Confessions 102: First Few Steps.. Inspiration..

I have to say Regine Velasquez has inspired me a lot during those times when I wanted to be a singer. Her "rags to riches" story really hit me hard aside from her amazing voice that really captivated me. I would often watch her every Sunday and never missed any episode just to watch her, listen to her and learn her ways on singing. By that time they would tell me that I was a copy-cat. I do not know or maybe I was in-denial if I really sounded like Regine V. before, and those scrutiny really made my self-esteem down.

When I was in Freshman back in high school I knew  that my goal was to become a singer, but unfortunately I didn't get any support anymore from my family. I didn't get a boost or encouragement from them...not anymore..maybe. My siblings would really put me down most of the time saying, I cannot do it, I shouldn't do it, I would be a humiliation if ever. Though I know I wasn't sintunado and I know I can sing, I know how to listen and because I listen so hard.. I always hear them telling me I cannot do it. LOL

It was different in school though. LOL my teachers would ask me to sing the National Anthem during flag ceremony and retreat. They would always ask me for this and that everything that were related to my voice. And I wasn't even from a pilot class! But I always got boost from my classmates, especially from a good friend Danily who even told me to go with my dreams and I should hire her to be my manager ( LOL). But always, always, when I get home it was different. Although I would still sing when there were family occasions, but it wasn't the same pride that they saw in me when I was younger, when I was in my teenage years. But I didn't back down! LOL

I tried, I prayed for it..and there were so many chances, but I lack from support. There was a singing contest before that was hosted by Regine Velasquez where Sarah Geronimo won - Star for a Night - when I really wanted to join but when I asked permission from parents because I was below 18yo, they wouldn't allow me because they said I couldn't make it. I was inexperienced. My voice wasn't good enough. And then a year after I was like 15yo still underage but I again was declined by my parents but my classmate's parent made me a letter of consent to join(LOL) but then since I didn't know we should have a whole body picture so I wasn't able to join. So I said, next time.. See? I had a very good fighting spirit then...

And then I think it was 2006, I was 16yo I joined singing contest in school. I thought I was really good already (LoL) , I know perfect timing, and my pitch, I listen to my voice and I know the things that I can do. I know my voice really well and I was so determined that I can win it. But then again, I have learned one thing that time ... yes I did not win, but I have learned that even if you know yourself really well, you sing because you communicate, do not sing just because you are singing and singing for yourself. Sing for the people. Sing like sharing your voice to the other people, which was really important right? Actually, that was the statement from one of the judges who happened to be my teacher. lol

That experienced pushed me more and inspired me on how to do it next time...

Confessions 101: I was a singer

I have a little confession to make. LOL and I think this is going to be my first time to tell a story. LOL 
I think there are only a few people who knows that I sing, well "I can sing" is even an understatement because to be honest I am a singer - I was a singer - I think LOL.

I can easily remember when I was so young, about 4 years-old, the first song I got to memorize was Bawal na Gamot.(LOL) My parents would let me stand on the table and then let me sing in front of their friends (another LOL) for real! I am not even kidding and you can ask my parents about it :P
And then when I was in 4th or 5th grade I started singing ABBA songs, it was Multiplex before and my parents would let me sing those with microphone. You can ask me any ABBA songs and I think I can sing with it well. LOL. Going back from my elementary years, my neighbors would really hear me in the morning till noon singing those ABBA songs but I have yet to realize that I wanted to be a singer..it was just like a past time to me although my neighbors would encourage me to join amateur singing contests already. But I was just clueless about it.

I was a member of school choir from 4th to 6th grade and we used to compete with other schools as well for any occasions. I still didn't think of myself to become a singer on those early years although I was being serious with being a choir member before and I could remember my classmates would get envy when I would be called out to practice because I was exempted from class. LOL

At the latter part of my primary years, one of my cousins who knew I could sing but didn't take it seriously, asked me to sing On The Wings of Love by Regine Velasquez and he thought I could hit those notes very well (sorry for not-so being humble :P). That was  when I started being serious about singing because he kept on pushing me. I couldn't even remember how I knew the song, I just knew the melody of the song and didn't even know how to read the word "inseparable". And then this cousin would even pushed me to guest on a baranggay program but did not materialize because I didn't have Minus-one tape and the Karaoke CD we were using wouldn't work. I was really fine with it but at that time I knew I had the aim to buy my first minus-one album. I  bought the R2K album - cassette tape version first . If you do not know R2K was one of Regine Velasquez's best selling albums of all time - if not the best. I would sing with it until I came to love Regine Velasquez which was actually the beginning of my addiction, frustration and aim to be a singer. 
I knew I could sing, and the encouragement from my cousins were really overwhelming, they would let me sing in family events and occasions, they call me "pambato" in singing. So I was like maybe that was my destiny..maybe being singing was for me...

To be Continued....