Pinoy fisherman Roland Abante gets 4 'yes' votes from 'America's Got Talent' judges

ABS-CBN News

<p>(UPDATED) Filipino fisherman Roland Abante received four "yes" votes from all the judges of “America’s Got Talent” for his performance of Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman." </p><p>The Bisaya-speaking contestant also got a standing ovation from the judges as well as the audience.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/F_WikQTSn_w?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div><p>"I don't think you could have done it better. Mic drop. ...You were amazing. You should be very proud of yourself," said judge Heidi Klum, who gave Abante a hug before his performance. </p><p>"I have a feeling you gonna stop fishing because this is where you needed to be," Sofia Vergara said.</p><p>"You were so nervous, I genuinely thought for one moment you were not able to get to do this. And then, that happened. And it actually made me love this audition even more, and I really like you. That was great audition. Really brilliant," said Simon Cowell, who also gave Abante a hug.</p><p>"I think Simon is really right. It's the emotion and we could feel your heart. And I think everybody just heard a life-changing moment," Howie Mandel added.</p><p>According to Abante, who spoke through an interpreter, he is a fisherman and a habal-habal driver, who loves to sing karaoke.</p><p>He also turned emotional when asked of why he wanted to join "America's Got Talent."</p><p>"This is my big dream to be here," Abante said.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yns_Z5UzhcI?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/j9giXfIPvEI?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div><p>Abante, who is also known as "Bunot," was first discovered in 2014 when a video of him singing Michael Bolton's version of "To Love Somebody" went viral on social media, garnering millions of views and shares. </p><p>His talent also caught the attention of comedian Vice Ganda, who invited him to guest on "Gandang Gabi Vice," where he sang a duet with his long-time idol, Gary Valenciano. </p><p>Abante also performed on "ASAP" with Journey's Pinoy vocalist, Arnel Pineda. </p><p>Two years after, he returned to ABS-CBN to join "It's Showtime's" Tawag ng Tanghalan. </p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/06/17/cebuano-youtube-sensation-is-new-tawag-champ'>Cebuano YouTube sensation is new 'Tawag' champ</a></li></ul><p>"Sumali ako sa Tawag ng Tanghalan dahil naniniwala ako na hindi nagtatapos sa pagiging viral ang pangarap ko. Gusto ko pang ipagpatuloy ang pag-unlad ng career ko sa pag-awit," he said. </p>

<p>"I don't think you could have done it better. Mic drop. ...You were amazing. You should be very proud of yourself," said judge Heidi Klum, who gave Abante a hug before his performance. </p><p>"I have a feeling you gonna stop fishing because this is where you needed to be," Sofia Vergara said.</p><p>"You were so nervous, I genuinely thought for one moment you were not able to get to do this. And then, that happened. And it actually made me love this audition even more, and I really like you. That was great audition. Really brilliant," said Simon Cowell, who also gave Abante a hug.</p><p>"I think Simon is really right. It's the emotion and we could feel your heart. And I think everybody just heard a life-changing moment," Howie Mandel added.</p><p>According to Abante, who spoke through an interpreter, he is a fisherman and a habal-habal driver, who loves to sing karaoke.</p><p>He also turned emotional when asked of why he wanted to join "America's Got Talent."</p><p>"This is my big dream to be here," Abante said.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yns_Z5UzhcI?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/j9giXfIPvEI?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div><p>Abante, who is also known as "Bunot," was first discovered in 2014 when a video of him singing Michael Bolton's version of "To Love Somebody" went viral on social media, garnering millions of views and shares. </p><p>His talent also caught the attention of comedian Vice Ganda, who invited him to guest on "Gandang Gabi Vice," where he sang a duet with his long-time idol, Gary Valenciano. </p><p>Abante also performed on "ASAP" with Journey's Pinoy vocalist, Arnel Pineda. </p><p>Two years after, he returned to ABS-CBN to join "It's Showtime's" Tawag ng Tanghalan. </p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/06/17/cebuano-youtube-sensation-is-new-tawag-champ'>Cebuano YouTube sensation is new 'Tawag' champ</a></li></ul><p>"Sumali ako sa Tawag ng Tanghalan dahil naniniwala ako na hindi nagtatapos sa pagiging viral ang pangarap ko. Gusto ko pang ipagpatuloy ang pag-unlad ng career ko sa pag-awit," he said. </p>

<figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/F_WikQTSn_w?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>(UPDATED) Filipino fisherman Roland Abante received four "yes" votes from all the judges of “America’s Got Talent” for his performance of Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman." </p><p>The Bisaya-speaking contestant also got a standing ovation from the judges as well as the audience.</p>

The Bisaya-speaking Roland Abante also got a standing ovation from the judges as well as the audience.

Pinoy fisherman Roland Abante gets 4 'yes' votes from 'America's Got Talent' judges | ABS-CBN News

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Pinoy fisherman Roland Abante gets 4 'yes' votes from 'America's Got Talent' judges

Pinoy fisherman Roland Abante gets 4 'yes' votes from 'America's Got Talent' judges