Filipina classical singer Gerphil Geraldine Flores as ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ Fiercest Competitor

By Renato Perdon
Sydney, Australia
May 3, 2015



Another Filipino talent is making a kill in Asia’s Got Talent. At her audition where she received positive responses from the four judges, the 24-year old classical singer Gerphil Geraldine Flores wowed all the judges with her rendition of Speak Softly, Love, originally done by Andy Williams for the film The Godfather.


Gerphil is vindicated by her performance to the delight, not only of the judges, but the audience, as well with her singing talent. No less than David Foster, a Canadian musician and record producer, composer, songwriter and arranger was beaming with delight during Flores’ performances and commented at the end: ‘You certainly didn’t disappoint anyone in this room.’

David Foster, QC, OBC has been a producer for notable musical artist including Christina Aguilera, Andrea Bocelli, Toni Braxton, Michael Bublé, Chicago, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Jackie Evancho, Josh Groban, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Seal, Rod Stewart, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Westlife, and our very own Philippine sensation Charice Pempengco. Foster who is the current chairman of Verve Music Group has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations.

Gerphil earned a standing ovation from all the judges – Taiwanes actor-pop star  Vanness Wu, Indonesian rock icon Anggun, former Spice Girl Melanie C and, of course, Foster, who was all praise for her pitch-perfect rendition of her audition song.

When it was David’s turn to decide, the audience shouted and cheered him to “push that gold,” referring to the Golden Buzzer, which would sends Flores straight to the semi-finals.

Indeed the talent of the Filipina singer has been recognised by people who, some critics said, know how to judge musical competition unlike the failure of the non-musical personality judges who were not impressed by Gerphil’s performance when she joined the first season of Pilipinas Got Talent in 2010. She joined the talent quest as Fame Flores but lost because as judge Kris Aquino frankly told her that her genre of classical songs were not popular among the audience and cost her chances to advancein the talent quest.

Despite this negative reaction from two of the non-musical judges of the PGT, Gerphil was determined not to change her tune. In fact, she counts Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotte and Maria Callas as her long time inspirations in singing. She told one writer that she became more determined to spread her love for classical music, particularly Filipino classical music, in pursuing her singing career.

Gerphil’s good mixed good looks are courtesy of her German father and her motherfrom Bicol, now separated. She showed interest in singing from an early age with her mother noticing her musical inclina-tion when she was only three and mimicking classical tunes she heard. At the age of eight, she was singing kundiman pieces. Gerphil got her talent from her maternal grandfather, a classical guitarist and also from her mother whom she describes as ‘a music lover, who enjoys listening to Mozart and Beethoven.’

Gerphil seems destined to achieve her goal. It will be remembered that the Got Talent franchise has a history of crowning classical acts as winners. Britain’s Got Ta-lent produced Paul Potts and Susan Boyle, whose debut album became a No. 1 record in charts around the world, while the platinum-selling classical-crossover singer Jackie Evancho (whose Billboard 200 No. 2 album Dream With Me,  produced by Foster was a runner-up on America’s Got Talent.

Returning from her initial triumph at Asia’s Got Talent Semifinal in Singapore, Gerphil Geraldine Flores performed during the 78th birthday celebration of Manila Mayor Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada and reprised her audition pieces Speak Soflty, Love at Solaire Resort and casino in Parañaque to the delight of the audience, including Mayor Estrada himself.

The music student, who in her audition performance  advanced to semifinals held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore returned to the island country for the second semifinals episode of Asia’s Got Talent last April 23, 2015.

The Filipina singer now with fans throughout Asia, not only from her home country the Philippines, received standing ovation from all four judges with a moving and superb semi-final performance of (Where Do I Begin) Love Story, also by Andy Williams.

The four judges were all delighted and said that the 24-year-old Filipina singer had an amazing voice and had so much confidence when singing.

Gerphil Geraldine Flores is expected to go places in the entertainment world, even if she is not declared the winner of Asia’s Got Talent show judging from the statement made during her last performance by David Foster who said:  “Your voice is amazing, you sing so in tune. You really have a career. I would love to get my hands on you. I think I can make you sound even better,” said David Foster.

Other judges such as Melanie C. said:  “Such an enchanting performance. You really deserved to be on the  world stage, you belong up there,” and Vanness Wu also praised her performance and said: “You had so much confidence when you sing, it was mesmerizing and enchanting. All of it, I love it.’

On her part judge Anggun commented that: “I think you look like a real diva tonight. I love the theatrical set, the drama and the voice.’

Aside from Gerphil Geraldine  Flores, there are four Philippine representatives so far in Asia’s Got Talent 2015 competition: El Gamma Penumbra, The Velasco Brothers, and Gwyneth Dorado. Many are hoping that this time Gerphil will make it all to the top contradicting the doubters judges of Pilipinas Got Talent of 2010.

The fate of contestants in the biggest talent competition in the world lies in your hands. The region’s biggest talent will have the grand final on May 7 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Now that competition is becoming intense contenders must up their game to win the hearts and votes of audiences across the region during the remaining semi-final episodes up to the Grand Final. To vote for Gerphil, who is preparing hard for the competition and hoping something great will come out of it, the phone number assigned to the Philippines is 2929.

Filipinos throughout the world can also vote for Gerphil through SMS, Facebook or the Asia’s Got Talent mobile app. Voting opens after the broadcast of the final episode and will remain open for four days.

For more details on how you can vote, visit http://asiasgottalent.tv/vote/