CEBU, Philippines - Cebuana songbird Raki Vega, who was recently recognized at the 22nd edition of the prestigious Awit Awards, feels very much honored to be part of HALAD 2010.
Promising to be a unique and nostalgic evening of timeless Cebuano songs, HALAD 2010, which will be held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug come January 13, will also showcase performances of her “idols”—Cebuana divas Pilita Corrales and Dulce.
Raki said of Halad 2010, the pet project of Dr. Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas: “I feel very blessed to be asked by Sir Dodong Gullas to be part of this great event and to join my musical idols, Ms. Pilita Corrales and Ms. Dulce, in this one-of-a-kind concert.”
She added that she is very excited to learn and re-learn not only the recognizable Visayan numbers, but also the lesser-known but breathtaking pieces no less, which for sure are going to (re) introduce younger generations of Cebuanos to our rich cache of beautiful compositions.
Halad 2010 will also be another good opportunity to watch Raki perform on Cebu soil, what with her fresh success at the 2009 Awit Awards last December. Raki won the Best Performance by a New Female Recording Artist in the 2009 Awit Awards, besting such artists as Maricris Garcia, KC Concepcion, Laarni Lozada and Charice Pempengco.
It has truly been a wonderful musical journey for the 28-year-old singer.
It will be remembered that it was in 2005 when Raki left for Manila in 2005 to pursue her singing career in the capital. But even before that, she was already a local musical darling, slowly and steadily generating a following.
As her life story would have it, the Cebuana was already sharpening her singing and performing mettles at 8 years old, holding “paid” shows at family reunions. Relatives would request her to do songs, and for the whim, Raki “collected” as much as five hundred bucks.
Once the idea was kindled and encouraged by her family, there was no turning back. As she hit her teens, Raki threw herself head on into music by joining the school choir, various amateur singing contests and theatrical productions. Later, she graduated into doing corporate jingles for hotels, pawnshops, print publications, etc. that earned for her the moniker of “Cebuana Jingle Queen.”
After finishing a course in Mass Communication in college, nobody was surprised when Raki opted to become a voice teacher at the Asian Academy in Cebu. Although she never studied voice formally, save for some month-long crash courses, Raki’s word-of-mouth credibility made her a shoo-in for the job.
It’s this same buzz that eventually opened opportunities for the songbird to become an interpreter in the Cebu Popular Festival (same song writing contest where fellow Cebuana Vina Morales was discovered) in 2001 and 2002. She placed third prize the first time, then first prize, next.
This unquenchable spirit to ultimately land on top of the game would be replicated in the Sound of Human World songwriting tilt. Held in Taiwan, Raki bested interpreters from 20 countries by clinching the Grand Prize for the composer and the People’s Choice Awards and Best in Singing citation for herself.
Insatiable, Raki then turned her focus in conquering Manila. Then came “Born Diva.”
“I really didn’t expect to make it in ‘Born Diva,’” she once said in an interview. “Still, and as usual, I gave it my best by rehearsing unfalteringly from the time auditions were announced all the way to the grand finals. My mantras have always been discipline, practice and prayer.”
Catapulting above a hundred auditioners, then later, 16 finalists, the “Classic Diva” (as she was dubbed then) sizzled—so much so she was declared grand prize winner of ABS CBN’s “Born Diva” reality-TV show, earning the title “Ultimate Born Diva.”
After “Born Diva,” Raki then conquered the theater scene by playing the lead character ‘Ti Moune’ in “Once On This Island”—a Tony nominated musicale set in the Caribbean Islands with story revolving around a poor peasant girl who falls in love with a rich guy with intervention of gods.
Raki received raves for her performance, and the musicale was such a huge success that a repeat Manila staging and a Cebu run were inevitable.
Nevertheless, Raki is not afraid to admit that after “Born Diva,” her career progressed in a slow pace. But she kept on the faith and pressed on, typical of Raki, who has always been one bundle of determination. In 2008, the breaks came pouring in like a much-awaited rain. Raki signed up with Star Records and was picked by the label to be its bet at the ASEAN IKON Philippines competition.
Among her other projects were the theme song of ABS CBN’s hit series “Lobo” as well as two tracks of TV host Boy Abunda’s “Love Life” album. Raki was also grand finalist in the 2008 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood where she joined the likes of Jed Madela, the Cercado Sisters, Reymond Sajor and Aria Clemente who all won major titles. She also became the endorser of Clara International beauty products. Raki is now being managed by STAGES.
After her big win at the 2009 Awit Awards, Raki and her management company are currently in negotiations for more definitive projects this 2010.
Raki said, “My motto in life is Carpe Diem (‘seize the day’). Never let an opportunity pass. Never stop dreaming. Love your craft and offer everything to God.”
Catch Raki Vega at Halad 2010 come January 13 (beginning 8pm) at the Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug. Tickets are available at Dunkin Donuts outlets, JRG Building along Gen. Maxilom Avenue, The Freeman office, University of the Visayas MIS Office (Colon), UV Mandaue and UV Pardo. Proceeds of the concert will go to the Poor Clare Monastery in Tayud, Lilo-an. Major sponsors of the concert are Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, Alcordo Advertising, The Philippine Star, The Freeman and Banat News and NBG @ Fahrenheit Café.