Kapamilya singer Jed Madela will soon be inducted to the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) Hall of Fame, the first Filipino receive such honor.
According to WCOPA, Jed is also the 2013 Achievement Award Honoree and will be presented with his Achievement Award and inducted into the "Performing Arts Hall of Fame" during the live international webcast of the 17th annual WCOPA finals on July 19.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Jed said that he was surprised when he first learned the news. His happiness elevated when he learned that he will be the very first Filipino, and the first WCOPA contestant to receive the prestigious WCOPA Achievement Award and be inducted to its Hall of Fame. Jed Madela won as WCOPA Grand Champion Performer of the World in 2005, besting 3,000 international contestants.
"Nagulat nga ako when I got the news from World Championships a few weeks ago na ihahanay na nila ako sa Hall of Fame nila as one of the artsits nila na ina-award nila. Nalaman ko na I'm the first Filipino and first na contestant ng World Championships na ii-induct nila sa Hall of Fame, at nung nalaman ko 'yung line up ng na-induct na nila doon, mas lalo akong sumaya bigla," he said.
According to Jed, previous WCOPA Hall of Fame inductees and recipients of the organization's Achievement Award include renowned actress-singer Liza Minnelli, Daniel Marmarre (President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil), and American singer Dionne Warwick.
Jed will be flying to Hollywood this July to perform at the WCOPA finals and personally receive his award. Aside from the accolade, Jed also announced that he closed a recording deal in the United States.