Ladine has come a long, long way

It’s a long way from Limay, Bataan to London, England – but ask 23-year-old singer Ladine Roxas and she’ll tell you that it’s been the most satisfying, most rewarding trip of her life.

Since signing up with the UK-based Candid Records and releasing her solo album How Can I Make You Love Me to rave reviews, Ladine has grown from small-town girl to international celebrity at a pace that would make anyone’s head spin. But even when she was a little girl growing up in Limay, this is exactly what Ladine dreamed of. "I love to perform," she says. "Even when I was little, my mom used to say I would always sing and make up my own songs. For instance, if I went to the bakery to buy bread, I’d sing Gusto Ko ng Pandesal. I’d even memorize jingles when I watched TV. It was so funny."

Maybe so, but no one’s laughing now. With her success in London, Ladine has finally won recognition as a serious artist, something that even the London critics recognized. After her sold-out performance at the Equinox Disco, Steve Blake of the Bournemouth Daily Echo wrote: "This is such a marvelous debut that it immediately places her among today’s finest singers. The fastest rising Asian star on the British scene, she has a voice that is distinctive and captivating with an appealing vibrato that gives her singing a girlish sweetness. Her phrasing is natural sounding, relaxed and infectious."

To Ladine, the best thing about her whole London experience is being recognized as a Filipino artist. Prior to her launch last June, few people in London music circles even knew what the Voice of Asia competition was. When they heard that Ladine had to beat out several contestants in a two-day singing contest to win the grand prize, Ladine gained new respect for her talent. "They couldn’t believe it when I told them I had to sing for two days at that contest," says Ladine. "I think they also have a singing contest in London but it only lasts one day, compared to the Voice of Asia which lasted two days. Di sila makapaniwala na kinaya kong kumanta ng dalawang araw na magkasunod."

Ladine started training early for her chosen career. The eldest of four children, she often starred in school and church productions. Ladine’s family was not rich but she was lucky because she had talent in abundance. While attending the Jose Rizal Institute in her hometown of Limay, Bataan, she started to get involved in all aspects of music. "I joined the church choir and the glee club. After that, I started to write poems and set them to music. Music was a big part of my life when I was growing up."

Even now that she has an international career well within her grasp, Ladine still looks back on her days in Limay, Bataan with fondness. "I had a very happy childhood in Bataan," recalls Ladine. "Ours was just an average family but we were happy."

"Until now, my family is very supportive of my career," Ladine shares. "When the opportunity for an international career came and I knew I would have to leave the Philippines, my father just said, ‘Okay, spread your wings. Fly.’ My parents believe in me and I’m very grateful," says Ladine.

Ladine is looking forward to the good things yet to come, like her possible US launch, which her producers, Alan and Nieves Bates, managers of Candid Productions Ltd., are targeting for the middle of 2003. After six months in Asia – during which she launched her album here in the Philippines – Ladine will also head back to London to promote the second single off her very successful album.

She knows that success comes at a price. Pursuing an international career will mean time away from her family, time away even from any semblance of a personal life. But Ladine has no regrets. "Nasanay na ako," she says with a smile. "This is the kind of life I chose, and I’m very happy with the choices I made." So don’t look now, but the next big Filipina star in London may be the girl from Limay – Ladine Roxas.

Bukas Palad album

The Jesuit Music Ministry of the Jesuit Communications presents the newest album by the Bukas Palad Music Ministry, Tinapay Ng Buhay: Mga Bagong Awitin Pangmisa.

The album marks the return to the roots of Bukas Palad. These 24 songs renew Bukas Palad’s commitment to contribute to Filipino liturgy, and invite us all to return to the Eucharist, to Jesus, the Bread of Life who fills the hunger of the world.

Tinapay Ng Buhay: Mga Bagong Awiting Pangmisa is produced by the Jesuit Music Ministry of the Jesuit Communications Foundation, and is distributed nationwide by BMG Records Pilipinas.

Meanwhile, Jesuit Communications’ short film Batingaw (The Bell) was judged as the Best Short Film in the last Cinemanila Film Festival, besting entries from all over the world. Batingaw follows the journey of a young man, in search of himself and his place in the world. It will soon be released in video by Jesuit Communications.