MANILA — “I am going to work hard to make her known international.” These were apl.de.ap’s words in 2013 after successfully recruiting into his team Jessica Reynoso in the first-ever season of “The Voice of the Philippines.”
Reynoso, 16 at the time, shared her story of not having ever met her African-American father, a situation that apl.de.ap personally identified with, as he shares a similar history, prompting him to call the aspiring singer his “long-lost sister.”
Ultimately, Reynoso made it to the live shows of “The Voice of the Philippines” as a finalist. But her coach took to the finale Janice Javier, who placed third to eventual winner Mitoy Yonting of Team Lea.
Fast-forward six years later, apl.de.ap appears to have made good on his promise to introduce Reynoso to an international audience, as she joined the rapper’s iconic hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas in its 2019 world tour.
That tour included a stop in the Philippines, where The Black Eyed Peas on Wednesday closed the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
As in the group’s international concerts in recent months, Reynoso sang all the parts of Fergie, the original and only female member of the group since its breakout 2003 hit “Where is the Love?”.
On stage at the Athletics Stadium in New Clark City, apl.de.ap re-introduced his compatriot Reynoso to the Filipino audience, recalling their first meeting on ABS-CBN’s “The Voice of the Philippines.”
“I was fortunate na naging part ako ng ‘The Voice,’ and I love doing that show para makadiskubre ako ng mga bagong talents sa Pilipinas,” he began, with Reynoso at his side.
“Ngayon po, you’re probably wondering kung sino ang kasama naming kumakanta sa stage. I would like to take this moment para ipakilala siya. Galing siya sa ‘The Voice’ Season 1. Galing po sa atin ‘yan, ha. Taga-Laguna siya,” apl.de.ap added.
Mentioning his ward started out as Jessica Reynoso, apl.de.ap shared they’ve since decided on a stage name.
“She’s been touring around the world with us, developing her career. So mga kababayan, I’d like to introduce, J Rey Soul!”
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