Visually-impaired singer goes viral, gets international invites

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Being visually-impaired has never been a hindrance for 21-year-old Carlmalone Montecido, who aspires to be a singer.

Montecido, a resident of Barangay 29 here, started his singing career when he joined ABS-CBN’s “Pilipinas Got Talent” in 2010, It’s Showtime’s “Tawag ng Tanghalan” in 2016, and GMA’s “The Clash” in 2019.

He recently went viral online after he performed a cover of Sam Smith’s song “Too Good at Goodbyes” at SM City Bacolod supermarket on Feb 5, 2020.

Trixie Madison, who took the video of Montecido that day, posted it on her Facebook account and since then, it has been viewed more than 10 million views and retweeted almost 300,000 times on Twitter.

His talent impressed many people around the world and even caught the attention of Smith and even Kelly Clarkson, who expressed their admiration via Twitter.

Smith said “Who is this kid? You’re out of this universe whoever you are.”

Clarkson also tweeted “This video has been going around my team as well! This kid is insane!!”

Montecido shared a media interview at the said shopping mall on Monday that he was supposed to look for speakers at the supermarket when he decided to try singing using the Grand Videoke Symphony demo item. He did not know that somebody took a video of him that day.

Montecido said he did not expect the love and support he has been receiving.

“I am so very happy,” he said, adding that the recent development on his life opened lots of opportunities for his career.

“I thought I will just be a local freelance singer, but with all of this, I was given a chance to sing in other countries,” he said.

Following his trending video, Montecido said he received invites to local and foreign TV appearances in Thailand, Europe, United States, and Taiwan, among others, including from the Ellen DeGeneres show, a famous American talk show.

Montecido, a student of Bacolod City National High School – Special Education, said he is not using his disability to get sympathy from people, but rather, “I served as an example to my fellow persons with disabilities (PWDs) that they should not lose hope because God never abandons us, he always listens,” he added.

He said he was also encouraged to join America’s Got Talent. “I am open to it and I will be very proud to represent the country,” he said.

“I cannot ask for more. This is enough. As days go by, you have to be contented,” he said, adding that he is so grateful for all the blessings he’s receiving right now.

He also thanked his parents, Divina and Ferdinand, for supporting him from the beginning. He said he will prepare to do many song covers via his YouTube channel.

His mother said that they did not expect that their son would reach this far, but she thanked the Lord for all the blessings they received.

Meanwhile, SM City Bacolod gave groceries, gift certificates, and Grand Videoke Symphony to Montecido as a way of showing their appreciation for his talent.

He also treated mall-goers to another Smith’s song entitled “I’m not the only one” and David Slater’s “Exchange of Hearts.”

SM City Bacolod’s public relations manager May Castro said, “we’re very happy to be part of his journey and we really wish him the best.”