8-year-old Althea was born to sing
By Joan Janzen
Althea Cuanan-Iligan has been singing for as long as she can remember and takes every opportunity to share her talent with others. On Nov. 2, the eight-year-old Kindersley resident showcased her skills in Saskatoon at an audition for a chance to attend the 2026 Canadian Model and Talent Convention (CMTC) in Toronto.
Eight-year-old Althea Cuanan-Iligan from Kindersley has spent several afternoons singing Christmas carols at the Kindersley Co-op Food Store. She is looking forward to attending the Canadian Model and Talent Convention (CMTC) in Toronto at the end of April 2026. Photo by Joan Janzen
When Althea’s mom, Faye, heard about the upcoming auditions from a friend, she thought it would be a good opportunity for her daughter. Two days after the Nov. 2 audition in Saskatoon, Althea received word that she had been accepted.
Her parents have watched their daughter’s talent develop since she was a toddler. Her mom recalls one-year-old Althea humming along while watching Disney movies and music videos.
When she was only two, she sang her first song, a Britney Spears tune called Sometimes. Apparently, she took a liking to her mom’s choice of music because “she knew all the lyrics,” her mom recalled.
This past summer, she was invited to sing at the Filipino festival in Regina and also performed at the Filipino Christmas party in Kindersley. The seniors at Caleb Village recently enjoyed listening to Althea entertain them, and she has spent several afternoons singing Christmas carols at the Co-op Food Store. At only eight, she appears confident and happy to sing for hours at a time.
The young singer and her family are raising funds for their upcoming trip to Toronto at the end of April 2026. “We did a raffle for her with five prizes,” her mom said. “And her grandma is selling baking.”
The four-day convention will include auditions, interviews, workshops, educational seminars and exposure to 75 agencies from around the world. Althea will be in the 8-11 age category; last year, there were 95 entries in that group. Judges at the CMTC will evaluate the contestants’ skills and wrap up the convention with an awards ceremony.
“We believe in her talent,” Faye said. “So when we have an opportunity, we’re going to grab it for her.” It will also be a good experience for the family, as it will be their first visit to Toronto.