I have been watching the blind audition round of “The Voice”
the other weekend, when I saw a very electrifying version of Bruno Mars’ “Just
The Way You Are” by a guy from Anchorage, Alaska.I kept insisting to my daughter he is
Filipino, just because he goes by the name JR Aquino (I mean, we do get lots of
Juniors and JRs around here, right, and the Aquino surname is a given.Filipino tiyak yan)and he does look
Pinoy. Turned out his folks are from the
Philippines nga. Gee, I hope he grows big like Bruno!
And speaking of Bruno Mars, he does have a Baguio
connection. His real name is Peter
Hernandez, born in Waikiki, Hawaii, but Hernandez (like Aquino, which we all
automatically think of as Pinoy) is actually Portuguese, not Filipino. His mom’s name, though, is Bernadette San Pedro
Bayot-Hernandez.The Bayots are from
Cebu, but the San Pedro part is the Baguio connection.Uncle Sonny San Pedro (no relation.In Baguio, we call friends of our folks
Uncles and Aunties, the way you guys call them titos and titas)is the brother
of Bruno Mars’ maternal grandmom and he was, in fact, at Bruno Mars’ concert
here in the Philippines over a year ago. He told me he even got some fans getting his autograph backstage, just because he is the lolo!
A month before my daughter turned 1, I was making an AVP and this was the song that I chose. But our laptop failed the next month so I wasn't able to finish the planned AVP. I love Jayesslee's version of this as well. Visiting from commEx Oct9.
ReplyDeletei love the songs of bruno mars <3 its so good to know he has filipino blood! :)
ReplyDeleteI can see the resemblance hehehe...now I know what Bruno would look at that age lol!
ReplyDeleteInteresting story. I hope JR Aquino gets in at the Voice. :-)
ReplyDeleteNow I'm singing it in my head. LOL.
ReplyDeleteHe seems like a rally handsome singer. Hope that he wins the competition.
ReplyDeleteI like Bruno Mars songs. It got something that make you want to sing along.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting I hope JR will get in.. :)
ReplyDeleteI actually don't know him pero nung nakita siya nung kasama namin sa bahay narecognize sya. Mas updated pa sa akin.
ReplyDeleteI think ganun talaga mga Filipino, kahit pinakamalayong kamag-anak pa ng sikat ng celebrity, kasama pa rin sa sikat hehehe...
I think there are more and more Filipinoes conquering the international music industry.
ReplyDelete-daddy allan (bcb 10/09)
I love Bruno Mars. Now I'm on LSS too! hahah! =)
ReplyDeleteI can so relate how everyone's an uncle/auntie, manong/manang!
ReplyDeleteLove the Baguio connection :)
That's cool.. I love Bruno Mars, I just wanna be a Millionaire! ^^,
ReplyDeleteIt was only recently that I discovered how beautiful the songs of Bruno Mars are. Both the melody and the lyrics are in sync with the kind of songs I like. Sis, I think I made a mess with the sign up. Please check your email. Hay... :)
ReplyDeleteWas my email too late? I hope it's something that can be easily remedied.
Deletei hope there's a replay because i sure want to watch and hear him sing. i love that song
ReplyDeleteI really don't like the song. Not because of its message, but because of the person I remember every time I heard it.
ReplyDeleteMy preschoolers love that song! And we're all proud of Bruno Mars' Filipino ancestry.
ReplyDeletePretty cool! Small world. Btw,I love the blind auditions of 'The Voice'.
ReplyDeleteCool! The Voice is one of the best nowadays and for me, its already on the first place over other singing competition worldwide.
ReplyDeleteBruno Mars, whether he's half Filipino or not, no reason someone couldn't admire him, his talents and all. He's a very talented young music artist. :)
ReplyDeletefilman santiago ComEx Oct 9 '12
I am not familiar with his songs but I once heard his name over the TV here in Norway... so kaya pala half-pinoy din pala ito..nice one!
ReplyDeleteI only know one song of his that was such a hit, Just the Way You Are.
ReplyDeleteGuttierrez's are related to Bruno Mars, as what Ruffa G. told in a presscon.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, i like his songs specially that one.
Like that song, too! I always think of my son when I hear that song. The Philippines has a lot of talented singing folks here and abroad.
ReplyDeleteproud to be pinoy!
ReplyDelete