Patrick Garcia’s daughter Michelle takes K-pop training under SM Entertainment in Singapore
Michelle, the daughter of Patrick Garcia and Nikka Martinez, is taking another step toward her K-pop idol dreams after joining SM Entertainment’s training program in Singapore.
In her short introduction video uploaded by the K-pop label’s Singapore-based team, Michelle shared a bit of her journey in the K-Pop Professional Training Programme at SM Universe Singapore, the first K-pop training academy of its kind in Southeast Asia.
“Hi, I'm Michelle Garcia. I'm from the Philippines, and I’m 13 years old. Every Friday, I hop on a plane for four hours from the Philippines to Singapore,” she began. The video then showed Michelle participating in singing and dancing classes.
“I think it's pretty worth it to join this program because you learn a lot. You meet new people, you meet new coaches, and that teaches you a lot. Especially coaches from Korea help you learn their techniques [which] they have learned throughout the years, and it's good to apply it in your singing and your dancing,” Michelle said.
She also encouraged other young people to step outside their comfort zones and take risks, as doing so can help them discover more about themselves and their abilities.
“Just do it. Just take a risk, you know? You never know what you might find out about yourself, about your attitude, about your skills. You never know what might come out and this is all for your growth, and this is all for you," she said. "I guess I would say just do it for you.”
Michelle is no stranger to the K-pop stage, having previously performed as one of the young dancers during IU’s performance of Holssi at her H.E.R.E.H. show in Bulacan in 2024.
Patrick and Nikka have joined their eldest daughter on some of her trips to Singapore, including visits to local attractions and bonding over family meals.
Michelle, who has nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok, has built a following by sharing content centered on K-pop and pop culture. She also often posts dance videos with her parents, as well as her uncle Doug Kramer and aunt Cheska Kramer, on the platform.
In 2025, Michelle became one of the newest talents of ABS-CBN’s premier talent agency Star Magic.
In an interview with PUSH ABS-CBN last year, Patrick admitted having “mixed emotions” about Michelle’s early showbiz debut, noting that she already knew at a young age that she wanted to perform.
“Syempre kinakabahan and proud din of course kasi ang galing niya eh. Sometimes I get nervous, but when I see her on stage and natapos niya ‘yung dance, parang there’s nothing to be nervous about. She carries it like a pro,” he added.
SM Universe Singapore has launched an invite-only Professional Training Programme for aspiring performers seeking intensive K-pop training. The programme offers intensive dance and vocal training modeled after Korea’s trainee system, with guidance from Korean industry trainers, per its website.
Selected students will also undergo a one-week immersive training at SM Universe Seoul. All participants must pass a screening and evaluation process.