A touching story which unfolded on ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC), “Wowowee”, is now an internet hit.

Barry Bogart, Jr. was a contestant for the talent portion of “Wowowee” called Willie of Fortune last January. He ended up singing 2 songs for the crowd and was an instant hit.

But behind the 28-year-old’s talent is a sad story. It has even captured the attention of mainstream US media.

Bogart Jr. is an Amerasian. He said his father was an American serviceman stationed in the former US base in Ologapo. Bogart, Jr. is one of thousands of abandoned Amerasian children. He was hoping to find his father in the US.

Bogart’s father left him and his mother before he was born. His mother Herminigilda died from brain cancer when he was 5 years old. He ended up living with other family and relatives.

Bogart’s story tugged at the heart of many Filipinos including Greg Rosas, a Filipino restaurant owner from Seattle, Washington.

Rosas used his own money to process Bogart’s visa and buy him a plane ticket to the US. Bogart did end up finding his father. He is now staying with his newfound benefactor, Rosas, and plans to reunite with his father in New Jersey in the future. Balitang America