Gretchen Stephanie Mendiola Espina (born January 8, 1988, in Quezon City, Philippines) is a Filipino singer and politician who rose to notability after winning Pinoy Idol, an interactive reality-based singing competition. Although she is credited as the first Pinoy Idol, Espina is technically the second winner of a Philippine Idol franchise, after Mau Marcelo of Philippine Idol in 2006. She came from the political family of Espinas of Biliran. Her father Rogelio Espina, is a former governor and the current representative of the lone district of Biliran, while her grandfather Gerardo Espina, Sr. is a former representative and mayor of Naval, Biliran and her uncle Gerardo Espina, Jr is a former representative and current governor of Biliran.
Biography
Early life Espina came from a musically inclined family who is also the prominent political family in Biliran, with her father, Congressman Dr. Rogelio "Roger" J. Espina, Representative of the Lone District of Biliran, described as a "good piano player and singer." Her mother, Cecil, works as a pediatrician; while her grandfather, Gerry, was a Mayor of Kawayan, Biliran. Her uncle, Gerry (Gerryboy) Espina Jr. is the present Governor of Biliran.
Espina was born in Quezon City, Metro Manila, where she spent her early years studying in School of the Holy Spirit before transferring to Naval Central School where she finished elementary level with honors. She had her secondary education in Cathedral School of La Naval, where she graduated as a salutatorian.
Espina pursued college in University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City, with a major in European Languages. She is a member of The University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors and represented UP in the Inter-Collegiate Singing Contest held in Shantou University, Guangdong, China, where she won the first prize as a solo performer.
2006: Philippine Idol She was in Philippine Idol'''s top 40, but was cut from getting into the top 24.
2008: Pinoy Idol Espina auditioned in SM Mall of Asia. This was despite her parents' disapproval of her auditioning because they wanted her to finish college first. News about Espina included was among 179 aspirants who passed the auditions was passed around in Biliran through SMS. She was never among the finalists with the lowest number of votes, also known as "The Bottom Group", during the competition. The finale was described as a competition among the Philippines' three major island groups, with Espina representing Visayas while runners-up Jayann Bautista of Pampanga representing Luzon and Ram Chaves of Cagayan de Oro representing Mindanao. After her win, she revealed that she would give P100,000 (roughly US$2,000) to each of her two runners-up as part of their agreement. She was slated to record her first single under Sony-BMG Philippines with "To You", the Pinoy Idol coronation song.
Pinoy Idol performances Week Theme Song Choice Original Artist Result Semi-finals 1 Contestant's Choice "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" Gladys Knight & the Pips Safe Semi-finals 2 Hit Songs From Year of Birth "The Way You Make Me Feel" Michael Jackson Safe Semi-finals 3 Greatest Musical Influences "Wala Na Bang Pag-Ibig" Jaya Safe Semi-finals 4 Songs For Fathers "Try It on My Own" Whitney Houston Safe Top 12 Songs From Their Greatest Pre-Idol Performances "Respect" Aretha Franklin Safe Top 11 Song Dedications "A House Is Not a Home" Dionne Warwick Safe Top 10 Songs of Their Lives "Follow Your Road" Pauline Wilson Safe Top 9 Regine Velasquez "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang" Regine Velasquez Safe Top 8 Jaya "You Lift Me Up" Jaya Safe Top 7 OPM Bands' Songs "Ikaw Lang Ang Aking Mahal" Brownman Revival Safe Top 6 Basil Valdez "Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan" Basil Valdez Safe Top 5 Greatest Idol Performances "I'm Here" Fantasia Barrino SafeTop 3 Judges' Choice "For Your Eyes Only" Sheena EastonSafe Jaya's Choice "Stand Up for Love" Destiny's Child Contestant's Choice "Ngayon" Basil Valdez Top 2 Idol's Single "To You" Gretchen Espina Winner
2009: Shining Through On June 19, 2009, she was re-introduced after months of being away from the limelight due to a throat ailment she had gotten during her stint in Pinoy Idol last year, in the 59th Anniversary Celebration of GMA Network held at the Araneta Coliseum singing medley of songs. On July 5, 2009, she was welcomed as a new regular performer and co-host of the musical variety show SOP Rules.
Espina's debut album entitled Shining Through was released on August 4, 2009, by Sony Music Philippines and 19 Recordings with the carrier single entitled "Kasalanan Nga Ba?", originally sung and owned by Thor which is the theme song of the drama series Sine Novela: Tinik Sa Dibdib. The album also includes "To You", her "victory song" of Pinoy Idol.
In 2010, Espina made her first acting debut in Diva as Debbie Romasanta, Tiffany's (Glaiza de Castro) best friend and personal assistant who helps her to make Sam/Melody's (Regine Velasquez) life miserable.
Political career In May 2022, she was elected as the new Mayor of Naval, Biliran.
Electoral history + Electoral history of Gretchen EspinaYearOfficePartyVotes receivedResultTotal %.Swing2022Mayor of Naval, BiliranNacionalista 19,994 100.00% 1st 2025 21,541 90.13% 1st -9.87
Discography 2009: Shining ThroughTour 2008: Ogie Sings with the Idols''
Filmography Television Years Title Role Network 2008 Pinoy Idol Herself (Winner) GMA Network 2009 SOP Herself 2010 Diva Debbie Romasanta Take Me Out Herself 2011–2013 Party Pilipinas Herself/Performer 2011 I Heart You, Pare! Mimay Sinner or Saint Sarah 2012 My Beloved Joy's friend Pahiram ng Sandali Lindsay Robinhood (musical play) Skarlet Treehouse Company 2013 ASOP Herself/Grand Finalist Son's of Egypt (musical play) Hatchepsut Treehouse Company 2013–present Doctor's on TV Herself/Host UNTV 2014 Russian Princess: Anastasia Anastasia Treehouse Company Apat Na Dalaga (musical play) Jasmine Laxamana Stairs Theater Company 2015 Yexien (musical play) Houma TreeHouse Theatre Company
Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryResult2010Awit AwardsBest Performance by a New Female Recording Artist for Kasalanan Nga Ba?Best R&B for Kasalanan Nga Ba? (R&B Version)PMPC Star Awards for MusicNew Female Recording Artist of the Year
References