Angeline Quinto recalls role in Sarah Geronimo’s breakthrough

Before the bright lights, trophies, and sold-out concerts, Angeline Quinto recalled how her path briefly crossed with Sarah Geronimo’s—long before either became a household name.

In a candid recollection, Quinto shared how she unknowingly played a role in introducing Geronimo to Star for a Night, the singing competition that launched Geronimo’s career.

“Sarah and I were schoolmates in Manila,” Quinto said. “One day, Mommy Divine saw me on campus. I think she was waiting for Sarah.”

Geronimo’s mother, Divina Geronimo, recognized Quinto from television and approached her.

“She said, ‘Angeline, I saw you on that singing contest you joined on TV,’” Quinto recalled. “I told her, ‘Yes po, I joined.’”

That conversation soon turned to auditions.

“She asked me, ‘How do you audition there? Because I want Sarah to join too,’” Quinto said.

Quinto said she shared everything she knew about the process.

“I told her the exact address of the audition venue, what to prepare, what to do—everything you need to get into Star for a Night,” she said.

At the time, Quinto was already a weekly champion on the show.

“I was already a weekly champion before Sarah even entered,” she said. “Then when the grand finals came, Sarah was suddenly there as one of the finalists.”

Quinto recalled being surprised by how events unfolded.

“I never imagined that I would end up losing in the grand finals,” she said.

Looking back, Quinto said she now sees the moment with humor rather than regret.

“I told myself, ‘At least give me P50,000 as commission,’” she said jokingly, adding that the moment has since become one of her favorite anecdotes.

Years later, Quinto said the story remains a reminder of how a simple conversation and shared information unexpectedly helped shape one of the most successful careers in original Pilipino music history.