MANILA, Philippines ? Fresh from appearing on the US talk show, ?Ellen,? Filipina YouTube singing sensation Zendee Rose ?Random Girl? Tenerefe is keen on being part of boxing history under the team of her ?Ninong,? Manny Pacquiao.
The boxing champ has been hands-on in picking the performer of the Philippine National Anthem in his bouts and with his fourth face-off with Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez just a couple of weeks away, a name has yet to emerge on who would sing ?Lupang Hinirang? at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas by then.
General Santos City-native Zendee, whose college education was actually sponsored by the pound-for-pound fighter, has a suggestion?she volunteers herself.
?Kasi po nung show ko po once sa ?Manny Many Prizes? nilapitan ko po siya with Warner Music tapos tinanong ko siya. Sabi ko, ?Sir Manny may kakanta na po sa laban niyo?? [Sabi niya,] ?Wala pa bakit??
?Tapos sabi ko, ?Sir Manny wala kapang napili? Sabi niya, ?Wala pa.? So sabi ko, ?Sir bakit ka pa maghahanap eh nandito ako, taga GenSan oh?? Tapos sabi niya, ?I told ya!?? she recounted to Bulletin Entertainment and other members of the press during a recent press conference.
While she has yet to receive confirmation that she’s it, Zendee is optimistic that the ?Manny Many Prizes? host would make good his promise.
?Sir Manny sabi mo pakakantahin mo ako sa isa sa mga laban mo, malay mo huling laban mo na ?yan,? she appealed to the famed pugilist.
Although it may seem that she has stolen the spotlight too easily after her random performance in a mall was uploaded online and raked millions of hits, Zendee actually paid her dues before basking in success, having had her share of failed auditions and defeats in singing contests.
Unknown to some, Zendee has sung in parties held by the Pacquiaos.
?Singer niya [Pacman] po ako sa GenSan. Kaya nga po pinaaral niya ako kasi dati kapag may mga parties, birthday ni Mommy D[ionisia Pacquiao], birthday ni Jinkee [Pacquiao], ako po ?yung kumakanta doon. Tapos nagsusuot rin po ako ng gown doon. Doon po nagpapakitang gilas rin po ako do?n kasi baka may makadiscover,? she said.
Aside from family gatherings and special occasions, the boxing champ tapped Zendee to join his campaign ticket during the 2010 elections.
?Nung tumakbo rin po siyang Congressman, ako po ?yung kasama niya sa kampanya. Bago po siya magspeech, gusto po niya dapat kumanta muna ako [para lumapit ?yung tao] para daw kapag nagsalita na siya eh papakinggan na siya ng tao,? she recalled.
According to Zendee, Manny has been all out in supporting her, even offering monetary help for her audition in the recently concluded ?X Factor Philippines.?
?Gano?n po siya, mabait po siya, si Ninong Manny,? said Zendee.
What does Manny say about her newfound fame?
??Yun nga po [nung nagkaroon ng video] so sabi niya ?Hindi ka pa nga lumalapit sakin sikat ka na,?? she quoted Manny as saying, adding, ?Tapos sabi ko, ?Bigyan mo ako ng raket Sir.? Sabi naman niya, ?O sige, dito ka sa ?Manny Many Prizes??
Zendee is set to release a full album under Warner Music Philippines within the year.
