At just 11 years old, Julie Ann Lianza's voice was discovered by her fifth-grade adviser. Little did she know that this was the start of a journey that would eventually lead her to the national stage, representing Biliran Province State University on the country's most renowned television singing competition, "Tawag Ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown," on ABS-CBN’s noontime flagship program, It’s Showtime.

Belting out “Rain” by Donna Cruz, Julie Ann successfully gained the hurados' favor, being declared today's daily winner.

Millions of viewers across the Philippines may have witnessed her singing prowess, but her story is not just one of talent—it’s also about her faith, courage, and persistence.

Growing up in Lemon, a small barangay in Leyte, Julie Ann’s childhood was simple but filled with music. Her father, a farmer, on-call carpenter, and former band member, introduced her to music early on.

By 13, she was already competing in amateur singing contests around their barangay, her father coaching her every step of the way. “Papa was really my first trainer. He has always believed in me,” Julie Ann shared, recalling how music became a family affair—her siblings all shared a love for singing.

Sometimes, she would compete alongside her older sister, taking turns placing first or second. “Whenever both of us win, we’re sure to bring home a considerable amount of money,” she said with a laugh.

Julie Ann's journey has been anything but smooth. After excelling in local contests, including being a finalist in the Leyte Idol 2023 and Ormoc Music Pop 2022 competitions, she faced significant financial challenges. After finishing junior high school at Don Mariano Salvacion Memorial National High School, she was granted a scholarship by the local vice mayor to attend ACLC for senior high. However, that support lasted only a year, forcing her to put her studies on hold.

"I had to stop because of financial constraints," she recalled. At 17, Julie Ann left her hometown for Manila to work in a pharmacy warehouse in Cavite. It was a difficult time, but the thought of pursuing her dream never left her. "I had dreams, but times were really hard," she explained. After a year of working, she returned to Leyte, and after graduating senior high in Lemon, she enrolled at Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) Ormoc. Yet again, financial struggles forced her to leave after just one year.

Despite these setbacks, Julie Ann’s resolve to succeed remained unshaken. She moved to Cubao, Manila, and worked in a call center, later requesting a work-from-home setup to return to her family in Leyte. In 2022, she began working as an admin aide in the local government unit’s accounting office while pursuing a part-time job as a virtual assistant to help support her aging parents.

She enrolled at Biliran Province State University and took a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT). Now a second-year student, Julie Ann wants to graduate and land a stable job.

But her dream to be a professional singer never wavered. "I still continued to pursue my dream of becoming a professional singer, to become famous," she said. "I knew that one day, I would still reach my dreams."

That "one day" came when Julie Ann auditioned for "Tawag Ng Tanghalan" at Robinsons North Tacloban. Unlike her previous attempts on other TV singing contests, like "The Voice of the Philippines" and "Pilipinas Got Talent," this time, she qualified for the next round. “I didn’t tell anyone about the audition,” she admitted with a smile, “I didn’t want to disappoint anyone if I didn’t make it again.”

But the call came. "When I received the message from Gerard De Castro of ABS-CBN, I couldn’t believe it. Then they called again to confirm. I was shocked, of course."

After learning of her participation, she began intensive training. In fact, she revealed that she mastered 20 songs, one of which was chosen as her winning piece, Rain by Donna Cruz.

In bringing the name of BiPSU to the national consciousness, the university has shown its support by granting her an affirmative action scholarship, knowing that both her parents are senior citizens and that she is self-supporting.

But Julie Ann’s story is not just about chasing dreams—it’s also about family. She revealed that her parents have always been her biggest supporters.

During the interview with the Showtime hosts after her performance, Julie Ann couldn’t contain her emotions when asked about her message for her mother and father. “Ma, Pa, I know that you're watching right now. I hope I made you proud,” she said.

With her first win, Julie Ann will advance to the weekly competition on Saturday, which will be streamed through YouTube Live and television channels such as Kapamilya Channel, GMA, GTV, and A2Z.

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