RICHARD POON

Considering that your music is not really mainstream, how does it feel to have fans coming just to see you in person?
“Sobrang Saya. Una, dahil first time ko sa Dubai. Syempre iniisip ko kung kilala ba ako, kung kilala ba ang music ko. Kasi diba ang music ko hindi naman talaga mainstream. Pero kanina, ang saya—people taking pictures, kumakanta sila with me. Pinilit kong bumaba at umikot talaga. Masaya yung crowd. Sobrang enjoy ako.”

What were the rewards of trying out a formula that hasn’t really been tried before in the country?
“In less than a year, I won Awit Awards. I won Aliw Awards. My album turned Gold, then Platinum last month. My new album just turned Gold. I won the first Radio Music Awards as Breakthrough Artist. So it just proved that you can be different. Even if you’re not into mainstream, you can still make a niche for yourself.”

What is the benefit of being part of ASAP Sessionistas?
“Ang nagagawa naman ang ASAP, very AB ng music ko but because I arrange music, I am able to tap the C & D market. So in ASAP, you could usually hear me sing Pop songs, 80s medley, kahit na anong song na hindi Standards by nature or by origin. Like yung Complicated na kinanta ko kanina. Meron kaming Through The Fire na ginawa naming Big Band. Meron kaming Way Back into Love na ginawa naming Standards. I am able to tap the younger market without leaving my genre. Nakakanta ko yung Irreplaceable, Umbrella… ASAP gave me that opportunity to widen my market. It now becomes acceptable to the masses.”

Of the songs you usually sing, which of them could you best dedicate to the Filipinos in the Middle East?
“For me, it’s ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’. That song is about being somewhere else but your heart is left where it belongs. I’ve met so many Filipinos abroad na masaya sila, but nami-miss nila yung saya sa Pilipinas. Nami-miss nila yung kwentuhan. So that’s my song for them. Even for me, because I love the Philippines so much. I wouldn’t leave the Philippines easily. Iba parin ang Pilipinas.”

It’s a well-known fact that you have Taiwanese roots. You’re pure Chinese by blood, but what made you own up to being a Filipino?
“I grew up with so many Chinese people. Pero napapansin ko, through the years ang mga kabarkada ko puro Pinoy. I guess I have something in me which I can say na Kulturang Pinoy. Pusong Pinoy ako eh. I have Chinese influences in terms of business and some of their beliefs that I still follow. But in terms of friendship, I’m very Filipino. Gusto ko yung kwentuhan, masaya kasama. Kahit mahirap, masayahin parin. They find something to talk about. I like the way Filipinos celebrate life and friendship.”

Richard’s Message to the Readers:
“I’ve never talked to a Filipino abroad na nag-sabi na ‘I’d like to stay in this country for good.’ They always say ‘Gusto ko ang sweldo dito, but if I’d have it my way or if I’m gonna grow old, I’d still want to go home...’ Keep reading StarStudio Magazine Middle East Edition because it is one way to reconnect with the Philippines. Pag nasa country ka na puro trabaho, trabaho, trabaho at pagod na pagod ka, it’s your only way to enjoy.”
 
LAARNI & BUGOY

From being the 2nd PDA Grand Star Dreamer, how does it feel that you are now here in Dubai?
Laarni: “Super saya po. First time ko dito sa Dubai. Super sarap po ng feeling dahil sunud-sunod ang mga opportunities. After ko naging Grand Winner sa PDA, nagkaroon na kami ng album. Nag-sunud-sunod na mga shows namin, mga projects. Tapos naka-graduate nako. Tapos nakalabas nako ng bansa. Ang saya-saya.”

You cried mid-way while you were singing One Last Cry, which was the first song you sang tonight. Why?
Bugoy: “Ano po kasi yung song na ‘yun may significance sakin. May mga kamaganak din po ako na nagtratrabaho dito sa Middle East. Sobrang init nung pag-dating namin, na-feel ko yung hirap. Mahirap na nga sa Pilipinas, pero nag-titiis sila dito na malayo na sa mga mahal mo, napakainit pa. Sa Pilipinas, 38 degrees lang napaka-init na. Dito mas mainit pa, anung hirap nun. Yun ang naalala ko kanina. Tapos yung song, may significance siya talaga. Never ko talaga siya kinanta sa mga mall shows… Kasi special siya sakin. Kinanta ko lang siya nung nag-concert kami. Kasi yun ang song ng life ko eh.”

Since you won prior to your graduation, what made you decide to pursue your studies after winning PDA?
Laarni: “Syempre kasi diba, iba parin yung may diploma. Kaya nga tayo nagpupursigi para maging successful tayo in the future. Pero dahil minsan lang mangyari ‘tong opportunity na ‘to. Habang andyan pa, at kalalabas lang naming ng PDA, edi i-grab na…”

We’ve seen your humble tale and what you’ve become. What have been the challenges and changes you encountered since?
Bugoy: “Sakin po malaki talagang pag-babago kasi diba nga po farmer’s son ako. So malaking adjustment sakin nung pag-lipad ko sa Manila. Naging malaki ang hamon sakin. Nung naka-pasok na ‘ko, hindi ko pa alam kung paano pakikitunguhan yung mga kapwa scholars ko at yung mga staff. Pag labas naman, ang iniisip ko kung paano ako tatagal sa industrya—in terms of, sa mga artista, kung paano ko sila papakisamahan, sa mga producers at mga heads, kung papano mo naman sila ipi-please para tumagal ka sa industry. Malaking pagbabago sakin at sa pamilya ko. At least ngayon may income di katulad nung dati. Ngayon, nakakatulong na ‘ko sa pag-aaral ng mga kapatid ko. Naabutan ko din at nabigyan ng business ang family ko. At least hindi na katulad nung dati na isang kahig, isang tuka. At least ngayon masasabi ko na nakaka-ahon na.”

Does fame ever get to you?
Laarni: “Sa ‘kin po hindi po talaga mahalaga kung sikat ako. Ang importante talaga ay may trabaho ako. Yun talaga ang naisip ko agad pagka-graduate ko. Ngayon napapag-aral ko na din mga kapatid ko. Nakakapagpadala din ako sa’min every month…”

Laarni’s Message to the Readers:
Laarni: “Maraming maraming salamat po. Mag-iingat po kayo palagi. Laging mag-pray at mag-pasalamat kahit marming trials, problems… Pasalamat parin dahil nakakaranas din tayo ng ginhawa. Lagi din tandaan na huwag lang sana tayo puro trabaho. Maiksi lang ang buhay natin kaya dapat i-enjoy. Enjoy life! Alagaan po sana natin ang ating mga sarili, lalo na dahil malayo tayo sa mga pamilya natin.”

Bugoy: “Tama yung sinabi ni Laarni, enjoy your life. Kasi may times na napapabayaan natin ang mga sarili… Iwas sakit. Maraming salamat sa mainit na pagsalubong ninyo sa’min.”

SITTI
What can you say about people dubbing you as the one who started Bossa Nova in the Philippines?
“That’s actually a misconception. The first known band who played Bossa Nova in the country was Bong Penera and the Batucada in the 1970s. There were so many other bands over the years that played this genre. But what happened with me was I just got lucky. Warner Music gambled to support this relatively unknown music in the Philippines.”

I have read somewhere that other than being a former beauty title holder, you were also a Dean’s Lister in UP Diliman. How were you able to balance singing and your studies at the same time?
 “I started singing professionally in 2001. I was in 1st year college then. I could say that I got lucky! When I was in high school, I used to be an over achiever. I graduated Valedictorian. So when I got in college, I thought of trying other things… My education is very important to me. There were instances when I was offered jobs abroad but I didn’t take it. Because I know that if I stop, I won’t be able to finish it. I graduated with a degree in Business Economics.”

How did the Dubai scenery and ambience appeal to you?
“Of all the places I’ve been to, I think Dubai is the most ambitious I could say. I’m simply fascinated by it. Their attention to details is admirable. Whenever I see our kababayans, I kind of empathize with them because they live a very solitary life here. I have cousins, aunt and a best friend who live here. I visited my best friend and they cooked lunch for us in their flat. So I know how their situation is here.”

What’s next for Sitti? Any plans to diversify your music? Would you like to come back to the Middle East to perform again?
“I hope so! I would love to perform—not with a minus one but with a band. I’m actually gonna do a play in Manila for the first time. It’s Spring Awakening by Atlantis Productions. So that would be from August to October. As for diversifying my music, we have been discussing it. Though there were some differences between my albums, the changes weren’t that abrupt. Like ‘Bossa Fusion’. I really want to record light jazz or acid jazz. But I got really tagged to Bossa Nova. Actually, I already did a pop song with Christian Bautista.”

Sitti’s Message to the Readers:
“It was great to be here. I really hope that my music help you in some way. I know that your efforts will not be wasted. You will be rewarded accordingly…”

By: Dominique Pechuela-Famador