Gerphil ’s Journey to International Singing Stardom

By Renato Perdon
Photos from Gerphil facebook page
Sydney, Australia
May 15, 2015






After a well organised number participated in by the finalists to the Grand Finals of 2015 Asia’s Got Talent and a guest number from Filipino singer and part David Foster’s stable of talents Charice, the result was announced at a glittering Grand Finals Results Show held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on Thursday, May 14.

It appears that the entire global audience was partial to the Filipino group number paying tribute to Mother Nature to the song ‘Colour of the Wind’, not to mention the skills and techniques they employed to put across the message while from Mongolian ethnic band Khusugtun the message was about degradation of Mongolia and the need to protect the environment.

The little girl with the big voice has won the hearts of many throughout Asia, prompting renowned producer David Foster to assure her that she will be a big star. Even the audience saw her transformation and blossoming into the winner that she is since the first auditions were held in September last year.

And after the announcement of the winner, it was reported that despite her placing third in the contest, there were ‘big words of encouragement’ attributed to David Foster concerning the future of Gerphil. This happened before he exited the show which host Rovilson Fernandez hinted: ‘We’re going to hear more from you in the future.’

Besides, Gerphil told the reporters that she is looking forward to finish her music degree first at the University of the Philippines and at the same time she is holding hope that Foster will make true his promise to introduce her to a global audience. The other two Philippine entries who lost in the contest are teen dance troupe Junior New System and young singer Gwyneth Dorado.

Classical training

Not to be forgotten, just after the grand finals, the words of assurance and recognition bestowed on Gerphil as a very gifted young singer vocally by multi-awarded winner Lea Salonga, an international established singer and accomplished performer on Broadway in New York, West End in England, and other countries. Veteran singer Salonga said: ‘... whatever happens at AGT, [I] know that you are incredibly talented with a voice that could’ve only come from the heavens. Now is your time, Gerphil. Run with it!!!!’.  

The Grand finals

Wearing a golden gown and looking like a true diva she accomplished her goal to capture the imagination of the viewers to listen to every note that comes out from her. The entire Asia seems to be in unison to consider that this performance vindicates Gerphil’s prowess not just a mere popular performer, but a classical trained soprano singer. Unexpectedly kudos and congratulations coming from everywhere like Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, even from Europe, and USA, were flooding in thousands just after the grand finals held at Marina Bay Sands resort, Singapore, last 7 May 2015.

During the grand finals, Gerphil delivered her own rendition of a Frank Sinatra classic, The Impossible Dream. She surely owned the stage of that final night of Asia’s Got Talent.  From a shy girl to a confident young lady, for each performance, she never failed to captivate the audience. She wore a golden gown which made her look like a true diva. With her angelic voice, Gerphil had everybody captivated and in awed as they listen to every note she delivers.  Tony Award winning songstress Lea Salonga exclaimed: ‘That last high note. Damn!’. Golden Girl Gerphil covers the The Impossible Dream. 

The four judges, again, gave her standing ovation. Music producer David Foster who have been impressed by Gerphil from the very beginning and called her as his ‘golden girl’ was seen quite emotional and visibly moved by Gerphil rendition of the song. He said after the song: ‘My golden girl, tonight, the song was called The Impossible Dream, you just made the dream possible. You absolutely nailed it.’ He added that Gerphil is meant for stardom and he promised the young singer he will bring her to the global stage. ‘I promise you the world is gonna know about you. That’s a promise,’ he said.

The other judges were all congratulating Gerphil for a superb performance, with British singer-songwriter Melanie C telling the young singer that she belongs on a pedestal and magnificent while Indonesian rock Anggun described her performance as ‘exactly [what] we expected from you. That high note, it was amazing. It was amazing and you shine up there. Tonight, you’re magnificent.’ On his part judge Taiwanese idol-singer Van Ness Wu told Gerphil that she ‘totally commanded the stage during her grand final performance’.

Golden Girl Gerphil Covers "The Impossible Dream" | Asia’s Got Talent Grand Final 1 (YouTube)  (as sent by Gerphil to author for sharing)
http://youtu.be/5wn4esEAk





As far as her mother could remember, Gerphil as a little ambitious girl would ring radio station many times asking them to allow her to sing on radio, until the radio station relented and invited Gerphil to the radio station. The problem, being a child and a just a little girl at that, she would not know how to go about visiting radio station alone. Her mother is at work and the other  members of the family were not also available to take her to the radio station. 

Gerphil was only 12 or 13 years old then. In order to stop her from being persistent and a nuisance, her mother agreed to accompany her to the radio station.  Gerphil was too excited that she was ahead of her mother in entering the radio station and introduced herself to the radio announcer who was surprised to meet a little girl, the persistent caller asking to be given a chance to sing on radio. When radio guitarist Eddie Suarez asked the precocious girl what genre to sing and what song she wants to sing, the determined child singer replied and said it is up to the guitarist to name the song. When the guitarist suggested a certain song, very confident the young singer agreed. Her mother was not even aware of the song that her little girl agreed to sing on radio.
Radio exposure

From that time on, she became a regular fixture on various radio stations singing all kinds of genre, from classical to mainstream type of songs. She could easily handle any genre.  Her voice training also continued through singing religious songs, mostly inspiring songs, particularly during religious masses, and other community musical plays giving her initial exposure to local version of Broadway-type of stage musical performances. This hone her song and dialogue delivery like in the musical skit ‘Ang Tilapia’ where she played an aspiring young singer amidst poverty and life struggle to earn a living by the single fish vendor mother in the story. She also tried Hip-Hop as seen in a couple of You Tube postings, and finally she decided to become a crossover singer from classical to the current genre she is now being recognised through AGT 2015.

Then as this young singer develop, her repertoire became varied. She was not only showing potentials in singing kundiman, Bicol and Visayan songs, but even ventured into singing foreign songs such as Czechoslovakian, French, German, Spanish, English, and others. This young girl was really determined to reach her goal. And soon on her way to become the country’s next songbird started to develop, even surpassing the musical success of another Bicolana singer, the one and only superstar in Philippine entertainment industry, Nora Aunor, who crossed over from an accomplished singer to a respectable and multi-awarded movie thespian.

No wonder many of commentaries after that experience were scathing against the two lady judges who should be understood where they were coming from. Not being singers, they were judging a talent show, not a competition for real singers. As expected, Gerphil, being determined to reach her ambition was not deterred by the experience and became more resolve not to change her tune. One of her admirers posted: ‘You are such a good person. Despite what happened to you during the PGT, you still thanked the network! Godbless you!’

Gerphil counts Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotte and Maria Callas as her long time inspirations in singing. She told one writer that after this PGT experience, she became more determined to spread her love for classical music, particularly Filipino classical music, in pursuing her singing career.

Social media backlash

Negative reaction towards the lady judges soon died down during the following couple of years, but it was resurrected when five years later Gerphil reappeared as a favourite contestant in a new singing contest called Asia’s Got Talent, now as Gerphil, no longer ‘Fame’, the moniker she used in that PGT experience.

The criticism towards the lady judges resurfaced and admirer of Gerphil could not help but posted: ‘PGT judges are just too shallow. They have no idea what they’re hearing, maybe they’re confused on the quality of the voice they’ve never heard...’ The decision of the judges was even likened by one critic to ‘throwing a diamond and picking up a rock.’ 

‘You certainly didn’t disappoint anyone in this room,’ beamed the noted musical star builder David Foster. ‘I couldn’t tell a hint of nerves,’ said Melanie C of the famous Spice Girls. ‘It was beautiful, really, such a beautiful voice,’ added Anggun. Except for Foster who was all praise for Gerphil pitch-perfect rendition of her audition song, all the judges said YES when it came time for each to vote. But when it was Foster’s turn, the audience erupted and cheered him to ‘push the gold,’ referring to the Golden Buzzer, which would send Gerphil straight to the semi finals. Foster obliged and pushed the Golden Buzzer and made Gerphil officially belong to the semi finals part of AGT.

Vindicated

By then Gerphil as a singer has been vindicated by her performance to the delight, not only of the judges, but her worldwide audience, as well, with her singing craft. No less than David Foster, the Canadian musician and record producer, composer, songwriter and arranger was beaming with delight during Flores’ performances.’ One over the top fan described Gerphil performance as ‘world class, impeccable, stunning, and absolutely mesmerizing.’

Star maker 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 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 semifinals in Singapore, Gerphil Geraldine Flores performed during the 78th birthday celebration of Manila Mayor Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada and reprised her audition piece Speak Soflty, Love at Solaire Resort and casino in Parañaque to the delight of the audience, including Mayor Estrada himself.

The Filipina singer now with fans throughout the world, not only in Asia or from her home country the Philippines, again 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 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 Van Ness 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.’

As Asia’s Got Talent first season ended, the judges are grateful for the journey of finding some of the most talented acts in the region.  During the entire season, individually each judge assume different roles in their relations to AGT aspirants. Van Ness has been known as the ‘Nice One’ while Anggun and Melanie C were known as the ‘Wicked Witches of the East and West’, and Foster as the ‘Dream Crusher’ for being brutally honest in his opinion of each aspirant. He justified his action and added it would help groom aspiring artist reach their full potential.

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See related article:
Filipina classical singer Gerphil Geraldine Flores as ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ Fiercest Competitor