Pinay WCOPA multimedalist

Pinay singer wins 9 medals in WCOPA, receives recognition from hometown

GMA News

August 5, 2019 

A Filipino talent bagged nine medals at the 23rd World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) held in California, USA and received recognition from her hometown on Monday.

Joanna Ruth Miranda, won a gold medal in vocal with self-accompaniment category, three silver medals in open category and variety, and five bronze medals in vocal Broadway, R and B, and rock music.

The 23rd WCOPA competition was held at Long Beach California, USA from July 12 to 21.

After her win, the local government of Quezon City staged a ceremony to recognize Miranda. The event was led by Vice Mayor Gian Sotto with some city councilors.

WCOPA competition is an ‘Olympic-style’ international meet for aspiring performers and entertainers from different parts of the world who will compete against each other in the “Talent Olympics.”

The talent contest brings together the best singers, dancers, actors, models, instrumentalists and variety artists from more than 60 countries. —Joviland Rita/LDF, GMA News

Pinoy in Ireland's Got Talent Final

Pinoy's hip-hop group makes it to 'Ireland's Got Talent' grand finals

Roderick Garcia, ABS-CBN News

Apr 05 2019 

DUBLIN, Ireland - A Filipino is part of a hip-hop group that managed to get the highest audience text votes in last Saturday's semi-finals of "Ireland's Got Talent" (IGT).

Albert John "AJ" Macoy, 16, is one of the members of Fly Youth. The group will be performing again at the grand finals on Sunday.

"I'm so happy that we reached this point, where we all became motivated to do better and build a stronger friendship within the group. It makes me feel proud to achieve something that will happen just once in a lifetime," Macoy said.

Macoy's father, Elbert, is a nurse who is originally from Cebu. His mother, Edna May, is from Ilocos Sur and works as a receptionist.

The couple arrived in Ireland in 2001.

"Todo suporta lang talaga ako sa kanya mula pa noon. Napakahirap na isabay ang schedule ng school at extra activity. Pero in the end, not just popularity ang habol ko -- 'yung maging confident lang ang anak ko in front of the public can help him a lot in the future," said his father.

Macoy is the eldest of four siblings who are all born in Dublin. He is now on his 6th year of secondary education, and he hopes to be a computer game designer or a mechanical engineer someday.

Performing at the "IGT" stage is not new to Macoy. His former group, Airborne Dance Crew, managed to impress the judges at the elimination of show's last season but failed to enter the semi-finals.

This time they re-grouped, added more dance members, and performed more technical routines.

Macoy is also currently attending Fly Dance Studio, the one responsible in developing his group’s hip-hop dance skills. It was the same studio that helped them win Ireland’s Hip-hop Championship where they ended up representing the country in a global dance competition.

One of Fly Dance Studios' Irish-Pinoy dance instructors, Arman Jose Galang, is very proud of Macoy's achievement after just 3 years of training in their school.

"I'm so proud of AJ and all of them in the group. They're just kids and what they are already achieving for themselves is just insane," said Galang.

"I'm so happy that we reached this point, where we all became motivated to do better and build a stronger friendship within the group. It makes me feel proud to achieve something that will happen just once in a lifetime."

Meanwhile, three other Pinoys were also featured in "IGT." Singer Live Amerie Gregorio from Cork, singing nurse Rodelle Borja from Dublin, and dancer Nicole Marie dela Cruz Fowler from the group Hiphopical from Monaghan failed to enter the grand finals, but they still have a chance to be a wildcard.

Pinoy nurse in Ireland"s Got Talent

Filipino nurse Rodelle Borja gets standing ovation in Ireland's Got Talent

Louise Danielle Talabis

PEP.ph

20 February 2019

The 29-year old, who works in a nursing home in Dublin, Ireland, was commended for his rendition of "Can't Help Falling In Love.”



All four judges stood up and clapped for him at the end of his performance.

“Brilliant, you nailed that. You’re a beautiful human-being you got beautiful voice” said judge Jason Byrne.

American singer Michelle Visage also praised the Filipino nurse’s performance.

“You have nothing to be nervous about, yours did not get in your way but what I love most in your version is that you made it 100% your way. I didn’t hear any echo of Elvis Presley at all, it was all Rodelle.”

Denise Van Outen added: “It is such a beautiful moment hearing you, it was so lovely.”

Rodelle’s heart-melting rendition earned him four yes votes from the judges.

In an interview, Rodelle disclosed that he joined the competition in order to inspire other people.

“Growing up with stutter was quite difficult because I am not really that confident in expressing myself by talking. I expressed myself more, better by singing," he said.

Watch Rodelle Borja's performance in Ireland's Got Talent:

https://youtu.be/c0O81FkIx58

Asia's Super Mechanics

Filipino team tagged regional champs in Asia Pacific mechanic competition 

GMA News

21 November 2018

The Philippines has gained another recognition in the international arena—this time, for showcasing technical skills.

Team Philippines bags the Castrol Asia Pacific Bikes Super Mechanic Contest 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand last November 16, 2018. PHOTO COURTESY OF CASTROL PHILIPPINES

Team Philippines has beat five other countries to bag the Regional Champion title of the Castrol Asia Pacific Bikes Super Mechanic Contest 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand last November 16. Composed of mechanics Julius Maranga, Georekey Cantabaco, and Gabriel Hidalgo Jr. of Cebu-based Drake’s Motorcycle Parts, the Filipino team bested the groups representing India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam after displaying their theoretical knowledge and practical skills about two-wheelers, from maintaining to fixing engine parts and lubricants.

“It is our great honor to be the eventual winners and name the Philippines on the first stage,” Team Philippines shares. “Thank you, Castrol, for the Castrol Asia Pacific Bikes Super Mechanic Contest, through, which not only [the] three of us, but all the mechanics participating had a chance to be updated [on] practical knowledge and also [be] recognized.”

More than 120,000 two-wheeler mechanics from the participating countries joined this year’s Castrol Asia Pacific Bikes Super Mechanic Contest, marking its biggest regional event since 2016.

One of the world’s leading lubricant brands, Castrol takes pride in spearheading events such as this, with the company’s Asia & Pacific Regional Marketing Director Shyam Balasubramanian saying, “Through the Castrol Asia Pacific Bikes Super Mechanic Contest, Castrol is proud to be able to be a trusted companion of the mechanic community on the journey of continuous improvement of their service to their customers and their business growth.”

Team Philippines’s win comes ahead of Castrol’s biggest event in the Philippines—the culminating activity of its Partner for Life (PFL) advocacy program, which aims to hail the next batch of mechanics that will represent the country in next year’s Castrol Asia Pacific Mechanic Contest.

Happening this November 24 at Trinoma Activity Center in Quezon City, the PFL event is special this year, as it is now open to all mechanics from across the country. Technical competitions that highlight one’s quick maintenance and troubleshooting skills are just some of the activities participants can join.

“Our Partner for Life program has continually given us the opportunity to enable our fellow Filipino mechanics with the proper skillset and knowledge to be the best that they can be for their customers,” says Castrol Philippines Country Sales Director Maria Tanada.

Now on its fifth year, the Partner for Life program has been engaging Filipino motorbike mechanics to develop their skills, knowledge, and expertise around two-wheeler mechanics through various courses. It is Castrol’s way to improve the skills of partner mechanics by providing regular training and giving recognition to the mechanics through a competition in the culminating activity.