Four years after their grand finals bid in "Pilipinas Got Talent," shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra was named the first-ever winner of the Asia-wide edition of the global format Thursday.
The all-Filipino troupe from Batangas City beat eight other finalists, including three other Philippine acts, after earning the most public votes from the regional audience of "Asia's Got Talent" -- which is billed as the biggest talent search in the world.
Suspense gripped Marina Bay Sands in Singapore as the top three acts awaited the results, which were announced by Filipino hosting duo Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez.
"Thank you to our dear creator for giving us this wonderful talent that we can share to all of you," Marvin Marfa of El Gamma Penumbra said shortly before the announcement of the winner.
He added: "[Thank you] to 'Asia's Got Talent' for giving us this wonderful journey, to our respected judges who can inspire more people, we want to be like you someday."
"To all Filipinos in all parts of the world, laban na ito, para sa inyo 'to! Maraming, maraming salamat sa pagmamahal niyo sa grupo. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!"
Khusugtun, a traditional music ensemble from Mongolia, placed second; while Filipino classical singer Gerphil Flores, who is also a former "Pilipinas Got Talent" contestant, finished third.
Both Filipino contenders in the top three were early favorites in the talent search, which debuted in March on AXN Asia. El Gamma Penumbra and Flores were hailed, at different times, as "golden acts" -- a distinction given by judges that secures a contestant a spot in the next leg of the competition.
They, along with fellow Filipinos Gwyneth Dorado and Junior New System, each got a standing ovation in the final performance night last week.
El Gamma Penumbra took the stage with its signature message of social relevance, this time about caring for the environment. Flores, meanwhile, had judge David Foster promising her global fame after a rendition of "The Impossible Dream."
Judges Anggun, Vanness Wu and Melanie C similarly praised the younger Filipino contenders -- Dorado, with her performance of Sia's "Titanium," and Junior New System, with its energetic dance to recent and retro pop hits.
Days before the results show, El Gamma Penumbra member Marfa expressed hopes that one of the Filipino acts, not necessarily the group, would bring home the top prize to the Philippines.
"Ang honest po na pakiramdam namin ngayon, manalo o matalo, okay na po kami," he said, pointing out that the group was satisfied with its finals performance, which moved Anggun to tears... Kaya kung sino man ang manalo... Sana Pinoy! Para ang kauna-unahang winner ng 'Asia's Got Talent' ay Pilipino."
The lone country to have multiple acts in the finals, the Philippines was joined by contenders from Mongolia (runner-up Khusugtun), Thaliand (boys' rock band The Talento), China (acrobatic duto Gao Lin and Liu Xin), Singapore (girls' tap dance group Dance Thrilogy), and Japan (dance troup Triqstar).
Flores, a music student in the University of the Philippines, early on identified the dance acts as her toughest competitors. But her eyes were firmly on the goal -- to revive interest in classical music and showcase her talent to a wider audience.
That Foster promised to take her under his wing -- as he had done with Filipino singing sensation Charice -- was admittedly beyond what she had expected to achieve in joining "Asia's Got Talent."
In an emotional moment during Thursday's results show, Foster went up on stage to comfort a crying Flores after her exclusion from the top two. The multiple Grammy winner requested to give his message to Flores in private, but host Rovilson clued in viewers on the off-mic conversation -- "Asia's Got Talent" won't be the last the world will see of Flores.
Like El Gamma Penumbra, which joined competitions time and again, Flores has said she sees herself as an example of success despite initial or repeated failures, as long as "you keep believing in yourself."
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
