After falling short in the local franchise of a popular talent show five years ago, Filipina classical singer Gerphil Geraldine Flores tried her luck again, this time in “Asia’s Got Talent,” and got a rousing reception from the crowd and the judges.
Singing “Speak Softly, Love” from the classic “Godfather” movie in her audition, Flores earned praises from the judges, particularly from Grammy-winning composer David Foster, who stood up and pressed the “golden buzzer,” which automatically sends the Filipina to the show’s semifinals.
“You certainly did not disappoint anybody in this room. It was really a solid performance. And your pitch is great, and I hate people who sing out of tune. You sang really in tune. Good going,” Foster said.
Foster’s fellow judges, namely Indonesian rock icon Anggun, Taiwanese-American pop idol Vanness Wu, and former Spice Girl Melanie C, were also impressed with Flores’ performance.
“I was totally shocked. I never expected it and I was actually speechless,” Flores, who is from Parañaque City, told INQUIRER.net.
She shared it has been her dream to become a well-known recording artist and perform around the world, especially with her idols, pop-classical performer Josh Groban and opera singer Andrea Bocelli.
“I also dream of performing in opera houses like The Metropolitan in New York and La Scala in Milan, Italy,” she said.
Flores, who is currently in her 5th year as a student at the University of the Philippines, has been singing classical songs and Kundiman since she was 8.
She also has a penchant for singing Broadway and jazz hits.
Flores joined the talent search “Pilipinas Got Talent” in 2010 as classical singer Fame but only made it to the semifinals. Jovit Baldivino won the competition that year.
A Filipino group of shadow dancers, El Gamma Penumbra, also got the golden buzzer after the judges were stunned by their performance which depicts some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
The Velasco brothers and Gwyneth Dorado, also from the Philippines, will be competing in the first round of semifinals next week. IDL
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