MANILA, Philippines - With his unique way of singing, Marcelito Pomoy shot to fame via the reality show "Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2".
Using male and female voices, on Sunday he sang his way to bag the P2-million peso grand prize, and the hearts of Filipinos.
Speaking on ANC's "Headstart" on Friday, Pomoy said he sang to entertain himself while tending to chicken coops.
He admitted that he liked to sing with a female voice and may have taken after his mother's talent.
But he added it was his "Pilipinas Got Talent" grand finals piece, "The Prayer," a duet popularized by singer Celine Dion and world-class tenor Andrea Bocelli, that first inspired him to sing in two voices.
"Sa 'Pilipinas Got Talent', pang-audition panlalaki dapat 'yong kakantahin ko. Pero wala akong tulog talaga," he said.
"Doon ko in-alternate. 'Yon 'yong pinagpraktisan ko."
Today, Pomoy admitted he still cannot believe that he would ever win so much.
"'Yong perang pinanalunan ko, uunahin ko sarili ko--pambili ng bahay at lupa, tapos tutulungan ko pamilya at kapatid ko," he said.
But while he knows what to do with his prize money, he admitted he can't decide which voice he prefers to use for singing.
"Gusto ko panlalaki or babae..," he said.
On ANC's "Headstart," Pomoy belted out popular tunes by foreign and local artists
He said his favorite singer is Celine Dion.
He also sang songs popularized by April Boy Regino, Freddie Aguilar, Aegis, and Jaya.
Pomoy, however, denied rumors he is gay, is a single father or has a child, adding he is not offended by such talk,
Saying he is male through and through, he admitted having a crush on Kim Chiu. Asked about the possibility of doing a movie career, he said he would want Chiu to be his leading lady, and himself to be an action star, following the steps of Robin Padilla or Ronnie Ricketts.
Dramatic life story
But Pomoy's dramatic renditions pale against his own life story, worthy of an episode on ABS-CBN's "Maalaala Mo Kaya."
Abandoned by his mother when he was 2 years old, it didn't take long before his own father, who was locked up in prison, put him and his brother up for adoption.
"Nung bata pa kami, iniwan na ako ng mother ko. 'Yong bunso namin 3 months, ako mag-tu-two years pa lang. Dinala na kami sa kulungan ng father ko kasi walang mag-aalaga sa bahay. 'Yong mga preso doon nag-ambag-ambag ng pagkain. Nagkasakit father ko. Pina-ampon na lang kami.
"Mga 8 years old, lumayas na po ako. Hinanap ko 'yong father ko (sa Surigao)," Pomoy said.
But with his father remarried and with a new family, Pomoy went on his own.
Growing up a virtual orphan, from the age of 8, he took odd jobs to survive.
At 16, he worked as a pin boy in a bowling alley, and sold balut to earn money for food. He was eventually reunited with his father with the help of a good samaritan who recognized him and was aware of what happened to their family. Little did he know that his own father was among his loyal patrons.
"'Yong father ko umiiyak na lang. Sabi niya, 'Pasensiya na kayo sa hirap ng buhay.' Napagbintangan lang daw po siya. Nakulong siya."
But Pomoy said through it all he also learned to survive by depending on himself, not once thinking of being angry at the world, others, or himself.
Through an illegal recruiter, he found work with a Chinese, and for 2 years was paid an annual salary.
At 24, he returned to Manila to find his mother and brother. He found his mother and sister, only to suffer more ill treatment from them when he was recovering from an operation for appendicitis.
This prodded him to find a way to make money. The search took him to "Talentadong Pinoy" and eventually "Pilipinas Got Talent."
Despite his personal tragedy, today Pomoy manages to look at life with faith and humor.
After reaching only Grade 3 in school, today Pomoy plans to continue his education, and eventually have a family of his own.
He also remains grateful for the support of his admiring Filipino fans.
"Sa lahat ng sumuporta, kung hindi sa inyo, hindi ko mararating ito," he said.
With a recording album on the way, there's no way but up for this singing sensation.
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