The wild heart in Pamela Pilapil

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu will hold a special place in the wild heart of Pamela Pilapil. Her early music days began here filled with guitar performances anchored on the Cebuano’s inherent love for music.

Pam said she thanks her dad for buying her her first guitar. “I learned to play it through a radio program and I really enjoyed the adulation back then.”

She said she seemed to draw friends and usually got some cash from her grandparents. Such inspired her to sing all the time during events, fiestas, over radio programs and television shows.

She mentioned of her membership to the Kausahang Musikero sa Sugbu, a group she said was organized by lawyer Mel Libre. Composers got together to perform in concerts and they usually raised funds. “The little cash we made, we saved some for our requirements during our shows. Some of them we used to eat pancit canton at Shamrock. It was truly a great time. Most of us came from differing backgrounds – all enthusiasts and eager to perform.”

Her parents, although encouraging, never forgot to remind her to make sure she prioritizes her studies. “Yet, despite all the reminders, I took some time secretly to perform. Luckily, I managed to juggle my studies and shows during those days,” she said.

Pam shared, too, that in one of their Christmas caroling sessions, they went up Beverly Hills where “Ditchie” (a term of respect for an elder sister she uses to address this section’s executive editor Mayen Tan) lived. “She saw me and some of us and invited us to sing in Shakey’s, which she owns. The rest is history. She was a truly great mentor. Her passion for theater, music, arts was inspiring. She encouraged me and got me involved in all her projects. At that time, she also managed Tuxedo Junction where theater and dinner shows were popular. She invited talented people and encouraged performances.”

Then Pam received offers to perform in concerts, in Japan, and other countries. But before that, she had already participated in the Metro Cebu Pop Music Fest. “I was so young and spirited then and got into the finals. Kabataang Paglaum was my original entry. Despite not winning the grand prize, my entry which was jazzy and arranged by Homer Flores in Manila got recorded as part of our prize.”

“So then, I became immersed with music and traveling and performed in so many places in Cebu. My best experience was the travel to Manila where I was managed by Naning Zamora, then mentor of Zee Band. That’s when I worked with Eva Gulle (now Eva delos Santos) for a time. Then I had a contract to perform in Malaysia, so from there I was able to travel to Singapore and other Asian destinations,” she further shared.

After her successful shows in Malaysia including Petaling Jaya Hilton, Pam came to Singapore armed with her guitar. She performed at the Bier Keller, quite a small but well known haven for good musicians. An agent saw her and funded her to bring a band to Singapore. 

“That’s how it started, but after a while I decided to take a rest when I met my future husband then.” Pam is married to Mr. Clifford Khoo Hong Kee, a Singaporean businessman.

“I performed with an all-female band too at the Dynasty Singapore now called The Marriott Hotel. My husband encouraged me to work in a radio station which was a stepping stone for me in Singapore,” Pam continued.

She worked as ace producer/presenter and celebrity host/personality over Radioheart 91.3 FM where she hosted the prime time “Sunny Side Up” radio show which became a popular and regular favorite amongst listeners. 

“As Pamela Wildheart, I became an instant name in Singapore. I hosted the prime morning show and got featured in AsiaWeek for my shows. I also sang and performed. I was promoted immediately to senior level, and ended up heading the programming arm of the radio station.”

During her radio days, she pursued her Masters Degree in Mass Communication and acquired her degree from the Macquarie University in Australia. As for her radio career, she described it to be interesting because she was able to brush elbows with a bevy of celebrities and that the list is looong.

Yet, despite her live interviews with celebrities like Toni Braxton, Julio Iglesias, Mariah Carey, Rick Prize, Tina Arena, Celine Dion, Ricky Martin and many others, she still has a few dream interviews. She said she is keen to have a chance to spar with Ellen Degeneres. “She is highly entertaining and intelligent without being over-the-top. Perhaps, Oprah Winfrey too should there be opportunity.”

“I also think that more serious characters to interview include Eric Clapton, Madonna and Tina Turner. They would be great choices for me as I want to get into their mindset and their passion for their music,” she added.

After seven years of radio work, she stopped and lectured in many schools and universities in Singapore as associate lecturer. “I have been active and still conducting my lectures until now, freelance,” Pam said.

The moment she left radio, Pam got busy with her music too but never decided to record her compositions. Her career at the Jurong BirdPark, Singapore Zoo and Night Safari was equally challenging.. She became senior manager for sales, travel, advertising and promotions and also corporate communications manager. These gave her insights to the leisure industry in Singapore.

“What a great opportunity to work with travel agents, guests, tourists and more. I was lucky to have been invited many times by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board to perform in India, Korea and China,” the bubbly Pam added.

I stayed for nine years till December 31 of last year. Then I quit to focus on my music.”

This husky-love diva’s debut album “Wild &Wicked” features 10 songs she had mostly written. As for “Anak,” she chose to cover this because this is one song that reminds her of her roots and her beloved family. “I have a high regard for Freddie Aguilar. He is an icon in my heart. My dealing with him is mainly via email, phone calls and he is aware that I have rerecorded his music. I have his blessings, I have yet to give him his copy as I have been so tied up with projects,” she further said.

Among her accolades is the Outstanding Filipino Award this year for her achievements and contributions to the Philippine community in Singapore. She was picked out of 150,000 Filipinos there.

But despite this deluge of success, one thing made her the saddest: “When I was so successful in my corporate career, I seemed to have forgotten my music. I found it wasted.”

She decided to give up everything and decided to run her own music under no label.

“I spent most of my savings to the production. I have to sell my albums and have many challenges yet to face. I’m not a teenager, nor a teeny pop star, who has all the time to make music. But I am sure and I have faith that we Filipinos have a deep appreciation for artistry.

“I wanted my own sound. I can be directed by any music guru because most of the recording companies I saw, told me: Don’t write your own music because here in Singapore it does not sell. It’s challenging but I want to take these challenges,” she said.

To take her chosen path, one has to have a “wild heart”, which means one has to have a strong conviction, has to be free and original.

According to Pam, she is keen on performing and needs to do more in 2010. “I think I want to sing in Cebu again, in Manila and launch my album there too, hoping that friends will buy it. I still need to see agents there and discuss things with them so I am praying hard that things can be arranged so I can produce another album.” 

However, she emphasized that her dream is to be an artist not a star!

 “Everyone knows that stars sign autographs, etc. but artists are respected in a different level for the quality of their work.”