Chadleen: Born to Sing

Cebu has been blessed with so many born singers the likes of Pilita, Verni, Vina, Dulce, Raki and many others. And now, a girl named Chadleen Alberth Lacdo-o.

Chadleen was born to  very normal parents, Roberto and Bebot Lacdo-o. But fate has it that due to circumstances beyond the control of her parents, their child was a victim of what we call as “cleft palate.” A year after she was born, the child had difficulty sucking milk from her mother’s breast. So, barely one year and eight months old, the parents decided to have Chadleen operated on by a private surgeon; paid him his professional fee (a big amount) but unfortunately, surgery was unsuccessful since four days later, the stitches gave way.

When Chadleen was 4 years old, the parents decided to have another surgery for her. Although money was difficult at the time, the couple had no choice but to push through with the operation because Chadleen was already in nursery school. Aware of her love for singing, her classmates and other school mates would ask her to sing and dance for sheer fun. But Chadleen’s cleft palate simply would not allow the words to form well, that sometimes she was just being made fun of. To Chadleen, it didn’t matter. All she wanted was to sing and sing she did at every opportunity she had.

The parents again made up their mind to have their girl undergo an operation. Then they heard of Operation Smile. It was the World Journey of Hope in 1999. A certain Grace Absin referred them to Benjie Diola, then the president of the Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung Charity Foundation, Inc. or MSYCFI – Operation Smile’s partner in Cebu.

At first, they were reluctant. After all, they already paid a big amount for the expertise of a sugeon. With that kind of money, what was expected was an expert job! And yet, Operation Smile is free! How could true surgical expertise be free? But finally they were convinced. Chadleen was the last to be operated on in the last batch. The rest, as they say, is history!

After a year, she could speak much better, but a lot was still to be considered with regards her singing. And singing was what she cared for more than anything.

When she was 11 years old, she joined “Little Big Star,” a nationwide search for young talents by ABS-CBN. To improve her diction, her parents had enrolled her in speech therapy sessions. Although a first-timer, she was No. 1 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd elimination rounds. In the finals, she got so nervous, aware that the other contestants were veterans in singing tilts. Nevertheless, she became the First Runner-up. Later, in the wild card, she won first and got to compete in the Grand Finals.

Today, she is busy with her singing classes in Center for Pop Philippines in Cebu, singing engagements, as well as her academic classes. Her daily routine consists of waking up early for her lessons as she has promised her father to do well in school. In fact, she is consistent “Best in Science.”

She guested at ABS-CBN’s local noontime show “Sabado Na Gyud,” as well as in local mall shows. She sang in the concert Cinderella last September 30 at the SM Cinema, as well as in Nanette Inventor’s recent show in Cebu. She is also a grand finalist in a singing competition sponsored by DYLA – a local radio station, the Grand Finals still to be held this coming December.

And during the 25th year of OPSmile celebration in Manila held at the Sofitel, Chadleen was brought by Mrs. Yeung to sing during the party. At the affair, she was invited to sing at the Reception Party of the Ambassador of China to the US in Washington D.C. She went with her mom Bebot, all expenses paid. She did such a good job that she was invited to sing the American National Anthem this July in Chicago.

Whatever the future holds for Chadleen, we can only wish her well. After all, who could have thought that below her once broken palate is a voice that would shoot her to the stars!

To all who helped Operation Smile Cebu, thanks to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, Cebu City Marriott Hotel, Juan and Lydia Mercado & family, St. John’s School of Tumon, Guam, Ms. Julie Gandionco, Maitland Smith Cebu and Mr. & Mrs. Edward Carey.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all.