THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC! ^_^.

The Mobistar Contest is finally over! And wow! What a trip that was!

When I first started this journey, it was on such a whim that I didn’t actually take it seriously. Tita Zena simply approached me and nudged me on the side and essentially said, “Why don’t you join this contest?” With anyone who knows me, you should know by now that there are only two reasons that motivate me to do things…

1. I really like to do it.
2. I haven’t done it before.

With the exception of Canadian Idol, I never had the desire to join any of these “idol” style singing contest. And to be quite honest, I joined Canadian Idol simply for the experience and the hell of it. Mobistar wasn’t any different at first. One week after Tita Zena informed me of it, it was already rehearsal for filming, and the week after than, we filmed my first week.

I had no expectations whatsoever… and based on my first Mobistar video, you could see… I actually didn’t even stay for the entire filming since I had to leave for a shift at work as soon as I finished my song.

I never expected to win the weekly contest… the monthly finals… and earn a place on the top 3! Seeing everyone’s dedication in rooting for me, it was a humbling experience. As wonderful as the grand prize may have sounded, realizing that so many people believe in my talent and abilities… and not just friends and relatives, but even strangers who are not even Filipino and just happened to stumble into the Mobistar website still reaching out to give me their support simply because they enjoyed my singing. Knowing that my family will always be here for me to support me… even family members whom I haven’t even met in person… I’ve never felt so grateful and so loved. So…

m(_ _)m  THANK YOU VERY MUCH~~~~~~~!

Thank you for making my first (and last) Filipino singing contest such an enriching experience. 

To the Mobistar staff and organizers, thank you for the opportunity to show what I can do to our community. It wasn’t since the Carlos Bulosan group more than 10 years ago had I actually performed in front of the Filipino community in the spotlight. At least in the recent years, I’ve mostly performed for the general Toronto community. While there is pride in claiming to be the only Filipino  in so-and-so contest or theatre or film production, nothing really compares when members of your own community come to embrace you. Again, thank you very much!

For the other Mobistar contest finalists… It has been a great pleasure meeting you. Watching you share your talents has been very inspirational! Congratulations Jeannette and everyone. Stepping out and bringing pleasure to other people through singing and performing is a gift from God that was meant to be shared. Never regret any of these experiences, both good and bad. Because these are vital life lessons that you can learn from and shape you into who you are. Meeting all of you has definitely contributed to making my life more interesting. And always remember that in everything that you do in your singing career… you are talented young Filipinos and make sure to make our community proud of you.

For Tita Flora and the rest of the Simon clan, Tita Lily and the rest of the Gaspar clan, and all friends in Philippines Mama has been telling me of the great lengths everyone in the Philippines went through to support me, eventhough you have other commitments happening at the same time. How you persistently kept on and on to help me get up to the top 3.

To my best friend Jade and her family, Tita Luisa… Jade you have always supported all of my wacky endeavours since we met in Nursing School more than a decade ago. Since Joanne signed me up to sing my original song for the very first Superskillz (without my consent), to Carlos Bulosan, to Alexander Singers… you have been to almost every single one of my shows. Sometimes attending them more than once! I know you and Tita Luisa were the ones cheering the loudest for me in the crowd during Mobistar final show. Thank you and I love you! ^_^.

All our friends and family here in Canada, my co-staff members from CAMH (Jeannie, Joanne, Hiro), Kate and her friends down in the US, the PLM Alumni Association, my online friends from the Suiko RPG, the JQML, and the Sheridan College group from the monthly finals who I don’t even know your names… a good number of you haven’t even met me in person or know me personally. Some of you don’t even know me! But regardless of that, you believed in my talent enough to support me. Thank you!   

To my teacher, Gwyneth, to my favourite director Vinnie and the rest of the Alexander Singers family. Todd, Rodney, and Chy. Eventhough I know most of you couldn’t vote because you were out of the country and for ethical reasons. But Gwyneth and Vinnie, without your guidance, I don’t think my voice and performance would be where I am now. Todd, Rodney and Chy… you were such great moral support that I feel I could fall and do something absolutely stupid and still come out smelling like roses. ^_^.

My parents Rusty and Evelyn, who probably doesn’t understand half of the things I do in my spare time, but regardless you remained very supportive of everything I do. I can’t ask for better parents. My Mom has been very intrumental in getting me this far in the contest.

Most of all, my sister and also one of my best friends, Jessica. She has been the one who kept my sanity the past couple of months with all the general craziness my life has succumbed to thanks to all the projects I’ve been involved with. She’s always the voice of reason, who kicked my butt and brought me back to reality, and told me to suck it in and get over it, short of hitting me upside on the head to get my common sense back on track, whenever I was starting to fall in the trap of getting my emotions get the best of me. She’s probably the best cheerleader anyone can ask for because she’s not afraid to make you face reality no matter how painful and ugly it may be. I love you very much… and yes, we will continue to celebrate with more fish.

All of you don’t know how much this means to me. Your support has spurred me on to continue pursuing my “showbusiness career” on a more professional level. (Thus the reason why Mobistar will be my last amateur singing contest). To paraphrase one of the characters I’ve played…

“The mission from now on will be difficult, but all of you watching gives me hope. Whatever happens now, never give up yours.” 

(Courtesy of Adam Brown’s words through my character from his film, “Starsearcher”… currently playing in all AIR CANADA flights… and please vote for it as well in the Air Canada enRoute Student Film Festival for Best Animated Short Film… vote for it here on: http://enroutefilm.com/)

That phrase sounds really out there… but that’s how I feel. I’ll be entering new territory and it’s both thrilling and scary at the same time. Eventhough I’ve pretty much put my acting career in haitus until at least January next year for a much needed rest… I’m still pursuing projects and acting auditions for next year.

To follow Tita Flora’s footsteps as a writer, I’ve signed up to join this year’s Carlos Bulosan Collective’s “Play Creation Unit”. I haven’t heard if I got in yet, but I’m crossing my fingers that they’ll take me in this September. If all goes well, I’m hoping to have the first draft for my play idea by spring next year. It’s very very exciting!

I’m also going to audition for next year’s CCMP production of “South Pacific”, and Alexander Players and Singers’ production of “Beauty and the Beast”. If any of you are interested in auditioning as well, please let me know and I’ll send you the information.

Mobistar has also inspired me to go back and flex my song writing chops! My God! More than 10 years has passed and I realized now that I haven’t completed a single song since! Of course, now that I’m in haitus, I’ll have the time to do it.

So please continue to cheer for me! And I promise that I’ll continue to use my gifts to make all of you and the Filipino community proud!

Regina