Armed only with spinning tops and a flair for showmanship, Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) Season 7 champion Cardong Trumpo turned a nostalgic Filipino toy into a high-stakes, show-stopping finale that set him apart from the rest of the show’s finalists.
On June 22 at The Theater at Solaire in Parañaque City, eight grand finalists took to the stage one last time, each delivering their most polished performances for a chance at the P2 million grand prize and the coveted title of grand winner. The season finale dazzled with stunning choreography, magic acts, and impressive displays of fire artistry, acrobatics, and aerial gymnastics.
Yet it was Trumpo (also known as Ricardo Cadavero) who truly stood out, mesmerizing both judges and audiences with his command of the Filipino spinning top.
Sitting up from his throne made out of wood, hammers, and gears (a reference to his day job as a construction worker), Trumpo began his final act spinning a single top on his index finger. He then balanced the same toy, still spinning, onto a larger top, before moving on to balance multiple tops on a delicate strand of thread and a rotating metal hoop. For his grand finale, Trumpo spun a giant wooden top on his outstretched hand, maintaining perfect balance as it twirled for more than five seconds.
“We were looking for something totally unique in all the seven years of PGT,” judge Freddie Garcia told Trumpo as the panel gave their final decisions, “and your [performance] is number one.” The other judges, including Kathryn Bernardo, Donny Pangilinan, and Eugene Domingo, were equally impressed with Trumpo.
Trumpo has played with the beloved Filipino spinning top since he was a child, and now creates his own intricate tops from the leftover construction scraps he brings from work. Throughout his journey on PGT, the contestant emphasized his mission to revive the cherished childhood pastime and reintroduce it to a new generation. “Bubuhayin ko, bibigyan ko ng magandang modelo para sa mga kabataan,” Trumpo said during his first performance on PGT.
Now that Trumpo has won the show’s grand prize, he aims to use the money to pay for his child’s tuition fee and secure a better future for his family. Trumpo expressed how he wanted to move his family to a new home, especially because they currently live under a power line. “Matutupad na siguro ‘yon,” said Trumpo. “Gagamitin ko sa magandang paraan. Hindi magsisisi ‘yong mga tao na nagbigay sa akin nito.”
