No moments feel more real than standing tall even when the world leans the other way. And perhaps no one embodies this more than Ricardo “Cardong Trumpo” Cadavero, a 55-year-old construction worker and carpenter from Cavite who became the Grand Winner of “Pilipinas Got Talent” (PGT) Season 7 on June 22, 2025.
In a country that has always rooted for the underdog, Cardong was impossible not to love. With calloused hands and a spinning top carved from scraps, he brought to life a childhood toy and turned it into a moving performance that earned standing ovations from both judges and audience.
From scraps
Cardong first captured hearts during his audition uploaded on May 3, 2025, now with over 1.3 million views on Pilipinas Got Talent’s official YouTube channel. In it, he shared his story of growing up in a broken family, lonely and often sad. But one simple toy, the trumpo (spinning top), gave him joy.
As a carpenter, Cardong started crafting his own trumpo using discarded wood. He began joining small contests in his community, quietly honing a talent that would one day take center stage.
From his semifinal performance to his stunning grand finale on June 22, Cardong continued to surprise viewers. He spun his top on seemingly impossible surfaces: needles, playing cards, even floating platforms.
The audience watched in disbelief as his handmade toy defied gravity and expectations. Cardong told a story of Filipino ingenuity.
When the moment came to announce the winner, the other finalists smiled and clapped for him without hesitation. As confetti rained down, Cardong stood at the center of the stage, overwhelmed and grateful.
He was asked how he planned to use the P2 million cash prize.
“All I wanted was to have enough rice. Whatever comes after, I leave to tomorrow,” he said humbly. “But this... this is more than enough.”
Cardong received a staggering 99.5 percent score for his final performance — far ahead of second-placer Femme MNL (50.4 percent) and third-placer Carl Quion (47.8 percent).
Judges moved to tears
“You are the face of the Filipino,” said Eugene Domingo, one of the show’s judges during his first performance. The statement quickly made rounds on social media. “You were meant to be here at PGT,” said Donny Pangilinan. “We all felt like kids again watching you.”
Kathryn Bernardo and Freddie M. Garcia also applauded Cardong’s act, touched by the way he brought back the wonder of a simpler time when children played in the streets with toys made by hand, not downloaded from an app.
A father’s promise
Off stage, Cardong’s reason for performing was always the same which is his family.
Thanks to years of joining local contests and performing with his trumpo, he was able to put both of his children through school. Now, with his winnings, he dreams of relocating them to a safer neighborhood, far from the high-voltage area they currently call home.
And for millions of Filipinos who watched him take center stage, Cardong reminded us all: in a world that often takes and takes, sometimes all you need is one thing that keeps you grounded.