nod from UK-based boy band
By Alex P. Vidal
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Ria Diy's dream to someday sing together with a popular British boy band might soon be realized when the band, known as One Direction, picked her video in a contest called "Canada Loves 1D" - Challenge #6 on the band's website on February 9.
The contest requested fans to send in videos about why One Direction should visit their city.
Ria's cover of the One Direction's song, Moments, was chosen as one of only seven favourite video covers from across Canada.
The mainstay of Maxipro Entertainment-produced "FYE Live" learned about her feat when she found her video posted the website of One Direction on February 16, according to a report by The Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Times.
"A Grade 9 student who goes to Thomas Haney Secondary in Maple Ridge loves the boy band One Direction," said the Times report.
"Everyday Ria Diy surfs the band's website and dreams the dreams that only a 14-year-old budding musician would have - to one day meet the famous British boys who got their start on the U.K. version of The X-Factor in 2010.
"The group is made up of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson and they finished in third place in the seventh series of the popular TV show.
"Following The X-Factor, the group signed a œ2-million ($3.15 million) record contract with Syco Music.
"And since their rise to stardom, they have had more than 54.6 million views on YouTube of their first hit What Makes You Beautiful.
The report said Ria's video submission began with an introduction about why the band should come to Canada, followed by her version of one of the band's songs.
Report said: "She knows that one of the members of the band loves chicken so she held up a pan and said: 'I made you all some chicken. You know how much weight I'm going to gain if I eat this by myself? Will you guys eat my chicken with me? It's honey garlic.'"
"But truth be told, it was actually onions covered with tin foil. Now she wants to make the band the real deal.
Here's the Times report: On Feb. 16 she was shocked to see her video posted on One Direction's website."I was yelling, 'Dad, Dad, that's my face!'" she said.
Her cover of the band's song, Moments, was chosen as one of only seven favourite video covers from across Canada.
"Her dream is to sing with them," said older sister Denise.
"Then I can give them some chicken, I'll have to make the real stuff this time," Ria laughed.
Ria is no stranger to performing. On Saturday, she was onset doing a photo shoot for a variety show she is a main stay in - FYE Live! (For Your Entertainment Live!) It is the first Filipino variety TV show on the Shaw multicultural channel on channel 116, which airs on the last Sunday of every month.
"We have themes every month and this month, because of Valentine's Day, we had love songs," explained Ria. "Next month we are doing Motown, which will be fun. I love Motown."
Ria first performed at the Canadian Composers Gala in 2004 when she was seven years old. She performed the jazz piano piece, Who's There, and has passed her Royal Conservatory Music exams with honours.
The Diy family moved here from the Philippines 10 years ago. Dad Rafael said he is "speechless" about Ria's growing success.
"I just want the best for my kids, it's why we came here, we will always make sacrifices for our girls," Diy said.
To view Ria's YouTube entry, visit One Direction's website: http://www.onedirectionmusic.com/ca/news/entry/canada_loves_1d_-_challenge_6_-_results/.
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