Filipino music talents conquering the world

Filipino talents who came before Sofronio Vasquez in international talent shows

Story by Jerry Donato
Philstar Global
14 December 2024

MANILA, Philippines — Before the advent and emergence of reality TV singing and talent show formats from abroad, the Pinoy talent in this creative field and competition was witnessed in singing contests abroad.

Now Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icons such as Dulce and Ivy Violan (winning the grand prize at the 1988 Asia Pacific Singing Contest) and Regine Velasquez (also securing the top award at the 1989 Asia Pacific Singing Contest) represented the country.

Ivy also went on to perform at the Golden Kite World Song Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1989 and won the grand prize at the International Midnight Sun Song Festival in Finland in 1991.

Kuh Ledesma sang Till I Met in the 1989 Salem Music Awards show in London. According to a former entertainment writer, she was the first Filipino recipient of such an award.

All this partly contributed to the Filipinos’ reputation as a force to reckon with when it comes to singing competitions.

Around a bit more than two decades ago, most people around the globe got acquainted with talent programs like “Got Talent,” “Idol (‘Pop Idol’ and ‘American Idol’),” and “The X Factor.” They have watched and followed them ever since.

These shows have also been remade and produced in other nations and territories.

With Pinoys’ diaspora and migration worldwide, Filipinos, either full-blooded or of mixed race, would take a chance in joining any of these shows and showcase their innate knack for carrying a tune and conveying the song story.

As they commence their contest journeys, they get the support of Pinoys in their specific country and also back home.

Even if they’ve fully immersed in their new country, they are still tethered back home and represent what Pinoy is, resilient, hardworking, loving and talented, just to name a few traits.

Days ago, Sofronio Vasquez, a Pinoy now living in Utica, New York, did make Pinoys proud as the winner of “The Voice” USA Season 26.

His accomplishment is historic as the first Asian and Filipino to top such an American and international singing tilt. It’s also perhaps a proper time to crown a winner from the Philippines following a good number of contestants of Filipino lineage who had tried their luck in the previous editions of “The Voice” USA or in other similar competitions.

The win of Sofronio has made one recall contestants of Filipino ancestry that either came close to winning or were named a champion.

The list for this piece is, not in any way, comprehensive. The names of artists easily came to mind when this article was written.

The list was also based on available data and information online and virtually.

Marlisa Punzalan

Marlisa Punzalan is “The X Factor” Australia winner in 2014 and her audition song was Yesterday of The Beatles. Ronan Keating, an Irish singer-songwriter and lead vocalist of Boyzone, was Marlisa’s mentor.

Her Filipino parents from Bataan went to Australia and raised Marlisa in Sydney.

Cyrus Villanueva

Cyrus Villanueva, on the other hand, is the winner of “The X Factor” Australia in 2015. His dad is Filipino from Cotabato City, Philippines. The Villanuevas are from Wollongong, New South Wales.

In an interview with this paper back in 2016, Cyrus shared about his three unforgettable performances in the talent show, “I think one of my favorite memories is the song Dancing On My Own. That was the song I sang at the boot camp. I was on the piano... Jealous, I love piano ballad. I love just the piano, I love just the voice. I love how raw a simple song like that is, how vulnerable you are. You know it’s just a best opportunity to tell the story. It’s just the piano and the voice. That was in the grand finals that I sang that.”

“I remember when (judge-mentor) Chris (Isaak) told me that was the song he chose for me, I was so happy. It was the most important time of the competition because I didn’t want to choose a terrible song. He chose an amazing song for me. It allowed me to kinda showcase what I love about performing — just the piano and just my voice,” added he. “Stone, the very first single I have ever released. It’s such a great song… To know that that was the first song that I heard myself on the radio, the first time I heard my voice on the radio was on that song, it was strange. It was weird.”

With Marlisa and Cyrus’ wins, the Pinoy talent had a back-to-back win in “The X Factor” Australia.

From Down Under, the singing talent of Filipinos was also showcased in “The X Factor” Asia and Europe.

Rose Fostanes

Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Rose Fostanes was named the winner of “The X Factor” Israel first edition. She performed If I Ain’t Got You, Sweet Dreams and My Way during the finals. Her rendition of the Shirley Bassey song, This is My Life, earned her to enter the audition phase. It helped her cruise the boot camps, quarter-finals, semifinals and finals.

She worked as a caregiver in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Bella Santiago

The professional singer in Malaysia, Bella Santiago, did a strong start in “The X Factor” Romania with a Jessie J cover (Bang Bang), and showed her performing skills, encompassing singing and dancing.

For the grand finals, she performed a mash-up of Beyoncé songs and claimed the top prize and title of “The X Factor” Romania winner.

The success of Pinoy talents continued in that part of the world with the championship wins of Justine Afante and Fil-Austrian Lukas Janisch in “The Voice Kids” UK (2020) and “The Voice Kids” Germany (2016), respectively. Her winning song was Listen of Beyoncé, while his were If I Ain’t Got You of Alicia Keys and When We Were Young of Adele.

Justine Afante, winner, The Voice Kids (UK) 2020

Lukas Janisch, winner, The Voice Kids (Germany) 2016

In “The American Idol,” Jasmine Trias and Jessica Sanchez were among the contestants who represented Pinoys. Jasmine from Hawaii reached the “The American Idol” Top 3 in its third season, while Jessica Sanchez of California was in the Top 2/runner-up for “The American Idol” 11th season.

Jasmine Trias, American Idol Top 3 (season 3 | 2004)

“The American Idol” journey of Jessica was extra unforgettable for her and fans when judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler decided to use their one “save” for the season. Thus, she was able to continue and reach the finale.

Jessica Sanchez, American Idol Top 2 (Season 11 |  2012)

Jessica took on Change Nothing, I Have Nothing, The Prayer in the final showdown. Jasmine, for the final round, performed All By Myself, Mr. Melody and Saving All My Love for You.

The Philippines was also well-represented in “Asia’s Got Talent” (with season one winner the shadow play dance group El Gamma Penumbra and grand finalists Gerphil Flores, DM-X Comvaleñoz, Neil Rey Garcia and Power Duo, to name some Pinoy talents).

With Sofronio’s win in “The Voice” USA season 26, Pinoy voices and talents continue to soar and be showcased in programs abroad.

Kudos also to Filipinos who have reached the audition and succeeding rounds of any talent competition and have proudly represented the country.

Filipino Foods make waves in Hawaii

In Kahului, Balai Pata Is a Celebration of Filipino Fare

Crispy pata, malunggay noodles and shrimp ukoy attest to Maui chef Joey Macadangdang’s resilience.

Melissa Chang

Honolulu Magazine

06 August 2024

“Chang!” Lee Anne Wong yelled across the way at the Maui Agricultural Festival. “You gotta try Joey Macadangdang’s Balai Pata!”

“I just went last night,” I replied, proud of myself for being ahead of the curve.

 “Oh my God!” we yelled in unison. “The garlic noodles!”

What’s good enough for a Top Chef contender is good enough for me. Wong loves Balai Pata so much that she went there for her birthday dinner and got three orders of Macadangdang’s fantastic garlic butter malunggay noodles.

Macadangdang opened Balai Pata in Kahului last October, which would not be so remarkable except that he and his wife Juvy were displaced by the Lahaina fire in August. Their home was spared but rendered unlivable, so they slept at Joey’s Kitchen, their restaurant in Napili Plaza, for weeks. During that time, the Macadangdangs opened up that restaurant as a makeshift shelter for other displaced people and cooked and donated up to 1,500 meals per day. And they closed their more upscale restaurant, Macadangdang in Ka‘anapali.

Balai Pata’s food is delicious and by today’s standards, fairly reasonable. Go to eat. Definitely go to support. Either way, you will leave satisfied.

In Ilocano, balai means house and pata means leg, so the name literally translates to “house of leg”—a house standing on the legs of Macadangdang’s ancestors in Ilocos Norte, according to the restaurant’s website. But it can also refer to one of its signature dishes, the ginormous crispy pata ($32)—a pork knuckle that’s braised and then deep-fried, served with a slightly tangy sawsawan sauce to complement the extreme richness. You can get one to share and still have leftovers.

I had an array of signature appetizers, like lumpia ($15—you can’t go to a Filipino restaurant and not have lumpia); tocino pork belly bao buns ($15), which were among my favorite bites; pakpak ti manok inasal ($14), which are moist and flavorful chicken wings with atchara sauce; pinakbet ($16), a vegetable stew served with pork belly, though you can customize the protein; and of course, the garlic malunggay noodles ($12).

Two other dishes have Macadangdang’s twist on traditional. The shrimp ukoy ($15), normally served as a fritter, has the fritters attached to the shrimp head, which stands upright on a skewer for a more instagrammable presentation. The other is sisig BP style ($16): Normally served on a sizzling platter or skillet, Macadangdang’s comes with large butter lettuce leaves so you can eat it as a wrap. I love this because it gives the dish a fresher flavor and is more interactive, which is just fun.

If you still have room after all that pata, of course there’s halo halo and banana lumpia for dessert. I also highly recommend the freshly squeezed fruit juice of the day—I got to have melon, which was so nice with the more tart sauces.

If you’re unfamiliar with Filipino cuisine, there are also kale Caesar salad, beet salad, bouillabaisse, fried rice, ramen and steak. Plus, there’s ample free parking—the restaurant is in the Triangle Square strip mall near Kahului Airport.

Pinay 1st runner up accepted Miss USA 2023 title

Former Mutya ng Pilipinas accepts Miss USA title after winner’s resignation

Story by Armin P. Adina
Inquirer.net
10 May 2024

Former Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities Savannah Gankiewicz has accepted the Miss USA title after 2023 winner Noelia Voigt’s resignation several days ago, the national pageant organization and the Hawaii-based Filipino American model herself have confirmed on social media.

“We are proud to crown Savannah Miss USA 2023, a true representation of vision, intelligence, and compassion,” Miss USA Organization CEO and Pres. Laylah Rose was quoted in a Facebook post on May 10.

Voigt rescinded her throne on May 6, saying, “I strongly value the importance of making decisions that feel best for you and your mental health.” She won the Miss USA crown in September last year.

Gankiewicz, who placed first runner-up to Voigt in the national pageant, said, “Please know that my decision to accept the Miss USA crown was not one that was made lightly. I stand with Noelia, it was the honor of a lifetime to share the stage with you during your crowning moment and I wish you all the best in your next chapter.”

The Venezuelan American Voigt, who finished in the Top 20 of the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador in November, reminded people to “prioritize your mental health, advocate for yourself and others by using your voice and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain.”

The new queen expressed her gratitude to her home state, her family and friends, and said, “It is a privilege to accept this title on behalf of you. I hope to make you all proud.” Gankiewicz represented the Filipino community of Hawaii in the 2017 Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant.

“With the little time I have as Miss USA, it is my intention to bring attention and focus on to the building of Lahaina on my island of Maui. I also look forward to helping the 2024 delegates transition into a new era of Miss USA and supporting them on their own journeys towards the crown.

On May 8, Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava also announced that she was stepping down, following Voigt’s resignation. The 17-year-old Mexican Indian-American 11th grader from New Jersey said, “My personal values no longer fully align with the direction of the organization.”

Voigt told People Magazine that the teen queen’s decision took her by surprise. “I actually didn’t know that she was going to do that…We were at an event together last night, and were both feeling incredibly optimistic about the future and what that holds for us individually and together,” she said.

Rose took over the leadership of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants in August last year, after former president Crystle Stewart stepped down following a series of controversies which also involved her husband.

Stewart became the national director of both pageants in 2020. She was suspended in October 2022 following accusations of rigging the competition in favor of Filipino American Texan queen R’Bonney Gabriel, who eventually won Miss Universe. The accusations have been proven false, but the pageant head did not retain her position.