Gretchen Espina
Encyclopedia
Gretchen Stephanie Mendiola Espina (born January 8, 1989 in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...

, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

) is a Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....

 singer who rose to notability after winning Pinoy Idol
Pinoy Idol
Pinoy Idol was a Philippine interactive reality-based singing competition created and developed by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment which aired on GMA Network...

, an interactive
Interactive television
Interactive television describes a number of techniques that allow viewers to interact with television content as they view it.- Definitions :...

 reality-based
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...

 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
Mau Marcelo
Maureen "Mau" Flores Marcelo is a Filipina Puertorican R&B soul singer who rose to prominence as the first winner of Philippine Idol in 2006. She was dubbed as the "Soul Idol" and "The Black Belter" at the competition for her R&B-style vocals...

 of Philippine Idol
Philippine Idol
Philippine Idol was the first franchise of Idol series in the Philippines, the 35th country in the world to air a national Idol franchise and the sixth in Asia. The franchise was first awarded by FremantleMedia, 19 Entertainment and CKX, Inc. to Associated Broadcasting Company in 2006 and then to...

in 2006. She came from the political family of Espinas of Biliran. Her father Rogelio Espina, is a former governor and the current representative of the lone district of Biliran, while her grandfather Gerardo Espina, Sr. is a former representative and mayor of Naval, Biliran and her uncle Gerardo Espina, Jr. is a former representative and current governor of Biliran.

Early life

Espina came from a musically-inclined family who is also the prominent political family in Biliran, with her father, Congressman Dr. Rogelio "Roger" J. Espina, Representative of the Lone District of Biliran, described as a "good piano player and singer." Her mother, Cecil, works as a pediatrician; while her grandfather, Gerry, is a Mayor of Kawayan, Biliran
Kawayan, Biliran
The word kawayan means bamboo.Kawayan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 17,507 people in 3,688 households.-Barangays:...

. Her uncle, Gerry (Gerryboy) Espina Jr. is the present Governor of Biliran
Biliran
In 1945 liberated by the Philippine Commonwealth forces of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was landed in Biliran with the local guerrilla forces by the attack of the Japanese troops from the island during the Battle of Biliran during World War II.-Conversion:On April...

.

Espina was born in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...

, Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...

, where she spent her early years studying in School of the Holy Spirit
School of the Holy Spirit
School of the Holy Spirit of Quezon City or SHSQC is a private all-girls Catholic school located in BF Homes, Quezon City, Philippines. The school is run by the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit, a congregation established by German saint, Arnold Janssen.-History:German diocesan...

 before transferring to Naval Central School where she finished elementary
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...

 level with honors. She had her secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...

 in Cathedral School of La Naval, where she graduated as a salutatorian
Salutatorian
Salutatorian is an academic title given, in the United States and Canada, to the second highest graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. This honor is traditionally based on grade point average and number of credits taken, but...

.

Espina pursued college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...

 in University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...

 Diliman campus in Quezon City, with a major in European Languages. She is a member of The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors
The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors
The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors, also known as the UP Singing Ambassadors or UPSA, is one of the based in the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City, the Philippines. UPSA is the State University's official performing group for choreographed choral music and...

 and represented UP in the Inter-Collegiate Singing Contest held in Shantou University
Shantou University
Shantou University is a provincial level University in the Guangdong city of Shantou. It was authorised and established in 1981 by the State Council and Guangdong Government under the “Project 211” program. Mr. Li Ka-shing, a global businessman and philanthropist, contributed HK $3.1 billion to...

, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...

, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

, where she won the first prize as a solo performer.

She is now currently studying in the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center (UERRMC) College of Dentistry taking up Dentistry as her second course.

Philippine Idol

She was in Philippine Idol's top 40, but was cut from getting into the top 24 .

Pinoy Idol

Espina auditioned in SM Mall of Asia
SM Mall of Asia
SM Mall of Asia is a shopping mall owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall developer and owner in the Philippines. SM Mall of Asia is the 2nd largest mall in the Philippines after SM City North EDSA, 3rd largest shopping mall in Asia and the 4th largest shopping mall in the world...

. This was despite her parents' disapproval of her auditioning because they wanted her to finish college first. News about Espina included was among 179 aspirants who passed the auditions was passed around in Biliran through SMS
Short message service
Short Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...

. She was never among the finalists with the lowest number of votes, also known as "The Bottom Group," during the competition. The Finale was described as a competition among the Philippines' three major island groups, with Espina representing Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...

 while runners-up Jayann Bautista
Jayann Bautista
Jay Ann "Jayann" Bautista is a Filipino singer who rose to notability after becoming a Runner-Up of Pinoy Idol, an interactive reality-based singing competition...

 of Pampanga Province
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...

 representing Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...

 and Ram Chaves
Ram Chaves
Ramon "Ram" Chaves III is best known for joining the first season of Pinoy Idol from GMA Network where he managed to finish as the second runner up....

 of Cagayan de Oro City
Cagayan de Oro City
Cagayan de Oro; , officially the City of Cagayan de Oro, is the provincial capital city of the province of Misamis Oriental in the Philippines...

 representing Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...

. After her win, she revealed that she would give P
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...

100,000 (roughly US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....

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
To You
"To You" is a 1939 song composed by Tommy Dorsey with Benny Davis and Ted Shapiro. The song was a top 10 hit on the Billboard charts.-Other recordings:"To You" was recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra and released as an RCA Bluebird 78...

," the Pinoy Idol coronation song.

Pinoy Idol Performances

Week Theme Song Choice Original Artist Result
Top 24 Contestant's Choice "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)
Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)
"Neither One of Us " is a song recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips. Released in 1973 from the album, Neither One of Us, the song spent four weeks at number one on the Soul Singles chart during the spring of that year. The song was also one of their biggest crossover hits, peaking at number 2 on...

"
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...

Safe
Top 20 Hit Songs From Year of Birth "The Way You Make Me Feel
The Way You Make Me Feel
"The Way You Make Me Feel" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. Released by Epic Records in November 1987, it was the third single from Jackson's seventh studio album Bad. Written and composed by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones , the song is credited as being a pop and R&B...

"
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...

Safe
Top 16 Greatest Musical Influences "Wala Na Bang Pag-Ibig" Jaya Safe
Top 14 Songs For Fathers "Try It On My Own
Try It on My Own
"Try It on My Own" is a 2003 single released by American R&B/pop singer Whitney Houston. The song is about overcoming doubts or fears so a person can reach the point in their life where they can "try it on their own"...

"
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...

Safe
Top 12 Songs From Their Greatest Pre-Idol Performances "Respect
Respect (song)
"Respect" is a song written and originally released by Stax recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. "Respect" became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. The music in the two versions is significantly different, and through a few minor changes in the lyrics, the stories told...

"
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...

Safe
Top 11 Song Dedications "A House Is Not a Home
A House Is Not a Home (song)
"A House Is Not a Home" is a 1964 song recorded by American singer Dionne Warwick. Written by the team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the song was a modest hit in the U.S. for Warwick, peaking at #71 on the pop singles chart as the B-side of the top 40 single, "You'll Never Get to Heaven "...

"
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....

Safe
Top 10 Songs of Their Lives "Follow Your Road" Pauline Wilson
Pauline Wilson
Pauline Wilson is an American jazz/pop singer best known as lead vocalist with the jazz/fusion group Seawind in the 1970's and early 80's.Wilson, who is also part Filipino was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii...

Safe
Top 9 Regine Velasquez "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang
Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang
Kung Maibábalík Ko Lang is a Philippine song sung by Regine Velasquez. This was used as a soundtrack of Regal Films’ movie of the same title starring Pops Fernandez and Maricel Soriano and as a theme song of the segment of the same title in the former talk show in ABS-CBN titled “Teysi ng Tahanan.”...

"
Regine Velasquez
Regine Velasquez
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez , better known as Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, is a Filipino singer, actress, record producer and TV host...

Safe
Top 8 Jaya "You Lift Me Up" Jaya Safe
Top 7 OPM Bands' Songs "Ikaw Lang Ang Aking Mahal" Brownman Revival
Brownman Revival
Brownman Revival is a Filipino reggae band founded in 1994. They count Big Mountain, Aswad and UB40 among their musical influences, as well as Filipino reggae groups Tropical Depression and Cocojam...

Safe
Top 6 Basil Valdez "Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan" Basil Valdez
Basil Valdez
Basil Valdez is a Filipino balladeer.He has received several Tinig Awards and the 1991 Tanglaw ng Lahi Award from Ateneo de Manila University-Biography:...

Safe
Top 5 Greatest Idol Performances "I'm Here
I'm Here
"I'm Here" is Yuna Ito's 7th single in total, and first of the year 2007, released after her successful debut album "Heart", on March 14, 2007 under Studioseven Recordings.-Overview:...

"
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Monique Barrino commonly known as Fantasia, is an American R&B singer, Broadway and television actress who rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. Following her victory, she released her debut single, "I Believe", which...

Safe
Top 3 Judge's Choice: Jolina Magdangal
Jolina Magdangal
-Filmography:Pasan ko ang Daigdig-Television:-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-2007:* FAMAS Awards - Golden Artist Awardee* PMPC Star Awards for TV - Favorite Female Host Starstruck: The Next Level* UNICEF Ambassadres of Goodwill...


Jaya's Choice
Contestant's Choice
"For Your Eyes Only"
"Stand Up for Love
Stand up for Love
"Stand Up for Love" was the last song of the group and first and only single from Destiny's Child's greatest hits album, #1's. Released in 2005, the single became Destiny's Child's first single to fail to chart in the United States...

"
"Ngayon"
Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...


Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...


Basil Valdez
Basil Valdez
Basil Valdez is a Filipino balladeer.He has received several Tinig Awards and the 1991 Tanglaw ng Lahi Award from Ateneo de Manila University-Biography:...

Safe
Top 2 Idol's Single "To You" Gretchen Espina Winner

Post-Idol

On June 19, 2009, she was re-introduced after months of being away from the limelight due to a throat ailment she had gotten during her stint in Pinoy Idol
Pinoy Idol
Pinoy Idol was a Philippine interactive reality-based singing competition created and developed by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment which aired on GMA Network...

last year, in the 59th Anniversary Celebration of GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...

 held at the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...

 singing medley of songs. On July 5, 2009 she was welcomed as a new regular performer and co-host of the musical variety show SOP Rules.

Espina's debut album entitled Shining Through was released on August 4, 2009 by Sony Music Philippines and 19 Recordings with the carrier single entitled Kasalanan Nga Ba? originally sung and owned by Thor which is the theme song of a drama series Sine Novela
Sine Novela
Sine Novela is a Philippine daytime soap opera aired on GMA Network which showcases old classic movies from VIVA Films turned into a mini-series...

: Tinik Sa Dibdib
Tinik Sa Dibdib
Tinik Sa Dibdib is a Philippine Drama and a Sine Novela offering produced by GMA Network starring Sunshine Dizon/Nadine Samonte, Marvin Agustin, Ara Mina and now with Sheryl Cruz. It is a TV remake of the hit drama flick in 1980's which starred Nora Aunor and Phillip Salvador...

. The album also includes To You, her "victory song" of Pinoy Idol.

In 2010, Espina made her first acting debut in Diva
Diva (Philippine TV series)
Diva is a Philippine musical dramedy television series, developed by Don Michael Perez and directed by Dominic Zapata. The series premiered on March 1, 2010 on GMA Network, starring Regine Velasquez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Mark Anthony Fernandez, TJ Trinidad and Glaiza de Castro.It has several cameos...

as Debbie Romasanta, Tiffany's (Glaiza de Castro
Glaiza de Castro
Glaiza Galura de Castro , better known as Glaiza de Castro, is a Filipina actress and singer...

) best friend and personal assistant who helps her to make Sam/Melody's (Regine Velasquez
Regine Velasquez
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez , better known as Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, is a Filipino singer, actress, record producer and TV host...

) life miserable.

Television

Year Title Role Network
2011 Sinner or Saint (TV series)
Sinner or Saint (TV series)
Sinner or Saint is a Philippine correctional-theme drama series produced by GMA Network starring Dennis Trillo, Bianca King, Alessandra de Rossi and Polo Ravales...

 
Sarah GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...

2011–present Party Pilipinas
Party Pilipinas
Party Pilipinas is a Philippine music variety show broadcasted by GMA Network. The show premiered on 28 March 2010 - replacing the defunct SOP Fully Charged. It also broadcasts worldwide through GMA Pinoy TV.Each week, two teams alternate to give the audience a variety in theme and concepts.Direk...

 
Herself/Performer GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...

2010 | Take Me Out
Take Me Out (Philippine game show)
Take Me Out! is a television dating game show hosted by Jay-R . The show is a version of Australian game show Taken Out created by FremantleMedia France....

 
Herself GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...

2010 | Diva
Diva (Philippine TV series)
Diva is a Philippine musical dramedy television series, developed by Don Michael Perez and directed by Dominic Zapata. The series premiered on March 1, 2010 on GMA Network, starring Regine Velasquez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Mark Anthony Fernandez, TJ Trinidad and Glaiza de Castro.It has several cameos...

 
Debbie Romasanta GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...

2009 | SOP  Herself GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...

2008 Pinoy Idol
Pinoy Idol
Pinoy Idol was a Philippine interactive reality-based singing competition created and developed by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment which aired on GMA Network...

 
Herself (Winner) GMA Network
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...


Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result
2010 Awit Awards Best Performance by a New Female Recording Artist for Kasalanan Nga Ba?
Best R&B for Kasalanan Nga Ba? (R&B Version)
PMPC Star Awards for Music New Female Recording Artist of the Year
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