Celebrated TV host Ellen DeGeneres lauded Filipino singer Marcelito Pomoy for his ability to perform both man-woman parts of popular duet songs in her popular TV show.
Pomoy was the grand champion of ABS-CBN’s “Pilipinas Got Talent,” a reality singing contest, in 2012.
Pomoy’s guesting at the US-based reality show was his first international recognition years after the win.
In the episode posted on October 31, DeGeneres described him as an “astounding” singer. DeGeneres and the rest of the audience were visibly amazed at his performances there.
Pomoy sang two duet songs, namely, “The Prayer” of Celine Dion and Andre Bocelli and “Beauty and the Beast” of Dion and Peabo Bryson.
Prior to this appearance, DeGeneres already teased her online followers of Pomoy’s talent on Instagram. It had since gathered more than a million views.
Filipino expressed their support for Pomoy. Some were even glad that the Filipino language was used in the interview.
So much respect for Marcelito Pomoy after watching his interview with @TheEllenShow. Who would have thought that a pin boy living on the streets will become a world famous singer?! So, never ever stop dreaming. Dream big! 😍
— Noel Soriano (@noelontheroad) November 1, 2018
So happy to finally hear my native language being spoken in a big show like Ellen. 😍 Marcelito Pomoy, you are amazing! 👏
Posted by Angelica Pilares-Magbanua on Friday, November 2, 2018
From a homeless boy to singing for Ellen
Pomoy told her of his life on the streets when he left home at only seven years old. He was able to survive by taking on odd jobs such as being a pin boy that earned him as little as P50.
It was also at this age when he started singing. However, learned to switch between high notes and low notes by 18 years old.
Years after he won ABS-CBN’s “Pilipinas Got Talent,” he received a message on his Facebook account from DeGeneres’ staff. He initially thought of it as a spam.
Pomoy admitted that he was not even satisfied when a staff member talked to him on Skype, a video and chat platform.
“And then one time, dumating sakin yung plane tickets papuntang LA (Los Angeles),” he said.
The small-time singer also shared that Dion was his favorite singer and “The Prayer” changed his life.
For DeGeneres, Pomoy’s talent was “thrilling” to witness, and later made her call Dion.
“I called Celine, told her about you. She wants to meet you so you’re gonna go to Vegas to see her show,” she said to Pomoy at the end of the interview.
Filipinos in The Ellen Show
DeGeneres had been featuring Filipinos with exceptional talent on her program for several years now.
Just recently, she invited two Filipino-American students who hung a fake poster ad at a branch of a fast-food restaurant both for humor and to call for proper Asian representation in commercial advertisements.
She also invited young talented Filipino boys. These are geography expert Noah Ascano, adorable Filipino-Czech Kai Langer, who even met singers Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars, and Filipino cousins Aldrich Talonding and James Bucong for covering the classic “Dance With My Father” on YouTube.
Other Filipinos whom DeGeneres discovered on the popular video-sharing platform and got featured on The Ellen Show are Maria Aragon, Zendee Tenerefe and Charice Pempengco.
