30 July 2015 – The Y-Fi (Young Filipinos), a band composed of five talented male singers, was declared winners of the Vocal Group of the World awards at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA). Accompanied by GMA 7’s Mr. Jush Andowitt and Attorney Jemela Nettles, Y-Fi paid a courtesy call on Philippine Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim on July 27.
The Philippines had a total of 46 Filipino acts for the competition with talents ranging from vocalist, models, dancers, actors, and instrumentalists. The Philippines took the world’s center stage with grand slam wins taking the top two awards at the 19th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) held in Long Beach from July 10 to 19. Team Philippines bagged the 2015 Senior Grand Champion: Vocal Group of the World through Y-Fi composed of Darwin Deane Divino, Archie Udaundo, Joemark Tumala, Christian Bahaya and John Ray Estudillo. Mike Mendoza of Team Philippines took home the Male Model of the World award. The Philippine Team also won 2nd Places for Most Entries attending the 19th WCOPA and National Costume Winners.
This year’s Team Philippines continues to garner major awards in SCOPA, following in the footsteps of its predecessors in previous years led by Mr. Jed Madela who is the first Filipino to win the “Grand Champion Performer of the World” in WCOPA 2005. END