The Two-Voiced Singer Who Grew Up on the Street

Marcelito Pomoy was born on 22 September 1984 in Imus, Cavite, and was raised in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, in the Philippines. When he was seven, his mother left and his father was in jail. He later put it plainly: he was orphaned and lived in the streets.

To get by he worked as a pin boy at a bowling alley, setting up pins by hand all day for 50 pesos, about one US dollar. At night he slept in the street. He says he discovered his singing talent during this low point, singing when he was scared. For years he tried to find his family.

At 18, while doing poultry work, he found that he could sing in both a tenor and a soprano voice. He entered amateur and professional singing contests and auditioned for Talentadong Pinoy, but did not get through. He hesitated before joining Pilipinas Got Talent, and decided to enter because he saw it as a way to find his family.

In 2011 he won the second season of the show. He said the country helped him find his family, who were present at the finals.

In 2020 he took part in America's Got Talent: The Champions and placed among the top finishers. The Philippine Star's account describes him as a runner-up, and notes that only the champion received a prize. The article presents him as a street child who became a global star.