Cardong Trumpo, the Humble Top Spinner, Crowned Champion of PGT Season 7

From juggling construction work to spinning tops on stage, Ricardo Cadavero, better known as Cardong Trumpo, just turned a childhood game into a life-changing victory. On Sunday, June 22, 2025, the grand showdown of Pilipinas Got Talent Season 7 wrapped up with eight finalists giving it their all. But it was Cardo’s old-school trumpo skills that stole the spotlight and the audience’s hearts.

Many Filipinos grew up playing with a trumpo, a traditional wooden top sharpened with a nail and spun using a string. For Cardo, what was once a simple pastime has now made him a millionaire. Thanks to a near-perfect combined score from the judges and online votes, he scored an impressive 99.5 percent, landing him the top spot and the two million peso grand prize.

Not far behind was Femme MNL, an energetic dance crew representing the LGBTQIA+ community, who secured second place with 50.4 percent of the votes and took home 150,000 pesos. Carl Quion, who wowed many with his own act, claimed third place and won 100,000 pesos with a score of 47.8 percent.

Judges Kathryn Bernardo, Freddie M. Garcia, Donny Pangilinan, and Eugene Domingo witnessed how each finalist showcased their unique talent. But when Cardo performed his final routine, everyone knew it was special.

When asked about his win, the teary-eyed top spinner shared that his only dream before was to have enough rice for three meals a day. Now, he says he has received so much more than he ever imagined.

It’s stories like Cardo’s that remind us that passion and perseverance can truly spin our lives in amazing directions.