Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Rose Eclarinal

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775005237548Screen Shot 2026-04-01 at 8.55.08 AM_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Matty Juniosa, 27, drew a standing ovation with a performance that blended vocal power and emotional intensity—prompting judge Simon Cowell to hit the Golden Buzzer. <em>BBA Management/Instagram</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>LONDON — A Glasgow-based Filipino performer captivated a global audience over the weekend after delivering a powerful rendition of “Purple Rain” on the stage of Britain’s Got Talent.</p><p>Matty Juniosa, 27, drew a standing ovation with a performance that blended vocal power and emotional intensity—prompting judge Simon Cowell to hit the Golden Buzzer. As gold confetti rained down, Juniosa dropped to his knees, overwhelmed.</p><p>“I’m not gonna lie—I was hoping there’s gonna be a golden buzzer,” he said. “When that golden buzzer was pressed, I was—Thank You Looord!!! If you noticed me, screaming with my arms out. I just wanted to take it all in,&quot; he narrated.</p><p>“How rare is this moment. I have been dreaming of it for years, since I was a child. All the hard work, all the effort that paid off and come to this moment.”</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWcMx4giOpq/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=594&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A3070774.9000000954%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="977" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><span style="background-color:transparent"><strong>FROM MANDALUYONG TO THE GLOBAL STAGE</strong></span></div><div><span style="background-color:transparent"><br/></span></div><div><span style="background-color:transparent">Born and raised in Mandaluyong, Juniosa’s journey has been defined by persistence. Long before his UK breakthrough, he was a familiar face in Philippine reality competitions, including The Voice of the Philippines and Idol Philippines.</span></div><p>During his stint on Idol Philippines, his rendition of “Natural Woman” impressed judges such as Regine Velasquez and Vice Ganda. Asked about his musical inspirations, he answered without hesitation: “Regine! Regine! And Beyonce!”</p><p>He later joined the group “IDolls” and appeared on Your Face Sounds Familiar, continuing to build his reputation as a versatile performer.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BALANCING DREAMS AND SURVIVAL IN THE UK</strong><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><p>In 2022, Juniosa moved to the United Kingdom to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. While honing his craft, he worked part-time as a waiter—juggling daily life with artistic ambition.</p><p>He soon broke into the UK theatre scene, landing roles in productions such as Oscar at the Crown and Kinky Boots, and performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Ne Zha.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWcPOxNCLtM/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=594&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3038373%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="648" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>A VIRAL FILIPINO MOMENT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>His Golden Buzzer moment quickly went viral, embraced online as a proud Filipino milestone. In a personal touch that resonated with many, Juniosa kept pieces of the gold confetti from the stage.</p><p>“I’m so proud to be Filipino through and through because everything that I love about myself its because it Filipino. Its very Filipino of me to sharon some confetti. It’s literary here with me because I would forget it’s an actual thing that happened. I didn’t dream that. It actually happened.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SHARING THE SPOTLIGHT WITH FILIPINO GREATS</strong></div><div><strong></strong><strong><br/></strong></div><p>In September 2025, Juniosa shared the stage in England with renowned Filipino artists Erik Santos, Sofronio Vasquez, and Martin Nievera—further establishing his presence among global Filipino talent.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SINGING FOR FAMILY—AND FOR FILIPINOS EVERYWHERE</strong><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong><strong><br/></strong></div><p>Despite the recent success, Juniosa remains deeply rooted in his identity and community.</p><p>“I’m humbled that I was able to do that for the Filipino people.”</p><p>“I dedicate all of this to my family. Number two, I offer it to the Filipino people… The Filipino people who believed in me back home, from the greatest artist to the friends I had growing up.. the best audience I&#x27;d ever have will always be Filipino. So offer it to the Filipino people who’s struggle to find spot in the world.”</p><p>“Thirdly, I want to offer it also to Glasgow which served as my second home.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>THE JOURNEY CONTINUES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p><strong></strong><strong></strong>With a guaranteed spot in the semi-finals this April, Juniosa’s journey on Britain’s Got Talent is far from over. But for many, he has already secured something more enduring.</p><p>From Mandaluyong to Glasgow, his story is one of resilience, identity, and unwavering determination—a testament to how far talent, courage, and cultural pride can go on the world stage.</p><p>Another great news. Matty is soon joining a West End production so he is set to move to London.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bhdCPKdmJnM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>From Mandaluyong to Glasgow, his story is one of resilience, identity, and unwavering determination—a testament to how far talent, courage, and cultural pride can go on the world stage.</p>

From Mandaluyong to Glasgow, his story is one of resilience, identity, and unwavering determination—a testament to how far talent, courage, and cultural pride can go on the world stage.

'I’m so proud to be Filipino': Matty Juniosa after golden buzzer moment on 'Britain’s Got Talent'

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'I’m so proud to be Filipino': Matty Juniosa after golden buzzer moment on 'Britain’s Got Talent'

Rose Eclarinal

Published April 01, 2026 09:06 AM PHT

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Matty Juniosa

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