caption years_active label article_title name background birth_date instrument genre origin birth_name occupation
gretchen espina 's pictorial for her debut album 2008-present sony music philippines / 19 recordings gretchen espina
 gretchen espina solo_singer 08 january 1988 vocals soul , opm , pop quezon city and biliran , philippines gretchen stephanie mendiola espina singer
gretchen espina

gretchen stephanie mendiola espina -lrb- born january 8 , 1988 in quezon city , philippines -rrb- is a filipino singer and actress who rose to notability after winning `` pinoy idol '' , an interactive reality-based singing competition .
although she is credited as the first pinoy idol , espina is technically the second winner of a philippine `` idol '' franchise , after mau marcelo of `` philippine idol '' in 2006 .
she came from the political family of espinas of biliran .
her father rogelio espina , is a former governor and the current representative of the lone district of biliran , while her grandfather gerardo espina , sr. is a former representative and mayor of naval , biliran and her uncle gerardo espina , jr is a former representative and current governor of biliran .
