Early career El Gamma Penumbra was first founded in 2008 as a
hip-hop boy group, competing in dance contests in Tanauan, their home town in the province of Batangas, in southwest Luzon (about a one-hour drive from Manila). The group decided to change their act prior to
Pilipinas Got Talent, thinking that they would be less likely to win as there has been too many hip-hop dance groups in the Philippines. Upon deciding to do shadow play, believing it is new and unique, they started practicing in a basketball court near Tanauan, using a tarpaulin and a halogen light as an improvisation. The group is composed solely of male members, citing "extreme body movements and contact required of their routines."
Pilipinas Got Talent Before winning in the first season of ''Asia's Got Talent'', El Gamma Penumbra once joined the Philippine version of the franchise last 2011. The shadow play group automatically advanced to the grand finals after receiving the highest nationwide votes from their semi-finals performance. They were the first one to get to the grand finals. The group then performed a tourism-inspired shadow play, advocating the tourist spots in the Philippines, during their grand finals performance held on October 23, 2011, at the
Ynares Sports Center in
Antipolo. They eventually garnered the fourth spot after receiving 8.05% of the votes. Since then, they were usually invited to perform as guest stars in various places and shows. In particular, they became regular guests in ''
It's Showtime'', performing acts such as a tribute to
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are unable to spend Christmas with their families in the Philippines, and an inspirational number about hope and faith performed during the
Holy Week.
''Asia's Got Talent'' On September 28, 2014, El Gamma Penumbra pre-auditioned at the
SMX Convention Center,
SM Mall of Asia for the upcoming first ''Asia's Got Talent'' to be held in Singapore. They advanced to the televised audition held at the Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios in Johor, Malaysia, wherein they were almost not able to join because of a conflict in their schedule. They chose to perform during
Pope Francis's visit to the Philippines first, which was already scheduled beforehand, and was still able to fly to Malaysia for the taping. while Taiwanese singer
Vanness Wu complimented: "I loved how you guys told the stories beautifully and it was just so wonderful to see live and up close. Thank you so much for that great job." During the franchise's semifinals night, the shadow play group performed a routine based centrally on war, recovery from war, and peace to
Matisyahu's "
One Day". Their performance, aired on April 30, earned them another golden buzzer from the four judges, enabling them to take a spot in the grand finals automatically. They were the only Filipino act among the four to receive both golden buzzers. Canadian musician and record producer
David Foster said: "I just want to say that I live in a box, where I make music in a studio. And tonight, I got to come outside of my box and see something that was so, so moving and magical. It just amazed me." Before announcing the winner of ''Asia's Got Talent'' season 1 aired on May 7, the remaining nine contestants performed their own pieces at the
Marina Bay Sands. With "
Colors of the Wind" from Disney's animated film
Pocahontas as the background song, El Gamma Penumbra performed a shadow play that incorporates global issues in hopes to share a message to save
Mother Nature. The next week, on May 14, the second part of the grand finals night was aired, announcing El Gamma Penumbra as the overall winner based on public votes. The group was the first to win in ''Asia's Got Talent'' reality TV show. The group received US$100,000 for their prize money, as well as an opportunity to perform at
Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The group leader's exclaimed: "Asia's Got Talent is the highlight of our careers and of our lives." They were then given a heroes' parade in their hometown of Tanauan, province of Batangas, who welcomed them in their return from said contest. ==Artistry==