Gerald Santos

Filipino singer and actor (born 1991)

Gerald Padua Santos (born May 15, 1991) is a Filipino singer and actor. He was the grand champion of Pinoy Pop Superstar (Season 2) on GMA Network in 2006 and dubbed as "The Prince of Ballad". He played Thuy in the Miss Saigon UK/International Tour 2017–2019 by Cameron Mackintosh Productions logging in 553 performances, and in the Miss Saigon Denmark (in Danish Language) Production 2023 (Det Ny Teater). In 2021, he was awarded Stage Performer of the Decade by BroadwayWorld Philippines (2011 2020) for his performances as Pedro Calungsod in San Pedro Calungsod The Musical. For his role as Doc Willie Ong in I Will: The Musical (2022), he won Best Lead Actor in a Musical in the Aliw Awards 2022. He's also a 2 time "Entertainer of the Year" in the Aliw Awards (2020) (2022). Gerald also has several film credits under his belt.

Gerald Padua Santos was the grand champion of Pinoy Pop Superstar Season 2 of GMA 7 and was dubbed as the "Prince of Ballad". He was Thuy in the 2017–2019 UK/International Tour of Miss Saigon by Cameron Mackintosh.

He was born Gerald Padua Santos on May 15, 1991, in Navotas, the second of five children. His parents both worked at the Navotas Fish Port and were earning just enough to support the family. His parents supported his interest in music from an early age. He started singing at the age of 7 years old and started singing at his elementary school (Daanghari Elementary School) in Navotas. He later joined amateur singing contests (around 50 amateur singing contests in Metro Manila and nearby provinces) and won in many. He was studying at the Tangos National High School in Navotas when he decided to audition for Pinoy Pop Superstar of GMA 7 at the age of 15.

In 2006, Santos became the grand champion of the second season of GMA Network's show Pinoy Pop Superstar. He was the youngest champion of the reality singing contest then hosted by Regine Velasquez. He sang "Kahit Isang Saglit", "Hanggang" and "Close to Where You Are" as his winning songs in the Final night of PPS Season 2. He has been praised on the show for his heartfelt singing. After winning the PPS, Santos signed a five year contract with GMA Records and became a regular on the TV series SOP Rules. He appeared on the primetime TV series I Luv New York and cohosted QTV's Popstar Kids in 2006. His first single, "A Day on the Rainbow", was released in 2006. In 2008 he released his second studio album, Gerald Santos: Pinakahihintay. He transferred to TV 5 in 2010, a year before his contract with GMA expired. He then released the repackaged edition of "Pinakahihintay" for which he did a national mall tour. Gerald won in the 3rd Star Awards (2011) for Music for the "Pinakahihintay" Repackaged edition Album as Male Pop Artist of the Year. In 2012, he released his third album, Gerald Santos The Prince of Ballad. The album won the Revival Album of the Year in the 5th Star Awards for Music in 2013. His 4th album, Gerald Santos Kahit Anong Mangyari was released in July 2015. It was an all original album. Santos signed a 2 year contract with Star Music Philippines in May 2017 and released the single "I am Yours" in June 2017. The follow up single "Hindi Pa Huli ang Lahat" was set to be released in August 2017.

Santos has done five major solo concerts. Santos been nominated for four consecutive years as Best Male Concert Performer (2011–2014) in the Aliw Awards, winning the coveted award in 2011 for his Major Move concert at the Music Museum. In 2012, Santos held the Isang Pasasalmat concert at the PETA PHINMA Theater. Gerald Santos It's Time! was held at the SM North EDSA Skydome on 2014. On June 13, 2015, his biggest concert Gerald Santos: Metamorphosis was held at the historic PICC Plenary Hall. This concert won for him the Best Major Concert – Male in the 28th Aliw Awards, beating more popular concert artists. Santos held a concert at the SM North EDSA Skydome on April 9, 2017 entitled Gerald Santos: Something New in My Life. His special guests were the UP Concert Chorus and Regine Velasquez. Santos held Gerald Santos: The Homecoming Concert in 2019 at Solaire theater, with Jake Zyrus and Santos's Miss Saigon costars Aicelle Santos, Joreen Bautista, and Leo Valdez. In December 2019, Santos staged a major concert at NPAT Resorts World Manila. His guests include Jett Pangarap, Nyoy Volante, Garrett Bolden, Rachel Chan, and Kyline Alcantara. In 2022, he staged a concert in Vienna, Austria (VHS Paho) with guests Kathy Aquino, Mark Agpas, and Isabel Garcia. He headlined concerts held in Nottinghill, London, in 2017 and 2019.

Santos has composed and written a dozen songs, 4 of which were included in his sophomore album, Gerald Santos Pinakahintay The Repackaged Edition ("Kailan Masasabi", "I Cannot Imagine", "This Feeling Inside", "Gotta Be Strong"). For the "San Pedro Calungsod The Musical", he composed 8 songs. For his 4th album (Gerald Santos Kahit Anong Mangyari), he did two compositions ("#MMK" and "Sorry").

Santos has played lead roles in major productions. The first was in 2011 in Gantimpala Theater Foundation's "Sino Ka Ba Jose Rizal". His second musical was Matpil's San Pedro Calungsod: Teen Saint at Seventeen. The third was Redlife Entertainment Productions Inc.'s "San Pedro Calungsod the Musical". Santos was also the play's composer. In 2016, he auditioned for Miss Saigon and was chosen out of hundreds who auditioned for the role of Thuy. He was part of the Miss Saigon UK/International Tour, which ran from July 2017 to March 2019 and covered 5 countries in the UK and Europe. Santos has logged in a total of 553 performances as Thuy and got rave reviews. In October 2019, Santos played Anthony Hope in the Atlantis Theatrical's staging of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, alongside Lea Salonga. The musical was directed by Bobby Garcia and staged in Manila (The Theatre at Solaire) and Singapore Marina Bay Sands Theatre November 28 December 8, 2020.

Santos was the grand champion of the season 2 of Pinoy Pop Superstar in GMA 7 in 2006 and it opened the doors of his TV career. Santos was part of SOP and Party Pilipinas on GMA and was cast in GMA's primetime teleserye "I Luv New York" in 2006 where he played the brother of its lead Jolina Magdangal. On TV5, where he appeared in the shows P. O.5 (2010), Fantastik (2011), Sunday Funday (2012), Hey It's Saberday! (2012). He sang the theme song composed by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab for Nora Aunor's TV comeback Sa Ngalan ng Ina. At present, Santos is not under contract with any major network. Santos has been performing on A Song of Praise songwriting competition on UNTV channel 37, hosted by Richard Reynoso and Toni Rose Gayda.

Gerald Santos finished his first feature film in 2015, Memory Channel, directed by Rayn Brizuela and costarring Epy Quizon, Bodjie Pascua, and Michelle Vito. The movie was an official selection for the 2016 World Premieres Film Festival, where it competed against 5 other Filipino films. Santos received favorable reviews for his acting as an amnesia patient suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. Santos played the title character in the docu film Emilio Jacinto: Utak ng Katipunan for Legit Entertainment, produced by National Historical Commission and directed by Pat Perez. His other movie credits include Al Coda (with Marion Aunor, 2022), Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told (MMFF 2022 Official Entry, 2nd Best Picture), and Oras de Peligro (2023).