Fil-Am transgender Angel Bonilla competes in music fest in Bulgaria

Los Angeles-based transgender singer Angel Bonilla will represent the Philippines in the 2016 Discovery International Music Festival in Varna, Bulgaria from May 19 to May 23.

Bonilla is an "X-Factor USA" boot camp alumna, wowing with her voice when she joined in 2011. She became a regular performer at Hotel Sofitel in Beverly Hills after her appearance in the singing competition.

In an interview with Kat Iniba for online entertainment news show Halo Halo in April, Bonilla revealed that it was "Tito" Benny Saturno who told her about the music festival in Bulgaria.

"It sound(ed) like a great idea, so what I did was I pushed myself to create my own song," Bonilla said, "I submitted it to the organizers and they liked it! They messaged me and said that I would be the official representative of the Philippines—I'm the only one."

Although known for slower songs that are closer to RNB and new jazz, Bonilla submitted a dance pop song for the competition, adding, "I wanted to create a heartbroken song...but at the same time, you can have fun even if you're heartbroken."

Bonilla will be up against singers from Malta, Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, Romania, Moldova, Italy, Spain, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria for the "Best Singer" and "Best Song" category.

Her cover song for the "Best Singer" will be "Valerie" by The Zutons, popularized by the Amy Winehouse. Bonilla also performed a Winehouse original during her interview.

—Aya Tantiangco/ALG, GMA News