Marini and Gerard Pizzaras, and Sherilyn Reyes were seated with over 800 fans and GMA employees and executives cramped inside GMA Networks’ newest studio, all armed with high-tech SLR cameras. Reyes even managed to “stalk" Archuleta through the 17th floor of GMA’s main building and had him pose with her son for a few cutesy shots. Villaroel played Good Samaritan to a few fans and volunteered to have their memorabilia and album covers autographed by Archuleta. But Archuleta’s handlers were not so keen on the idea. One of them took the fan-made tributes and kept them until Archuleta was off stage. “I’ll try to have them signed. I’ll really try," Villaroel whispered to a fan. ‘SIS-teria’ The one-hour welcome party became a mini tribute with La Divas – Jonnalyn Viray, Maricris Garcia, and Aicelle Santos – singing The Beatles’ "The Long and Winding Road," which Archuleta sang in the early stages of Idol last year. Archuleta was impressed: “That was amazing, you guys sing so beautifully. Wow!" The three maintained their composure (even as Archuleta himself quizzed them some more about their singing histories), took his compliment, and left the stage, just like real divas. But when the cameras stopped rolling, Viray, Garcia, and Santos returned on stage with their digi-cams and snapped it away with Archuleta. After Kyla's second tribute song, "And I Am Telling You," the R&B princess, like a smitten fan, quickly approached Archuleta. "Picture…teka lang, please [Wait, picture please]!," Kyla said when her time was up on stage. In one of the many candid moments of the show that morning, Villaroel volunteered her camera and took Kyla’s picture with Archuleta. Speechless But it was eleven-year-old Sugar Pop member Pocholo Bismonte who had the "SIS" hosts worried. Bismonte who sang Archuleta’s third single, “Touch My Hand," was speechless after the "Idol" singer extended his hand to congratulate him. “Kailangan mo ba ng tubig? Do you need water?" asked Gelli. “Diyos ko, parang mahihimatay na talaga siya [My God, looks like he’s really gonna faint]!," Villaroel then quipped. Archuleta was all praises for the Filipino singers who gave their own rendition of songs he sang on the Idol stage and recorded in his album. “I feel dumb going after all those singers," Archuleta said. - GMANews.TV
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