By Cyrus A. Natividad

 Norelle ‘Mutya’ sings at the Home Court of the Chicago Bulls.

At the opening of the Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons game in the United Center on West Madison Street, Chicago on April 9, 2023, Centralian Norelle Grace Villanueva (aka ‘Mutya’) made a superb performance in singing the American National Anthem “The Star Spangled Banner.” She was well applauded by about 20,000 spectators.

She was on vacation with her parents in Chicago when she was referred by someone to join an audition for the anthem performance at the opening of the NBA spring season between the Bulls and Detroit. Mutya was able to pass the audition.

Born to parents Omega Grace Villanueva and Franklin Fernandez of Salvacion Buenavista, Guimaras, Norelle enrolled at CPU taking up a Bachelor of Science Business Administration degree, Major in Marketing Management from 2020- 2022.

In the tradition of ‘Pinoy Got Talent’, Norelle has joined the ‘voice kids’ competition in Manila in 2016. In the same year, she joined the World Championships of Performing Arts (Headed by Jed Madela). She will be a Special Guest of BAMBOO Live in Chicago in the coming months this year.

Since childhood, Norelle was thought to be a destined singer by her family and relatives. Noriel looks forward to perform at her beloved Central Philippine University someday.