[off mic]

MR. SOFRONIO VASQUEZ III: … and I am the first Filipino to be – around the area. So…

PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.: Pero kahit na Ithaca. Why did you choose Ithaca?

FIRST LADY LIZA ARANETA-MARCOS: ‘Coz it’s cheap and far.

MR. VASQUEZ: Opo kasi mahirap po. And ano po I found out that there is a dental program for foreigners sa Buffalo. So upstate New York doon po ako nakapagtrabaho as dental assistant sa…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: He studied dentistry.

MR. VASQUEZ: Hindi po ‘yung naglilinis po bago ‘yung – magma-mop.

MS. IRENE MARCOS: [off mic]

MR. VASQUEZ: Opo ‘yun po ‘yun.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Pwede kang i-cleaning.

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: He sterilizes everything.

MR. VASQUEZ: Exactly, ma’am.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Irene, kaya ka niyang i-cleaning.

MR. VASQUEZ: Pero dito po nag-graduate po ako ng dental medicine. Hindi lang po ako nakapag-board exam. But my brother is a dentist.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, it’s in the family talagang mag-dentist. Bakit dentistry kayong lahat?

MR. VASQUEZ: My Papa po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ba’t ‘di ba New York University has the best dentistry…?

MR. VASQUEZ: Kaso nakapa-competitive kasi, Mr. President at saka mahal.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Pero sinasabi nila pinakamagaling daw New York.

MS. IRENE MARCOS: May I introduce Teacher [inaudible].

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oh yes!

MR. VASQUEZ: She’s my vocal coach po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oh my gosh! Thank you. Thank you. My God, talagang napaka – what a nice result.

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: And how did you two meet?

VOCAL COACH: I’m the vocal coach of Tawag ng Tanghalan and he joined. He was a grand finalist actually but he lost because of the text votes. [inaudible]

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Because of?

MR. VASQUEZ: Text votes po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Pero ‘yan din ang nagpapanalo sa’yo. Marami tayong pinapanalo sa text vote na Pilipino.

VOCAL COACH: Kanina ko lang nalaman na sa Tawag ng Tanghalan [inaudible] denied.

MR. VASQUEZ: Denied always. Medyo nakakalungkot po na makita. Na-memorize ko na lahat ‘yung mga staff by face tapos… Parang makikita mo sa mukha na “ikaw na naman!”

PRESIDENT MARCOS: “Ikaw na naman.”

WOMAN: Pursigido.

MAN: Tinalo mo pala si Pia Wurtzbach.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Pero paano ka napunta sa music?

MR. VASQUEZ: Si Papa po kasi alam mo naman sa atin always kong sinasabi na ‘yung career talaga part ng ating kultura, sir. So, I am just so blessed.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ang biro nga nila sa Amerika is that how do you know you’re in a Filipino house? May karaoke.

For sure, galing! At saka hindi ako makapaniwala ‘yung backing band mo si Sting.

MR. VASQUEZ: Opo.

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: He is more excited about Sting.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Idol ko ‘yun. Tapos si Mic – ang bait ni Michael Bublé ‘no.

MR. VASQUEZ: I told him sir na I will meet you. Hindi ko lang po alam kung anong oras but he is super excited. Proud… Medyo naka-cut lang po ‘yung blind audition ko but part of it was him telling na he was an American artist, signed artist, but he was not noticed in America not until nagpunta siya sa Philippines and Philippines is the first one to make him —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Nagpasikat sa kanya.

MR. VASQUEZ: — the sold-out concert. So, nakilala siya. Kaya naiiyak talaga siya. Naiiyak talaga siya sa Filipinos.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah kaya pala. Kaya mahal na mahal niya ‘yung mga Pinoy.

MR. VASQUEZ: At saka ‘yung grandfather niya – grandfather niya is…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Don’t tell me Filipino ‘yung…

MR. VASQUEZ: Hindi po. Iyong grandfather niya ang nanny, nag-caretaker Filipina.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: The usual story.

WOMAN: Kaya binigay ‘yung bahay.

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: Is he coming here? Si Michael Bublé?

MR. VASQUEZ: Gusto niya po. Sabi niya…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Wala sikat ‘yan. I’m sure his schedule is packed.

MR. VASQUEZ: Iyong sinabi niya sir if you will have a show in the Philippines, I will make sure na pupunta daw siya. Kaya sabi ko, “hold that promise.”

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: We’ll make a show for him.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: No, but I could tell when you were singing together talagang ano siya enthusiastic siya at saka tuwang-tuwa. Mas tuwa pa sa’yo noong nanalo ka.

MR. VASQUEZ: And he decides everything. Lahat ng song ko, from my outfits, lahat po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah talaga.

MR. VASQUEZ: He take time. Yeah. He took time, yeah. Sobrang…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: The reputation of Filipinos in music is cemented.

MR. VASQUEZ: Thank you, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hindi ko makalimutan I saw a quick video one of this America’s Got Talent yata. May kumanta na babae ang galing nang pagkakanta. Si Simon Cowell imbes na bumoto just held up a sign, “Are you a Filipina?” [laughter] Understood na ‘yan.

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: That’s a tough crowd.

MR. VASQUEZ: Pero nung na-announce po ako, ma’am, totoo po pala ‘yung moment na parang nagfa-flashback sa’yo lahat ng… Sorry, naiyak na ako. Iyong pinagdaanan mo na you are bringing the…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: I’m sure.

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: Kaya ka napaluhod.

MR. VASQUEZ: Opo talaga. Always po akong grateful kasi I’m not… Nagpunta po ako doon to just try. So every round na pinipili ako ni Michael Bublé parang culmination lang siya na “I think we can make this work.” Ganoon. So, tiwala lang ako sa kanya.

Last two songs sabi ko, “Can you help me?” Sabi niya, “Just trust me on this one.” Gagawa ako ng paraan talaga for song choice. Maghanap ako. And he made sure na talagang bumoto. And surprisingly, sir, ‘yung mga Filipinos around America hindi ko po alam na may mga text brigade sila na – bumoto po sila. Vote natin ‘to.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Kahit dito.

MR. VASQUEZ: Opo.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Kahit dito.

MR. VASQUEZ: Grabe, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Alam mo naman ang mga Pinoy text capital of the world ‘yan eh ‘di ba?

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: You made us so proud.

MR. VASQUEZ: Thank you, ma’am. Maraming salamat po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, talagang nakakatuwa. Tuwang-tuwa kaming lahat. Finally, finally nakilala. First ano – hindi lang first Filipino, first Asian.

MR. VASQUEZ: First Asian po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Laking bagay nun. Hindi biro ‘yun.

MR. VASQUEZ: Hindi po, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Wow.

MAN: At saka ang laking percentage.

MR. VASQUEZ: Opo.

MS. IRENE MARCOS: Malaking margin mo.

MR. VASQUEZ: Malaking margin po.

MS. IRENE MARCOS: Sorry, talo margin mo.

MR. VASQUEZ: Ay, sorry.

[laughter]

PRESIDENT MARCOS: ‘Di bale music naman. Music, I’m happy with that at saka para sa Pinoy. No problem.

MR. VASQUEZ: Oh my gosh. Thank you po sa inyong lahat. Thank you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ay nako, ikaw ha, kami ang magpapa-thank you sa’yo dahil pinasikat mo na naman ‘yung Pilipino. Sikat na naman tayo dahil sa ginawa mo.

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: I never showed you his video to me. “Ma’am, I’m coming to the Philippines. I’m dying to meet the President.”

MR. VASQUEZ: Akala ko po… I thought na hindi mo po [unclear] tapos nakita ko po ‘yung video na “you were so nervous my dear.” Sabi ko, “oh, nahuli pala ako.” [laughter]

Ilang beses kong tinake ‘yun, ma’am. Grabe talaga for that message. [laughter]

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: And you were still nervous?

MR. VASQUEZ: Yes. Oh my gosh, so I hope na I could take this opportunity, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Pero ganoon talaga kahit na ‘yung mga… Like one of the… Barbra Streisand, hanggang ngayon she refuses to go on concert kasi masyado siyang ninenerbiyos.

Ah sino pa ba — ? Mayroon — si ano, Taylor Swift.

WOMAN: She gets nervous?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: She throws up.

WOMAN: Wow!

MR. VASQUEZ: Iba po sa akin.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ano? Ano ‘yung niyerbos mo?

MR. VASQUEZ: [unclear] is with me. She is working in the show. Kapag bago po ako kumanta talagang nakikiusap ako sa kanya na puwedeng mag-ano muna ako, magbawas. [laughter]

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Normal ‘yun, normal ‘yun.

MR. VASQUEZ: Oh my God ang daming media. [laughter]

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you for looking after our guy. Thanks so much for looking after our guy.

WOMAN: Edit, edit. Off the record.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ang galing. So what’s next? What’s next? You have your record contract?

MR. VASQUEZ: Opo mayroon po akong record contract. Tapos hopefully magkaroon po ako ng magandang management. Si Michael Bublé po ang nag-suggest na since I am from Asia and the Philippines, dapat ‘yung magha-handle is Philippines and iba ‘yung sa America para maganda po. So, maganda naman po ‘yung number ng proposals kaya pag-uusapan na lang po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, wala. Good ka na basta’t tuloy-tuloy. Nag-cruise ka pa rin ‘di ba?

MR. VASQUEZ: I worked as a cruise ship singer.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Can you imagine?

MR. VASQUEZ: Nag-OFW po ako for a time.

WOMAN: Kaya hasang-hasa.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Kumakanta ka ‘yung walang audience?

WOMAN: Hindi lang ‘yung lasing.

MR. VASQUEZ: Lasing, lasing ang audience.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Isa pa ‘yun. It’s even better. Ang iingay, hindi ka pinapansin. Tawa nang tawa nang malakas. Sanayan lang. Talagang ganyan ‘yan.

Ako ‘pag speech ko ganyan din. [laughter] Hindi ako pinapansin. Walang nakikinig sa akin. Okay lang ‘yan. Sige lang, sige lang.

WOMAN: Go nang go.

MR. VASQUEZ: Laban lang. Laking tulong po, sir. Laking tulong talaga nung recognition. Tapos…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, you cannot imagine. Kaya naman napaka ano. Dito parang kaunti na lang gawin naming national holiday ‘yung pagkapanalo mo.

MR. VASQUEZ: Ay salamat. [laughter]

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Happy ang lahat ng Pinoy. Kasi parang lahat ng nagsasabi, ang galing ng Pinoy sa music, ang galing ng Pinoy… Pero ito, tunay na ito, recognized na. Ito talagang hindi lamang uy magaling, magaling…Ito may recognition. Iyon ang pinakaimportante.

So, when are you going to record?

MR. VASQUEZ: I am going to… Actually, sir, nag-message po sa akin this early— yesterday lang po, ‘yung A&R po ‘yung Republic Records, they need to talk — the President wants to talk to me para sa magiging brand ng songs, album.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ano nga? Ikaw, anong pinaka paborito mong kantahin?

MR. VASQUEZ: Well, I prepared your favorite song, sir. If you want to hear something.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Acapella?

MR. VASQUEZ: I have my accompaniment prepared.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, wow, wow, swerte naman natin. Sige, sige. Wow! Hindi ko expected ‘yun ah.

MR. VASQUEZ: Since I am super blessed to be in front of you, madame and Mr. President, I’ve preparade and I’ve researched a bit. You are a Beatles fan and this is one of your favorite songs, sir.

So, I hope you like this one.

[Mr. Vasquez sings]

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Everything you sing is perfect. I will never sing again by the way. [laughter]

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: Promise?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Never again, never, never. If I cannot learn how to sing that well, I will not sing anymore. [laughter]

Grabe, ang galing mo.

WOMAN: The pipes, grabe the pipes.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: The other comment… Si Irene, at saka we watched — kasi we watched you, you were singing with other people, nasa level ka na you’re so generous. Hindi ka nang-aagaw ng eksena.

He’s so generous. ‘Pag kailangan mag-fill, nagfi-fill ka lang; pagka kailangan ikaw ang mag-solo — that was something, that’s a real sign of… It’s all about the music, it’s not about you. You’re humble, it’s not about making pasikat, it’s about making the music sound good.

FIRST LADY ARANETA-MARCOS: Well, speaking of pasikat, he wants to make pasikat. A photo with you.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Wow! That was terrific.

As many pictures as you — ako nga ang magpapa-picture sa’yo [laughter] dahil ikaw ‘yung champion. Ang ganda! Ang galing mo kumanta.

He sings so damn well.

Okay, let’s take pictures. Halikayo, halikayo.

—END—