Zacariah is Awit Awards’ Favorite Male Recording Artist

R&B recording artist Zacariah (Zac) took home the coveted “Favorite Male Recording Artist” plum of Awit Awards’ 22nd edition. However, he had to wait for the year to change to formally get his trophy, or after a month to be more precise.

The 22nd Awit Awards was held at the Arena in San Juan last Dec. 7. But his text votes-based trophy was given just last Thursday at the PARI office along Annapolis St. in Greenhills. Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) officer-in-charge Cely Cruz cited a technical problem on the influx of text votes that caused the delay of the handing of trophy.

Zac was all smiles receiving the award in front of selected press who witnessed a delighted rising artist not minding about the little issue concerning the delay. “At first there was a little (a negative reaction) on my part having learned of the delay. But better late than never. Besides, I wasn’t expecting to win.”

By the strength of his carrier single “Suko Na,” off his self-titled debut distributed by Able Music, Zac got nominated for six categories in the said Awit Awards and won two, the other being the “Best Performance by a New Male Recording Artist.” He was nominated for Best New Male Recording Artist and Best R&B Artist.

For the “big award” given in “Filipino time” fashion, it is said that he has beaten more popular names since there was no set of nominees vying for the title. Zac himself acknowledged that it was through the unconditional efforts of his texting fans from hometown Nueva Ecija that sealed for him the win.

“I’d like to thank all my supporters,” he expressed in gratitude, “I’m aware that my song is more popular than me and that’s why it is my goal this year to be more visible. Di pa rin po ako makapaniwala that I won this award.”

Zac’s “Suko Na,” the video of which prompted observers to call him the “Ne-Yo of the Philippines,” was a number one local hit. Follow-up track “Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita” is one of the biggest OPM songs of 2009 according to a leading songhits magazine.

According to the PARI officer, two other Awit categories also found their recipients long after the event proper: The Favorite Female Recording Artist and Favorite Group Artist. Only Zac though decided to get the trophy in person and in the presence of the press.

“I’d like to come out with a new album in the first quarter of this year. A deal with one of the top five labels is being cooked up,” Zac told the Bulletin.

That’s good news for someone deserving of support, having made it to the TV round of “Canadian Idol” in 2008 and barged into the top 75 of 25,000 Philadelphia auditioners during the “American Idol” of the same year.