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Eight-year-old viral singer Jilean Shain Taghap, popularly known as the "Biritera ng Bohol," recently visited Metro Manila after being invited to appear on several television programs. She was accompanied by her mother, Diocelle Taghap.

While in Manila, the mother-and-daughter duo also met with select entertainment media, including GMANetwork.com, for a brief interview.

Jilean appeared shy during the media gathering, so her mother answered most of the questions on her behalf.

According to Mommy Diocelle, she is still overwhelmed by the attention her daughter has received since her performance of "Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo" (Janine Berdin's version) went viral in December 2025.

“Actually, nao-overwhelm pa ako. Ganun pala, para ba akong na-shock kasi hindi ko naman expected na ganun. Wala naman akong intensiyon na pasikatin. Masayang-masaya ako sa nangyayari sa kanya,” she said.

@dioshain #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #viral #idolkidsphilippines #thevoicekids #tntkids #showtime #trending #talentedkids #trend #trendingsong ♬ original sound - Dioshain - Jilean Shain Taghap/Bohol

Even before going viral, Jilean had already established herself in various singing competitions across Bohol. She competed in the GSP Got Talent 2024, where she showcased her talent in the District, Area, and Provincial Championships. She also represented her school in the Bohol Association of Private Schools Elementary Administrators (BAPSEA) Singing Competition, winning the Provincial Grand Champion title in the Preschool Division. She claimed the championship again in the same competition in 2025, this time in the Primary Division.

Earlier this month, she was also named grand champion in Alta Citta's Kiddie Singing Star competition in Bohol.

When asked how she feels every time she performs, Jilean simply replied: “Happy and excited.”

Related gallery: Singing competition alumni, where are they now?

Mommy Diocelle, who works as a teacher in Bohol, shared that Jilean enjoys performing because she loves making people happy through her singing.

Before leaving Bohol for Manila, the young singer even asked why they were making the trip.

“Tinatanong niya ako kung bakit kami pupunta ng Manila, 'Kakanta ba ako ulit?' 'Oo, kasi nagustuhan nila yung performance mo.' 'Ah, so the people are happy again?' Kaya daw gusto niyang kumanta kasi happy raw siya kapag nakikita niya ang mga taong naka-smile, parang ganun.”

Asked where Jilean inherited her singing talent, Mommy Diocelle jokingly answered, “Ako na 'to. Ako na 'to.”

She explained that the family's musical talent actually came from her own mother, who won several singing competitions in the 1980s.

“Yung mother ko talaga, champion siya sa mga contest nung '80s. E, maagang nawala ang mother ko, so hindi na niya ito nakita. Noong namatay ang mama ko, wala nang follow-up kasi wala nang nagte-train sa akin.

“Noong nanganak ako, siya na. So, ako na ang nag-train sa kanya. Nakita ko talaga na hindi talaga [nalalayo] ang talent, music pa rin.”

Although she was unable to fulfill her own dream of becoming a singer, Mommy Diocelle is happy to see her daughter continuing that dream today.

“Actually, naiiyak ako kasi sana naabutan ito ng mama ko. Kasi, yung mama ko, ito ang pangrap niya para sa akin. At least, natupad naman sa apo niya. Naiiyak talaga ako. Ganito pala yung feeling na parang ultimate dream ko lang siya na nasa bahay kami, inaalagaan ko siya… Yung pangarap ko lang na makita siya sa maraming tao ay nangyayari na kaya masaya.”

For now, Mommy Diocelle said she carefully balances Jilean's studies with her vocal training while making sure she still gets to enjoy her childhood.

“I will just continue to guide her and support her para maging maganda yung takbo ng career niya sa singing. At saka, we'll always pray na ma-develop pa ang talent niya sa singing," she ended.