By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Not one to be left behind as Asian countries make their mark in the international spotlight, Filipino talents continue to raise the Philippine flag and carry with them the distinct spirit of our humble race.
This, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed Filipino singer-songwriter Gwyn Dorado to Malacañang on Tuesday, recognizing her rising success and growing international presence in South Korea’s music and entertainment industry.
Dorado’s courtesy call came on the heels of notable career milestones that have brought Filipino talent to the global spotlight, thus propelling her to lofty peaks at such an early age.
Dorado made history as the only foreign contestant to reach the Top 4 of South Korea’s “Sing Again 4,” where she finished as runner-up.
She later emerged as the grand winner of the Netflix Korea reality music competition “Famous Singers Need a Hit Song,” which ran from February to May 2026.
Her victory further expanded her career in South Korea, where she has released original music and contributed to the soundtrack of the South Korean romance-comedy series “My Royal Nemesis.”
These achievements were made even more impressive by the showcase of the 21-year-old singer’s competitiveness in a crowded media landscape dominated by long-running and well-established figures.
Dorado’s Palace visit concluded with a brief rendition of the Filipino OPM classic “Bato sa Buhangin,” which encapsulates the potential of homegrown talent to succeed in the international arena and the diaspora.
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