Jay-R Siaboc Toledo bisrocker is meant for the big time

December 9 was indeed a proud night for all of us. After months of learning and yearning (for their dreams), our Cebuano scholars Panky Trinidad and Jay-R Siaboc finally made it to the cream of the crop of Pinoy Dream Academy - the Honors List of 6. I am one with every Cebuano in celebrating (and confirming a presumption I made on my column last Sunday) the inclusion of our representatives in tomorrow's finals, proving once more that the Cebuano performer is among the country's finest artists.

But their fight does not end here. We have yet to elevate them to their rightful places in PDA's final three because it is clear that it's where they ought to be. This, even as some have been complaining that relying on the text component for the final judging is unfair. They say that it has turned PDA into a popularity (or money?) contest, setting aside what the Academy stands for: giving the best scholars the recognition they deserve. Still, we have confidence that even after all these, Panky and Jay-R are talents no one in the big city can ever put down.

Stranded in Roxas City, Panay Island at the wake of Seniang, I failed to catch last Saturday's show. It was a text early Sunday morning from Tita Jane, Panky's mom, that confirmed the duo's entry into the finals. I was ecstatic. I immediately congratulated Mario Colmenares, Jay-R's manager, who together with Tita Luzviminda Siaboc, Jay-R's mom, and the entire Siaboc family, have been fueling the 19-year-old's fight inside the Academy. Jay-R, according to the people closest to him

Unlike Panky Trinidad whom I had the pleasure of meeting (and jamming songs with) about a year or so before PDA, I never got the chance to meet Jay-R. But watching the nightly offerings, this versatile performer has always struck me as someone with so much talent and a great deal of good character. Talent-wise, it is plain for everyone to see just how natural he is on stage with his powerful voice, graceful moves and the ability to make his fellow scholars (and televiewers) laugh with his brand of comedy. Attitude-wise, I see him as someone possessing a considerable amount of humility. A very good combination for any artist, but is sadly quite uncommon these days.

My daughter Aira adores him as well as a few other people I know because of his versatility and pleasant attitude. Still, our opinions of him will have to be confirmed by those closest to him. And so, to find out whether my impression of this young man from Toledo was true, I sought the help of two individuals who are truly in-the-know when it comes to the Cebuano Bisrocker. His mom, Luz, who was responsible for discovering his son's flair for music at a young age; and Mario, who's not just his manager but also the friend who helped Jay-R realize his potential to make it big outside Cebu. I communicated with Tita Luz via email while Mario gladly gave me the chance to personally interview him over dinner last Thursday night even as they were already very busy preparing for the Big Night. Beginnings

Coming from a family of singers, it was almost automatic that Jay-R should follow in his parents' footsteps. Learning his uncle's original song "Sa Alaala Man Lang" (Cro-Magnon Band) at the age of 4, Jay-R went on to join singing contests in his elementary years accompanied by his mom. All throughout his high school years at Awihaw National High School in Toledo, he received the "Singer of the Year" award. Jay-R, together with his parents and relatives, would also join choral competitions, that eventually they would gain a Hall of Fame status at where they live for winning contest after contest (a very good training ground right there if you ask me). In fact, as defending champions of the province-wide Daygon Contest, the group is set to defend their title on the same date as the Grand Dream Night, prompting Tita Luz to beg off from the contest so she can be in Manila to support her beloved son, who's the youngest of 5.

Aside from performing, Jay-R's dream is to go to college, but his parents simply could not afford this. It is perhaps for this reason that Jay-R may lack some training in the area of diction and pronunciation, prompting one judge to say "Ah, kasi taga-Cebu ka." Not a very nice thing to say to a young man whose pride in his roots and native tongue reverberated in each note he dished out. (I'm not very certain but I was told that this particular judge was never invited again having touched quite a sensitive chord; a good warning for those who haven't been paying attention to lessons on Cebuano pride.)

Still, Jay-R never showed one bit of pessimism in his quest for learning more about his craft. He humbly accepted every correction and criticism that went with the daily lessons, taking to heart each one and applying those he learned inside the Academy. (The last time he sang an English song he was determined to do better, telling Mario "Mubawi ko.") After all, being one of the 20 PDA scholars was in itself already a dream come true for his two loves - music and education. And what a big blessing to be given a scholarship for something one loves doing!

The Ripe Time for Re-discovery

"Ganahan jud ko mag-artista." Such were the words of Jay-R when Mario first discovered him December of last year. Having sponsored nightly events that went with his group's annual outreach projects in Toledo for the last 8 years, it was during one Daygon Contest that their paths crossed. That same night, the group went out for Videoke, wherein Jay-R sang high-pitched numbers of Air Supply and other artists whose vocal chords seem limitless. It was then that Mario saw his potential for stardom. But over and above this, what truly made Mario decide to manage Jay-R, even if his line has really been PR (he has never agreed to manage talents before), was the young singer's pleasant attitude ("ma-ikogon kaayo") and his burning desire to alleviate his family's plight.

"One time, when I got the chance to talk to him during his first few weeks at the Academy, he asked how his parents and siblings were able to watch the nightly PDA shows. I said "sa inyong silingan," Mario recounts. To that, Jay-R replied, "Unya unsa-on man kung mag-uwan?" Mario also remembers visiting Jay-R's family in Awihaw, wherein he found Jay-R chopping firewood for the simple reason that they didn't have a stove. It is for these and a lot more difficulties that his family has gone through that Jay-R has long decided in his heart of hearts to do everything to help them. His prayers are slowly being answered.

Getting Into PDA

"Hilot", Jay-R's signature song on PDA is an original by Scrambled Eggs, the Bisrock band, which Jay-R joined this year. Mario also manages the group. As serendipity would have it, the band never met Jay-R although they were also from Toledo. The mix turned out quite well as it also provided the scholar exposure apart from the voice lessons.

When announcements were made for the PDA auditions, Mario knew the time was ripe for Jay-R's entry into the national scene. Having kept it from Jay-R's mom initially, "because she is very protective of him," they finally broke the news to her as Jay-R landed in the semi-final round. As always, she was very supportive. What followed was a series of simple makeover sessions, which Mario felt was important in getting to an industry that placed a premium on one's looks rather than just looking at the extraordinary talent. And as they say, the rest is history.

Now, Jay-R could very well be called "crush ng bayan" in a rugged sort of way, even prompting one judge to say, "You are the next Robin Padilla." Undeniably, Jay-R's brand of stage presence coupled with his vocal prowess commands attention from his audiences.

Staying Power

Almost everyone dreams of being "sikat" because the "famous" ones get the spoils. Jay-R and his band have had their share of discrimination. One particular incident was when they performed as front-act for a popular Cebuano band in San Carlos City. One organizer actually asked them "Sikat mo sa Cebu dong? Kay sikat baya kaayo ni ang sunod na banda." To add insult to the injury, they were given a very low talent fee and no accommodation (a requirement for performers from other islands). I would really like to see that person ask Jay-R the same question again.

It is very obvious that from hereon, Jay-R's career will soar, though Mario stresses that "the real work begins after PDA." And I could not agree more. So many talent contests have produced winners left and right who sadly have faded sooner than they were supposed to. It is Tita Luz's prayer that "Jay-R won't change and will stay the way he is before he entered the Academy - no pretensions, very easy to get along with, a very good and loyal friend."

Mario, for his part, who describes Jay-R as very religious and someone who has a good heart, would like his talent to stay grounded. He believes that "slowly but surely" does it and that to stay long in the business, one will have to possess a lot of patience. All these, plus Jay-R's insatiable thirst to learn more about his craft, love for his family and the tremendous support of his kababayans in Toledo (including one kababayan who handed Mario, during a Jay-R campaign, a P50 bill to show his support because he didn't own a cellphone) and the Cebuanos as a whole will definitely place him among the country's finest for years to come. No matter what the text votes may say, Jay-R and Panky truly deserve to be called the brightest stars PDA or any contest will ever produce.