The stage was a long way from the classrooms of central Texas, but the voice that filled the Las Vegas hall belonged to a man who spends most of his days teaching teenagers about cells and chemical bonds. Robert Amploquio, a Surigao-born science teacher based in Manor, Texas, walked away from the inaugural U.S. Open Karaoke Championships with two honors: a bronze medal in the Men’s Pop Division and the People’s Choice Award, decided by public vote.
The competition, which made its debut in 2026, was produced by the United States Karaoke Association to coincide with the country’s 250th anniversary. Structured to mirror the format of major sporting events, it sent singers through local qualifiers and regional finals before culminating in the national championship in Las Vegas. Amploquio’s third-place finish in the Pop division placed him among the top competitors in the country, while the People’s Choice recognition reflected the support of fans who voted for him online.
From a division stage to a national one
Long before Las Vegas, Amploquio was performing on far smaller stages. In the Philippines, he taught senior high school science while moonlighting as a singer and dancer, appearing at division events as a member of a performing arts guild. That double life — educator by profession, performer by passion — followed him across the Pacific when he moved to Texas in August 2022 to teach Pre-AP Biology and Chemistry.
Since then, he has become a familiar face on the Filipino cultural circuit across Texas, performing in cities including Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. In 2025, he was crowned Grand Champion of the Karaoke Idol at the 4th Annual Filipino-Pacific Islander Festival in San Antonio, a title that hinted at the national recognition to come.
