Yeng Constantino’s journey to becoming one of the Philippines’ most recognizable pop-rock singers took several unexpected turns — including an audition connected to the iconic SexBomb group.
A recent ABS-CBN Entertainment feature published August 27, 2026, revisited the little-known detail about Constantino’s early showbiz journey: she once auditioned for SexBomb. The revelation adds another surprising chapter to the story of how the singer-songwriter eventually found her way to Pinoy Dream Academy and, ultimately, OPM stardom.
For fans who know Constantino primarily as the voice behind songs such as “Hawak Kamay,” “Ikaw,” and “Chinito,” her early career was far from an overnight success.
Before her breakthrough, Constantino repeatedly auditioned for television talent competitions and entertainment programs. In a 2019 interview with PEP.ph, she recalled auditioning for Star For A Night, Star In A Million, StarStruck, and Star Circle Quest.
She eventually reached the auditions for Search for a Star In A Million Season 3 and even passed the first two stages. But the show was cancelled, leaving her feeling as though another door to the entertainment industry had suddenly closed.
Her breakthrough came only months later.
A talent agent spotted Constantino performing at a bar in Marikina and encouraged her to audition for a new ABS-CBN program. That opportunity became Pinoy Dream Academy.
Constantino later recalled arriving at the audition after coming home from a gig at around 4 a.m. She travelled from Montalban, Rizal, to Quezon City, where she and her mother waited for hours among a large pool of hopefuls. Despite feeling insecure while comparing herself with other aspiring performers, she made it through the auditions.
The gamble changed her life.
On December 16, 2006, Constantino was named the first grand winner of Pinoy Dream Academy. She received a car, a condominium unit, a recording contract and P1 million in prize money. According to her earlier account, one of the first things she did with the prize money was help settle her father’s debts.
Her story has since become an example of how repeated rejection does not necessarily mean the end of a career.
In another interview, Constantino said she had been joining competitions and auditions for years before finally getting her major break. She also credited her family, particularly her father, for encouraging her to keep putting herself in situations where people could discover her talent.
That persistence continues to define her career.
In July 2026, GMA Entertainment reported that Constantino was introduced as one of the new coaches of The Voice Kids Philippines, marking her first GMA project. The singer described the coaching role as one of the career milestones she had wanted to experience.
From auditioning for different entertainment opportunities — including the surprising SexBomb connection — to enduring rejection before winning Pinoy Dream Academy, Yeng Constantino’s story shows just how unpredictable the road to stardom can be.
The biggest twist may be that the singer many Filipinos now associate with pop-rock anthems could have taken a very different path in Philippine entertainment.
WWC ONE MEDIA MJE
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