While Sanchez has become a household name after becoming the first runner-up in "American Idol," many Filipinos have been wondering who Asunto is.
A Filipino-American, Asunto was personally selected by Manny Pacquiao to sing the Philippine national anthem during his match against undefeated American boxer Timothy Bradley Jr.
Filipino-American-Mexican Sanchez, 16, will first sing the American national anthem during the opening ceremonies of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight. Asunto, 14, will follow, singing the Philippine national anthem “Lupang Hinirang.”
In an email to GMA News Online, Asunto's publicist Elton Lugay, also a stringer for
GMA News in New York, explained that the young singer was a "niece of Manny's cousin, his mother's side."
Lugay said Pacquiao's cousin hails from Inopacan in Leyte, hometown of the congressman's mother Dionisia.
Asunto's grandmother "is also from Inopacan, Leyte," Lugay explained.
On Asunto's Twitter account, her fan Lira wished her luck on her performance during the boxing megafight this Saturday (Sunday morning in the Philippines): “When you sing tomorrow, May the Odds be ever in your Favor @kirbyasunto :) God bless yah.”
Asunto was introduced by the eight-division world champion during a press preview last February when Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee said they had big plans for Asunto who signed a contract under Pacquiao’s talent management company.
“We are committed to help Kirby reach greater heights in her career. We don’t expect much in return. Happy kami that we have the opportunity to help her,” Jinkee said.
Pacquiao first heard Asunto’s voice during the celebration of the Holy Mass before his most recent match against Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez last year which Pacquiao won.
Asunto also performed during Pacman's victory concert after the Pacquiao-Marquez bout.
On May 20 in Manhattan, New York, Asunto performed with Arnel Pineda, the Filipino front man of the legendary American band Journey.
Some of Asunto's other notable achievements include being a:
- Winner – Child Access Broadway, regional and national levels
- Grand Champion – Philippine Fiesta Idol, Seacaucus, NJ, junior level
- Final three – NY Knicks Kidzbop Sports Talent Jam at MSG
According to a report of the entertainment site Broadwayworld.com on June 4, Asunto ("Child Access Broadway") and other Broadway stars such as Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, and "GMA Pinoy TV talents Dingdong Dantes and Aljur Abrenica headlined the Philippine Independence Day Council’s (PIDCI) well attended 114th Philippine Independence Parade and cultural show held on Madison Avenue Sunday afternoon."
The event, attended by around 100,000 people, was the “biggest celebration of Philippine independence outside of the Philippines,” Broadwayworld.com said.
Asunto was born in the Philippines but her family migrated to the US in 2006.
According to her official Facebook page, she has shown great interest in music since the age of two.
Asunto then joined her first singing contest without the knowledge of her parents while she was in nursery school.
Her parents had no clue that their daughter could already compete in a singing contest.
Asunto has since joined several contests and taken voice classes to pursue her dream of becoming a professional singer.
Apart from this, she has been giving back to the Fil-Am community by singing in different fundraisers in the United States.
You can view Kirby’s performances of the American national anthem “Star Spangled Banner” on her official YouTube channel. - VVP/HS, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
