By: Sarah Rosales I Published: March 26, 2025
David Madriz, a junior psychology major, always had a great admiration for artists who put themselves out there. He’s a music enthusiast—some favorites being Temachii, Bill Evans and Liana Flores. He loves to sing, and was part of his high school’s choir group, but he never stepped foot in the spotlight as a sole performer until auditioning for Wanna Canta.
On Feb. 22, Wanna Canta occurred at Saint Peter’s University. The singing competition was hosted by the university’s own Filipino organization: Saint Peter’s Affirming Representation of Kababayans (SPARK). It is one of the most anticipated annual events created by District III (D3)—the united front of collegiate-level Filipino organizations all across New York City and New Jersey. This year’s theme was “Mamma Mia,” inspired by the 2008 jukebox rom-com film.
Whereas other events like Ms. Philippines and Mr. Philippines dictate participants have Filipino ancestry in order to participate, Wanna Canta is open to any student, regardless of heritage, part of any Filipino club within D3. Madriz is a Costa Rican-American student and currently holds the position of Vice President within Filipinos Uniting Nations at Kean (FUNK).
“I really wanted to do it because I kind of just wanted to give myself a push,” said Madriz. “I wanted to step into it because after I signed up for it I knew I couldn’t back out of it.”
It’s that impulsive “what if” moment to step outside one’s comfort zone that many performers, Madriz included, identify with. His sudden desire to participate snowballed into a larger purpose. He’d practiced different techniques to get his voice into the ideal shape and even changed his diet for two months in preparation for the competition.
Madriz found the seconds before he stepped onto stage to be the most nerve-wracking, but the moment the show started the worries slipped away and he was left with the urge to sing the best he ever had.
“I was holding the mic with my left hand, and I had my right hand to my chest, and when the music started and I started singing, I got a jolt of electricity through my fingers and they were tingling so bad because of the adrenaline.”
Madriz performed a cover of “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.
“I wanted to pick a song that I had a connection to, but that would also showcase my strengths,” remarked Madriz.
Madriz recalls a period of contention within himself since he didn’t sound like the other contestants. Many of them performed R&B songs, pop songs or belting theater ballads. He felt none of those represented him best as he came from a classical choral singing background.
“That was something I was very self-conscious about, but I think doing ‘My Way’… was a sort of defiance to myself. The themes of ‘My Way’ being about overcoming trials and tribulations… I can say I did it my way.”
Post-show can bring up a swell of emotions for any performer. After performing, Madriz would pace around backstage, letting out excess energy that carried over from singing in front of an audience. He found himself crying, not out of sadness, but out of frustration for how much he still wanted to keep performing.
“No matter if I got last or first, I wanted to finish my performance and be able to say I have no regrets in what I did,” Madriz said.
Madriz did not place within the Top 5, but his community was proud of the courage he showed that day. Several members of FUNK cheered and waved hand-made posters in support. Not only that, Madriz formed a family with fellow competitors who stuck by each other in whatever they needed. They shared baked goods, props for the show, and did general wellness check-ins throughout practices.
“Even if you don’t know your worth, you will earn it,” Madriz said to future Wanna Canta performers. “Even if you go in with the littlest bit of confidence… no matter how you do, as long as you work for it, you’ll feel like you deserve to be there… So, just go through with it.”
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