WATCH: El Gamma Penumbra's tribute to LGBT community

"Asia's Got Talent" grand champion El Gamma Penumbra prepared a fitting tribute for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community at the "Keri Beks: The First Gay Congress" held at the Araneta Coliseum.

The group's performance tackled some of the issues hounding LGBTs, including workplace discrimination and the issue of same-sex marriage.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

What did David Foster tell crying Gerphil?

MANILA - "Asia's Got Talent" judge David Foster and his "golden girl," Gerphil Flores, shared an emotional moment on Thursday after the Filipino classical singer placed third in the pan-regional talent search.

Flores finished third behind second-placed Khusugtun, a traditional music ensemble from Mongolia, and winner El Gamma Penumbra, a shadow play group from the Philippines.

When Filipino hosts Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez announced the top two, an emotional Flores was seen surrounded by members of El Gamma Penumbra to comfort her.

Asked for his message to his ward, Foster said, "May I say it in private?"

From his seat in the judges' area, the multiple Grammy winner went up on stage to speak with Flores, whom he had promised global fame after her finals performance of "The Impossible Dream" last week.

Although the conversation could not be heard, host Rovilson Fernandez clued in the audience on what Foster told Flores -- "We're going to hear more from you in the future."

As if to express his commitment to help Flores with her career, Foster added: "She was my golden buzzer. She is still my golden buzzer."



Speaking with reporters after the show, the former "Pilipinas Got Talent" contestant declined to detail what Foster told her, but hinted that they were "big words of encouragement."

Earlier in the show, Foster reunited with Filipino singing sensation Charice, whom he took under his wings and helped launch an international career.

Asked if she sees herself working with Foster, Flores said: "Ini-imagine ko po pero hindi ko pa siya nakikita fully! Sana talagang mangyari po talaga... Hopefully tuparin po ni Sir David Foster 'yung pangako niya sa akin!"

"Basta lagi kong niri-remind ang sarili ko na laging kasama ang Panginoon, laging feet on the ground, always humble, kahit ano pong mangyari," she added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LOOK: Charice, David Foster reunite on 'Asia's Got Talent'

MANILA - For the first time in over three years, Charice and David Foster reunited on stage for the grand finals episode of "Asia's Got Talent," where the Canadian composer and music producer sits as judge.

Charice was introduced as a "pride of Asia" with a video showing highlights of her career under Foster's mentorship. At the time -- from 2008 to 2011 -- the Kapamilya star was packaged as a diva with power ballads as her repertoire.

Wearing a suit and with short hair, Charice's image was a stark contrast to this when she stepped into the spotlight at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Chin held up, the 23-year-old singer, who came out as lesbian in 2013, proudly presented herself to Asian viewers.

Doing away with Whitney Houston hits she had been identified with, Charice was accompanied by Foster on piano to perform the Sam Smith tune "Lay Me Down."




Foster, a 16-time Grammy winner credited with the success the likes of Houston and Celine Dion, took Charice under his wing upon the endorsement of billionaire TV producer Oprah Winfrey.

Charice, who had been joining singing competitions to help her family earn, went on to headline a worldwide tour with Foster and made countless TV guestings in parts of North America and Europe. (See their memorable performances here.)

Shortly before they performed on "Asia's Got Talent," Foster said of his former ward, "She has always had a place in my heart; she will always have a place in my heart."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

El Gamma Penumbra wins 'Asia's Got Talent'

MANILA - This time the trophy was theirs.

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

WATCH: PH dance crew's 'flawless' finals performance in 'AGT'

The Filipino dance group Junior New System wowed with their "flawless'' performance during the finals of "Asia's Got Talent."

The group, composed of students from the Philippines, danced to a mash-up of pop hits, which included Spice Girls' "Wannabe," for their performance at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

The Filipinos did not only get a standing ovation from the audience, but also from the judges.

Junior New System is one of the nine acts in the grand finals of "Asia's Got Talent," which includes fellow Filipinos Gwyneth Dorado, Gerphil Flores, and El Gamma Penumbra.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com