She placed fourth in Selecția Națională 2018 with the song "Auzi cum bate", a collaboration with Romanian band Jukebox, and competed in Selecția Națională 2019 as a solo artist with the song "Army of Love", placing third.
She was raised by her grandmother, after her father died when she was a year old and her mother left the Philippines to earn money for the family.
At age 15, she began performing at local bars in Manila, and later participated in the Filipino televised singing competitions Pinoy Pop Superstar and Tawag ng Tanghalan.
"Auzi cum bate" was later selected to compete in Selecția Națională 2018, the Romanian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
She advanced past her initial audition, and was mentored by Romanian singer Delia Matache during the course of the show.
[10] Santiago competed in the first semi-final on 27 January 2019, advancing to the final after winning the jury vote.