E1
Young Life
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 Isah V. Red, Editor / Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com
ADAPTABLE
Waking up from their
Majority of Gen Y employees are not keen on climbing up the career ladder, but rather make the most of the opportunities in their current jobs.
dreams
Millennials make it work in their current careers while aspiring for their dream jobs
By Bernadette Lunas
O
UR parents told us that if we wanted to become a school principal, we must be a teacher first. Or that if we aspire to one day become a CEO, we should start from the bottom of the office food chain. It’s always been a one-way career ladder that we must climb up in order to get to our dreams. “My current job is senior editorial executive in a business intelligence company for financial institutions, but to have a research firm is my dream. My current job allows me to explore different set of skills, I will just have to work harder, learn from my work experience and save enough capital to start my dream business.” -Angelito Bautista Jr., 26
“Right now, I work as a community manager cum social media manager for a New Yorkbased company. Before I dreamt of becoming a top notch journalist because I relished the thought of seeing my name on a byline. I think I made the biggest life-changing decision when I chose to detour from the path to becoming a journalist. Now that I’ve already made a decent set of credentials and a strong understanding of my present role in my chosen field, I think I no longer see myself going back.” -Candido Villanueva III, 25 “I am a PR practitioner but my dream was to become an international journalist covering news, politics and war in the Middle East, etc. Probably I will no longer pursue that dream because there are things that are just not meant to be and I realized that I have a different calling.” -Anonymous, 26
“Now that I am working as PR and Media Relations professional, I realized that I could have pursued being a dentist. I don’t know [if I’m going to pursue it] but maybe I’m just scared to start all over again, I’m not sure if it’s a great move for me right now. I am uncertain now that I am in the busy world of PR. PR has been my comfort zone for five years and it has been my life now.” -Pao Oga, 27
“I’m a shift supervisor for a coffee shop and dreams of becoming a store manager. I believe I’m on the right track. My passion for coffee is still overflowing and I think that’s my secret weapon why I really love this job.” -Samuelle Tubiera, 24 “I’m a Public Relations practitioner but my lifelong dream is to be a fiction writer. I would [pursue my dream] if I could, and if there’s an open door/window for me, I would probably grab that chance.” -Kristine Mae Bernardo, 28 “Before I wanted to be a sound engineer, but I stumbled upon photography and realized I love it better. They say it’s never too late to learn something new, but as of now, I’m enjoying my current job and I’m pretty satisfied with it. I’m not closing doors, though.” -Roumelle Sabroso, 30
“I’m a radio DJ but I want to be a director or a pilot. I’d love to pursue directing but I don’t want to give up my current job, so I guess I’ll just let my dream job be my greatest ‘what if’.” -Yen Mempin, 27
But the millennial generation, which makes up more than a third of today’s work force, has a different perspective when it comes to work. Several surveys reveal that Gen Y employees prefer companies that place a premium on workers welfare, flexible schedule and building a community and a sense of purpose. According to research and data provider PayScale, this generation’s young professionals
value work/life balance more than their older folks, and look for jobs that offer opportunities for career advancement. Perhaps these priorities are the reason why the oft-studied generation are tagged as ambitious and entitled jobhoppers who go from one company to another whenever they see fit. But good salary and job security are also important for millennials, according to a multiple-country survey of
ManPower Group. That while purpose is a priority, they are ready to move up with the same employer as long as they are provided with the benefits that will maintain their standard of living. But are these factors enough of a reason for them to veer away from their dream jobs? Are dream jobs still being achieved? Young Life asked 14 Filipino millennials on their career path and whether they will still pursue their aspirations.
“I’m an HR assistant of an Ad agency, but my dream jobs are to become a filmmaker, court-side NBA reporter and an NBI agent. I’m willing to do everything to achieve at least one of my dream jobs. In my opinion, it is never too late to achieve anything in life. Although I know that I will start from the bottom or take a different path, the things on the way this path can teach me to develop and enhance my skills. Pursuing the things that you love to do is for me considered a dream come true.” -Felicia Moira Longman, 22 “[I’m] content editor for a startup online travel agency. [I wanted] to be a journalist when I was growing up. To be honest about it, I’d prefer my current job as it has opened me to an industry which is very much in keeping with the times. We live in the digital era right now. And I feel that I am exactly where I want to be.” -Anonymous, 33
“I’m currently a contract illustrator for Facebook. My dream job is to do visual development for an animated TV series or an animated film. I’m still very interested in pursuing my dream job. In my free time I’m taking up workshops and doing personal work that would hopefully take me there.” -Niccolo Balce, 35
“I’m currently an accountant which is in line with my dream job of being an auditor. Right now, I don’t have any plans to change my job but if there will be a chance I will pursue a different career which is Computer Programming.” -Ray-Mart Sumilang, 24
This casual survey reveals that millennials are adaptable to their current work situations. While some are on the right track toward their goals, some have embraced the different path that they have taken—and making it work for them. Gen Y employees remain optimistic about their future—whether to move on or move up from their current jobs. They are willing to take detours to get to their destinations, or take side trips before finally going to their last pit stop. The responses also show that millennials are not all crazy job-hoppers, and given the circumstances they are willing to stay in a company. Forget about climbing up the career ladder or traversing a one-way career path. Millennials are all about branching out, gaining experience and broadening their horizons.
“I’m a PR practitioner but when I was very young, I wanted to be a businesswoman. In high school, I wanted to become a journalist, which I did after graduating in college. However, a few years ago, I realized that my calling is to build and foster genuine relationships. These days, my thoughts gravitate toward doing what I am doing now, while planning to have my own business on the side. Perhaps this a thing of my generation—wanting several things all at the same time.” -Anonymous, 28
“Being a Communications graduate, I can honestly say that [being] part of the Media Affairs Group of one of the country’s top conglomerates is my dream job. Not only do I get to utilize the things I learned in college, but I also get to work for and learn from people who I believe are the best in the field.” -Anonymous, 27
Grab jobs through your phone JOB hunting can be a tedious and ex- among a couple more others. hausting task even for those who finOne of its founders, who has worked ished a degree or had previous work ex- with several food and beverage estabperience. Luckily, job seekers today have lishments, cites the unreliability and digital partners that make this endeavor a inconsistency around staffing in F&B whole lot easier. industry as the primary reason for creatFilipino job hunters and employers ing the said app. in the retail and service industries have “GrabJobs was created in response a new way to connect with each other to staffing issues faced by employers in through jobs marketplace app Grab- F&B, retail, hospitality, events, logistics, Jobs, which was launched recently in warehousing and BPOs, among others,” the country. shares GrabJobs CEO and co-founder GrabJobs is a light, portable Emmanuel Crouy. app that provides opportuniAfter receiving seed funding ties in retail, service and other from private investors in June blue collar industries. Since its to expand regionally, the comlaunch in Singapore in Janupany decided to first tap into ary this year, the app has rethe Philippine job market. corded over 25,000 downloads “We wanted to get GrabJobs and has enlisted big clients to the Philippines first and foresuch as Foodpanda, Brotzeit, most, primarily because we Scan this icon to view the PDF know there’s an ever-growing GrabJobs connects employers and job seekers in retail and service industries H&M, Club21 and Holiday Inn,
demand here,” says CCO and co-founder Mark Melo. What sets GrabJobs apart from any other job platform available is its features. Employers can broadcast job posts with push notifications, search and filter candidates directly, and contact potential workers through chat right on the app. Job seekers, on the other hand, can easily apply to job posts with a tap of a button. They can also be easily notified when a new job ad has been posted or if an employer has selected their profile. Within the first week of its soft launch in the Philippines, GrabJobs has already garnered over 1,000 registered job seekers. Meanwhile, companies that have already gotten on board include SM Retail, Metro Retail, The Peninsula Manila and Jollibee Foods Corporation, to name a few. Visit www.grabjobs.co for more information.
Young Life
E2
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 isahred@gmail.com
DRESSED TO WORK
T
HEY say you have to dress for the job that you want, not the job that you have. But if your current position requires you to be in leather shoes and button-up shirt, you better not come in to work wearing beat up sneakers and statement tee. Same goes if work puts you in a situation where protective and comfortable outfit is mandatory, it’s best to don the proper attire. Here are a few wardrobe staples that are work-appropriate for whichever industry you’re part of.
Corporate
The secret to professional dressing is investing in classic pieces that are easy to put together and will never go out of style.
White button-up shirt
A crisp white button-up shirt is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing. It can be worn under a suit or by itself with a tie. This sartorial staple can even take you from conference room to classy restaurant. Uniqlo x Lemaire
Black blazer
Consider this your secret weapon when you need to transform your whole ensemble or look more professional. Marks & Spencer
Pencil skirt
Women should have one or more of this skirt solid colors. Choose skirts that are no higher than a few inches from the knee. Uniqlo
Black or nude pumps
Closed-toe pumps in black or nude match any office outfit, not to mention practically all kinds of outfit. Opt for three-inch heels to ensure comfort. Christian Louboutin
Tailored pants
Always choose a pair that is altered to fit as well as possible. Blacks and grays work well in the officesetting, reserve blues and brown for casual Fridays. Zara
Creative
Workers in advertising, media, start-ups and other industries have the privilege not to be confined to rigid office outfit. In fact, they are encouraged to dress according to their personality. But keep in mind that even though suit and tie are not mandatory, you’re still at work, hence keeping everything professional is still important.
Fieldwork
Jobs the require long hours of staying outdoors—under various elements—call for work outfits that provide protection and are comfortable to move around in.
Polarized sunglasses
Breton top
Another wardrobe staple that looks casual when worn on its own or polished when layered under blue blazer. H&M
Cashmere sweater
Layer it over a button-down shirt for a preppy ensemble or wear it with denim pants for a more casual look. Uniqlo
Apart from its a great style statement, sunglasses protect your eyes from glare and harmful UV rays. Put them on and go back to work! Ray-Ban
Long-sleeve linen shirt
The breathable material of this shirt keeps you cool when under the sun, while the sleeves offer protection from strong winds. H&M
Khaki pants
Loafers
Go for neutral shades or you may also opt for bold colors or trendy prints to create a statement look. Sperry
Millennial financial advisor Ysabel Benitez
Shirtdress
Pick one in solid color and accessorize to make it more work-appropriate. Mango
Khakis are casual and dressy enough to take you from day time grind to nighttime chill out. Gap
Leather boots
The durable, rugged and comfortable features of leather boots make them the ideal footwear when working outdoors. Payless
Wide-brimmed hat
Workers who are constantly exposed under the sun need to always wear q hat. Dorfman Pacific
Blue denim jeans
Classic, versatile and comfortable. Enough said. Topman
The best of both worlds:
A career that fulfills aspirations and life purpose YSABEL VICTORIA BENITEZ is just like many other millennials. She wants to own a house and cars, and to travel once a year. She even plans to get married at age 30. She immediately drove towards her dreams right from her first day of work in the corporate field, but found herself burned out at 23 and dreading the future. “When I look at my dream board, when I look at the things I want to achieve and the salary I’m getting every single cut-off, I knew it would take me years and years and years to actualize them,” relates Ysabel. Her restlessness eventually grew, compelling her to explore other career options. Ysabel didn’t have to look far, though, as she only needed to turn
to her mother Elvie for career inspiration. “My mother is a single mom. Life insurance has been her bread and butter. All three of us siblings went to private schools and no one was left wanting. On Sundays we even eat out in nice restaurants,” she shares. She has experienced first-hand the honesty, sincerity and real impact of the insurance business on the lives of its partners. Now, the 27-year-old child of insurance agent experiences the industry’s generosity as an employee of Insular Life. In less than three years with the company, Ysabel has earned her qualification to the Million Dollar Round Table—an elite organization composed of the top 5 percent of the world’s financial advisors. Suffice it to say, she is
now living her life goals. Ysabel currently leads a team of 25to 39-year-olds, all of whom are building a career in insurance. She has big hopes for her team, as she sees in them her own drive for success. “We’re a very passionate generation. There are a lot of things that we really want to do and I think these are bigticket items. With big-ticket dreams, you need a career to support them,” avers the millennial financial advisor. With Ysabel’s coaching, her team of fellow millennials is making their personal finances a model for their clients. They further hone their know-how with the help of conventions and trainings offered for free to Insular Life advisors. Most of their team members are themselves Insular Life policyholders,
baring their trust in the products and the company that they now share with their clients. Just recently, their team has committed to make the journey to 10,000 — an effort to reach 10,000 millennial clients in three years’ time. But aside from material wealth, the young financial advisors also enjoy the priceless accomplishment of being able to help other people achieve their goals. “A child will be going to college, a couple will get to retire comfortably, there’s that fulfillment that you can rest your head at the end of the day and feel that your clients achieved their goals. They were able to plan for the quality of life that they wanted, and I played a part in making that happen,” Ysabel says beaming with pride.
Showbiz
ALDEN RICHARDS
gets a Diamond M
USIC downloading and streaming may have taken the entire music industry, but these alternative ways of enjoying music did not stop local showbiz’s Golden Boy from convincing his legion of fans to buy his record. Alden Richards has just earned a Diamond Record award for his album Wish I May. The album was certified by PARI (Philippine Association of Record Industry) after it sold more than 150,000 physical copies. The Kapuso actor received his 9th and 10th Platinum awards during the Oct. 9 episode of Sunday Pinasaya, where the 24-year-old actor is one of the regular hosts and performers. “Never in my wildest dreams and imagination that this album would reach Diamond Record, I’m speechless. I would like to extend my gratitude to all the people who continuously support my recording career,” said Richards. Just last month, Richard’s sophomore album received the 8x Platinum Award, and people predicted that the record would reach Diamond
status before the year ends. But everyone was not surprised when Wish I May exceeded everyone’s expectation. In 1990, PARI began certifying recorded music in the Philippines. Constant Change by Jose Mari Chan was the first ever album to be certified Diamond on Nov. 10, 1990. Since the awards program was launched, only seven albums were certified Diamond by PARI. Aside from Constant Change, Chan’s Christmas in Our Hearts was also certified for selling more than 800,000 copies. Now that Richards has released another record, which is currently topping iTunes Philippines’ music chart, will he make another music history for being the second OPM artist to receive two Diamond Record award? Our guts tell us it’s highly likely to happen.
Local music’s best-selling records IN LINE with the incredible milestone in Alden Richards’ recording career, we look back to the big records that made indelible mark on the local music scene. And in our effort to inspire more local artists to create original material and music that appeal to global audience, we are listing down local music’s most successful records of all time:
including “To Love You More,” and Sarah’s cover of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.”
Drawn, R2K and Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw The Asia’s Songbird is in a league of her own. In 1998, 1999 and 2000, she released the records Drawn, R2K and Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw. Each record was certified 6x Platinum by PARI for selling more than 240,000 copies Cutterpillow each. These albums are popular for producing all-time Eraserheads is not called The Beatles of the favorites “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw,” singing contest staples Philippines for nothing. The band’s third studio album “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” (an Aerosmith cover), and released on Dec. 8, 1995 by Sony BMG Music sold more the Jeffrey Osborne original “On The Wings of Love.” than 400,000 copies. Based on our history books, the record turned Gold on its first day and Platinum with firstA Wonderful Christmas week sales of more than 125,000 copies. The album was Christian Bautista’s A Wonderful Christmas includes certified quadruple platinum in 1996, having shipped heartfelt renditions of “Nakaraang Pasko,” “Gloria,” more than 175,000 copies in just under a month after its “Little Drummer Boy,” “Christmas Shoes,” and “What release, becoming the fastest selling album in ‘90s era. a Wonderful World.” It was released a year after he Additionally, Cutterpillow became a highlight in Pinoy dropped Romance Revisited, an album inspired by the music as it introduced classic songs such as “Huwag songs of two-time Diamond record awardee Jose Mari Mo Nang Itanong,” “Overdrive,” and the anthemic “Ang Chan. A year after the release of the Christmas album, Huling El Bimbo.” In 2012, it was certified 11x Platinum by PARI certified the record Diamond after it sold more the PARI catapulting Eraserheads as the country’s most than 200,000 units. successful band. Araw Oras Tagpuan Nina Live! Sponge Cola’s fourth studio album is also the band’s The country’s Soul Siren famed for her extraordinary most successful record to date. Released under Universal vocal range, released a live album in 2005. After a week Records, the album is composed of 12 tracks, the most of commercial release, the album immediately reached popular of which is “Tambay.” The single amassed more gold status and was certified platinum after three than six million views on YouTube since it was released. weeks. It is considered to be the biggest-selling album The album received its Diamond Award certification in by a female artist in the Philippines, certifying for selling 2011 for selling more than 150,000 units. more than 300,000 copies or 10x Platinum using PARI’s certification level between 2005 and 2006. Julie Anne San Jose Julie Anne San Jose’s self-titled album was certified Popstar: A Dream Come True Diamond by PARI in 2014 after it sold more than 150,000 The Pop Queen’s debut album released on Sept. 11, copies. Released in 2012, Julie Anne’s debut album 2003 by VIVA Records is one of the most controversial defines her career as one of the most successful female albums in the recent history. In a report by Journal Online, recording artists of her generation. The album’s first citing PARI as the source, Sarah G’s Popstar: A Dream single, “I’ll Be There,” was used as the theme song for the Come True is said to have sold almost 300,000 units as of South Korean TV series Lie To Me by GMA-7. The single, 2008. To date, Popstar: A Dream Come True has shipped which was certified 4x Platinum by PARI, is also the first more than 310,000 units, which is equivalent to 20x OPM single to reach the “Platinum Digital Single Record Platinum (or double Diamond) using PARI’s certification Award” for the outstanding digital sales exceeding measurement as of 2012. The album spawned pop hits 245,000 downloads.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE Sunday, October 16, 2016
ACROSS 1 Shore up 6 “Uncle Miltie” 11 Agave 16 Humphrey to Bacall 21 “Bad, Bad — Brown” 22 Winter constellation 23 Organic compounds 24 Showers with praise 25 Stand for 26 Transparently clear 27 Meat jelly 28 Whales like Shamu 29 Like a niche 31 Bete — 33 Norms 35 Amigo of Fidel 36 Dash 37 “Mila 18” novelist 39 Cause havoc 41 Ardor 43 Louisa May’s family 46 Wagers 48 Curly’s friend 49 Short on iron 52 Berlin article 54 Preclude 56 Strong silent type? 60 Four-bagger (2 wds.) 62 Tiny stream 64 Letterman et al. 66 George Bernard — 67 Flight board info 68 On a rampage 70 Survey chart 72 Amazon port 74 Coffee brewer 75 A chunk of the globe 77 Worm or minnow 79 Late tennis great 81 Ready to pick 82 AAA suggestion 83 Toy-store stock 85 The good guy 87 Small job 89 Kept going around 91 Meadow murmur 93 Aliens, of a sort 96 Fritz’s sigh 97 Quick trips 101 Mongol dwelling 102 Ubangi tributary 104 Sonnet segments 108 Aloha token 109 Pith helmet 111 Inoculants 113 Hunger for 115 Limerick writer 116 Tax prep pro 117 Sports complex 119 Ties up the phone 121 Slant 123 Realty ad item 124 Martial — 126 Consumer advocate 128 Lantern part 130 Bram Stoker novel
132 Polar explorer — Amundsen 134 Floats to the top 136 Eggnog time 138 Drove a semi 139 — Wiedersehen 141 Energy 143 Gumshoes, often 145 Port authority? 149 Sponge features 151 Aswan Dam site 152 Like a trampoline 156 “— — Road Runner” 157 War movie river 159 Pat’s hostess 161 Canned fruit brand (2 wds.) 163 Speculate 165 Wife’s dad (hyph.) 167 Citrus center 169 “— vincit amor” 170 Crowbar 171 Delay on purpose 172 Police van 173 Domain 174 Waugh and Baldwin 175 Throw for — — 176 Cooks slowly 177 Ocean fliers DOWN 1 Traffic-jam noise 2 Buck the system 3 Chile’s northernmost city 4 Spy’s alias (2 wds.) 5 Gazes at 6 Ravel favorite 7 Well-read 8 Rocker — Ocasek 9 Pork selection 10 Finance 11 Kind of sale (hyph.) 12 Ousted from power 13 Cagney or Lacey 14 Barrette 15 Show biz org. 16 Iris or violet 17 Rowboat need 18 Handbag logo 19 Utah neighbor 20 German steel town 30 Give in 32 Rollover subj. 34 Woolly animal 38 Commotion 40 Shish — 42 They make waves 44 Onetime Trevi Fountain coin 45 Prune back 47 Pack rat 49 Out in front 50 — — fast! 51 Inbox filler 53 Cinder ender 55 Heirloom 57 Oafish one
58 59 61 63 65 69 71 73 76 78 80 84 86 88 90 92 94 95 97 98 99 100 103 105 106 107 110 112
“Ah Sin” playwright Bought Webster or Beery Tipping point (2 wds.) Tintype hue Chicken style Bangkok native Danke, in Dijon “Dark Angel” star Low card Hairy twin — Fe Obligation Felt certain Bloke Festoon Heavy hydrogen discoverer Thick piece of bread Dana of “MacGyver” Copy, briefly Lariat Asparagus tip Oklahoma town Ski slope bump Blues street in Memphis Famed viol. Town near Palm Springs Comparable
114 118 120 122 125 127 129 131 133 135 137 140 142 144 145 146 147 148 150 153 154 155 158 160 162 164 166 168
Chapel Hill native Fabled teacher? Glasgow citizen Moselle feeder Wooden strip Evictions Composer Jerome — Patron Donuts, often Urban problems Hid out (2 wds.) Hardly any She-lobster Mops up Cello kin Strong-arm Wet behind the ears Mrs. Gorbachev Comes down white Kofi of the U.N. Of some worth Ball clubs Part of IBM Room to swing — — Hoarder’s cry Toshiba rival Philosopher — -Tzu Birthday count
E3
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 isahred@gmail.com
Alden Richards’ Wish I May album has been certified Diamond by the Philippine Association of Recording Industry
E4
Showbiz
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 Isah V. Red, Editor / Nickie Wang, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com.ph
AMAZING BEAUTIES Beauty queens Parul Shah and Maggie Wilson-Consunji showed their competitive side as they tried to survive the physically and mentally challenging reality show, The Amazing Race.
By Nickie Wang Photos by Sonny Espiritu
P
RIOR to joining their respective international pageants, beauty queens Parul Shah and Maggie WilsonConsunji underwent physical and mental trainings. Maggie competed at Miss World 2007 while Parul represented the Philippines at Miss Grand International 2015. They might look glamorous on the catwalk but their final appearance was achieved through a series of punishing workout routines and numerous personality development exercises. And just like how these “women of substance” put it: We train like athletes, only our arena is the pageant stage. “A lot of people don’t realize how competitive beauty queens are. People have this perception that we are high maintenance. I kind of like how people think of us that way because they expect us to be like divas but when we perform in other fields, that’s when they get surprised,” said the 27-year-old Maggie in an interview with Manila Standard. And they are out to prove that they are more than just pretty faces as they tried to survive the physically and emotionally challenging reality show, The Amazing Race Asia, which starts its Season 5 run on Thursday night at 9 p.m. on AXN. “No one will ever understand what we went through unless they’ve become part of the race. I used to watch the show and didn’t think how challenging the tasks were until it was me doing those challenges. I think we’re going to talk about this experience for a very long time, many years maybe,” said Parul. Asked about how they survived the month-long competition and what their game plan was, both queens said that before they embarked on this mentally and physically challenging journey, they agreed to play it safe. “We decided that we’re going to be the underdog in this competition. Like joining pageants, you don’t have to give everything in one go. In most tasks, we see to it that we wouldn’t finish first or last. It’s a challenge when people underestimate you because they wouldn’t know what you are capable of,” explained Maggie. The two beauty queens are bosom buddies in real life. Maggie was the one who trained Parul before the latter joined the Binibining Pilipinas 2014 where she won the Tourism crown. She was handpicked to represent the Philippines at Miss Grand International 2015, where she placed Miss Grand International 2015 Third Runner-up. “Maggie was my mentor as a beauty queen and in The Amazing Race, she’s my support system. She kept on pushing me to be a competitive person like she is,” the Filipino-Indian beauty shared. “I am drawn to people who have great passion to succeed, that’s why we instantly became friends. And I don’t think I would reach this far, talking about The Amazing Race, if I were with a different partner,” Maggie commented. Best friends Maggie and Parul are among the 11 teams, including former It’s Showtime host Eric Tai and wife Rona Samson-Tai, who are competing for the $100,000 prize in the reality game show.
From pageant stage to
‘Amazing Race’ Reluctant singer finds his voice IN A dynamic industry where competition amongst lots of people has killed the persistency and determination of many, up-and-coming singer-songwriter Jude Concon is more than ready to take the plunge. Born in the Philippines but was raised in Brunei, the 24-year-old Norwegian-Filipino singer is currently in the country to pursue a life-long dream. “I used to hate singing as a child. But when I grew up, music became an outlet for me. I started music as a hobby but not until when I turned 18 when I won my first competition in Brunei that I realized music has become a big part of my life as a teen, and this the thing that I would really like to do,” Jude told Manila Standard. The young singer, who plays the keyboard, graduated with a high distinction diploma in Popular Music Vocals at NeoClassic Music School Brunei. He was part of the Philippine
Team in the 2015 World Championships of Performing Arts held in Long Beach, California USA. In the competition, considered the Olympics for performing arts, Jude took home a silver (gospel category), and two bronzes (rock and open style category). “I was studying in Brunei and out of the blue the national director of team Philippines emailed my school principal who’s also my voice teacher, it was really random. So I got in contact with the national director and I was able to join the team Philippines,” he shared. This year, he represented the country in Europop, a singing competition held in Germany. He made it to the grand finals being the only Asian to join the competition and won fourth place out of 17 European countries in the 18 to 24-year old category. Heavily influenced by music greats like James Morrison, Alicia Keys, Duffy, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Etta James, Eric Bibb, and Emeli Sande,
Jude is determined to pursue a music career in the Philippines and present his own brand of music. “There are so many good singers in the Philippines already, but I think what I can bring to the table is my being different. I don’t sound like most mainstream singers out there, but I think being different is what makes me stand out,” he asserted. Jude shared that his music is a hybrid of four different musical styles since he’s into blues, soul, pop and gospel music. He has recently signed a record label deal with MCA Music Inc. (Universal Music Philippines) and an EP is currently in the works. As a composer, Jude penned a song called “Time Machine” and released it via music streaming sites. The single, which according to him, is a song that a lot of people can easily relate to, is now available on major digital platforms like iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Spinnr, and Apple Music.
Singer-songwriter Jude Concon is ready to take the plunge and pursue a music career in the Philippines