Gretchen Espina

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Gretchen Espina
Background = solo_singer


Img_capt = Gretchen Espina in "Pinoy Idol" finale
Birth_name = Gretchen Stephanie Mendiola Espina
Born = 1988
Origin = Quezon City, Philippines
Genre = Soul
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 2008-present
Instrument = Vocals
Label = Sony BMG Philippines

Gretchen Stephanie Mendiola Espina (born 1988 in Quezon City, Philippines) is a Filipino singer who rose to notability after winning "Pinoy Idol", an interactive reality-based singing competition. Although she is credited as the first Pinoy Idol, Espina is technically the second winner of a Philippine "Idol" franchise, after Mau Marcelo of "Philippine Idol" in 2006.cite news| first=Marinel| last=Cruz| title=Biliran lass named 'Pinoy Idol'| publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer| date=August 18, 2008| url=http://services.inquirer.net/mobile/08/08/19/html_output/xmlhtml/20080817-155219-xml.html| accessdate=2008-08-20]

Biography

Early life

Espina came from a musically-inclined family, with her father, Biliran Governor Rogelio J. Espina, described as a "good piano player and singer."cite news| title=Biliran lass is first "Pinoy idol"| publisher=Philippine Information Agency| date=August 19, 2008| url=http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p080819.htm&no=22| accessdate=2008-08-20] Her mother, Cecil, works as a pediatrician; while her grandfather, Gerry, is a former mayor of Naval, Biliran. Espina was born in Quezon City, Metro Manila, where she spent her early years studying in School of the Holy Spirit before transferring to Naval Central School where she finished elementary schooling with honors. She studied high school in Cathedral School of La Naval, where she graduated as a salutatorian.

Espina pursued college in University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City, with a major in European Languages. She is a member of The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors and represented UP in the Inter-Collegiate Singing Contest held in Shantou University, Guangdong, China, where she won first prize.cite news| first=Jack| last=Gadaingan| title=Visayan singer wins China inter-collegiate songfest| publisher=Manila Bulletin| date=December 16, 2006| url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/12/16/PROV2006121682523.html| accessdate=2008-08-20] cite news| first=Nora| last=Calderon| title="Pinoy Idol" winner Gretchen Espina: "Sisikapin ko pong maging karapat-dapat."| publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal| date=August 18, 2008| url=http://www.pep.ph/news/18789/Pinoy-Idol-winner-Gretchen-Espina:-Sisikapin-ko-pong-maging-karapat-dapat| language=Tagalog]

"Pinoy Idol"

Espina auditioned in SM Mall of Asia.cite web| publisher=iGMA.tv| title=Gretchen Espina profile on "Pinoy Idol"| url=http://www.igma.tv/pinoyidol/contestants/gretchen-espina] This was despite her parents' disapproval of her auditioning because they wanted her to finish college. News about Espina included was among 179 aspirants who passed the auditions was passed around in Biliran through SMS. She was never among the finalists with the lowest number of votes, also known as "The Bottom Group," during the competition.cite news| first=Dinno| last=Erece| title=FIRST READ ON PEP: Gretchen Espina proclaimed as the first "Pinoy Idol"| publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal| date=August 17, 2008| url=http://www.pep.ph/news/18787/FIRST-READ-ON-PEP:-Gretchen-Espina-proclaimed-as-the-first-Pinoy-Idol| language=Tagalog] The Finale was described as a competition among the Philippines' three major island groups, with Espina representing Visayas while runners-up Jayann Bautista of Pampanga Province representing Luzon and Ram Chaves of Cagayan de Oro City representing Mindanao. After her win, she revealed that she would give P100,000 (roughly US$2,000) to each of her two runners-up as part of their agreement. She is slated to record her first single under Sony-BMG Philippines with "To You," the Pinoy Idol coronation song.

Criticisms

Being a member of a family involved in politics, Espina was criticized that her win was probably caused by her family's clout and was allegedly evident when cheers for her runner-up Jayann Bautista was louder during the announcement of "Pinoy Idol" winner. Espina was also included in the local version of "Vote for the Worst", which campaigns for "the worst contestant" to win "Pinoy Idol".cite news| title=Gretchen Espina is first 'Pinoy Idol'| publisher=Sun.Star Manila| date=August 19, 2008| url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2008/08/19/life/gretchen.espina.is.first.pinoy.idol..html| accessdate=2008-08-20] In an interview right after the Finale, she stated that a bulk of her supporters are based in Eastern Visayas region, adding that she would not have lasted in the competition if the viewers were not impressed with her performance.cite news| first=Marinel| last=Cruz| title=Pinoy Idol: Talent, not connections, got me here| publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer| date=August 18, 2008| url=http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080818-155442/Pinoy-Idol-Talent-not-connections-got-me-here| accessdate=2008-08-20]

References