After she won the contest, Frenchie joined Erik Santos, Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go and the other "Champions" on ASAP and on their foreign tours to the US and Dubai. They even did an Araneta Coliseum concert together. But just when her career seemed to be on the upswing–and just when fans were expecting her to release an album–Frenchie became less visible on TV.
A few weeks ago, she was back on ABS-CBN, appearing in shows like Homeboy, ASAP and Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas, prompting people to ask what had happened to her. Well, she’s back with a bagful of musical tricks and a wardrobe that hugs proudly her big, sexy body.
She says that after winning the contest, she was–like any other contest winner–expecting big things to happen. Some of them did happen, others are yet to come. She didn’t get to record a solo album (OJ Mariano, who placed third, even came out with an album ahead of her). She was disappointed, but Frenchie never bothered to ask why.
"Of course, I felt slighted. But I didn’t bother to ask anymore. Maybe, they also have their own reasons," says Frenchie.
Instead, she turned her attention to work. During the Champions’ concert tour of Dubai, she poured her heart out to Erik, who suggested the best person to talk to would be their director, Bong Quintana. It was Bong who referred her to Backroom, and the rest is not history but work in progress.
Slowly but surely, Frenchie is starting to recover lost ground. She knows she still has a long way to go – it’s always difficult to start from scratch again – but she doesn’t mind. "Okey lang. As long as I don’t step on anybody’s toes," says Frenchie. "Besides, it’s not that hard, because somehow, people know and recognize me."
One of the "issues" she wants to clarify is the one about her getting upset over Jed Madela’s entry into ASAP. It will be remembered that initially, the Champions consisted of Erik, Sarah, Rachelle Ann and Mark, until the addition of Frenchie and Raymond Manalo, Rachelle Ann’s runner-up in Search For A Star.
Then along came Jed, who was ushered into the show on the wings of his spectacular victory in the World Championship of Performing Arts, where he won six gold medals, besting singers from all over the globe. Because Jed’s entry came on the heels of Frenchie’s departure from ASAP, suspicious minds put two and two together and figured that maybe, one thing had something to do with the other.
Frenchie debunks such claims. "That’s just fine with me. Each of us has his or her own talent," she says. Besides, she and Jed are friends, both having done the band circuit before going solo. Frenchie was with a band called Overload for nine years, while Jed had his own band. They would often bump into each other during gigs, and while they were not particularly close, they were at least friends. So it’s not true, says Frenchie, that she bears a grudge against Jed.
Right now, she is too busy to pay attention to whatever intrigues are being hurled against her. Slowly, she is being seen on TV again, plus on Feb. 17, she is having a concert at Zirkoh, titled Someone Big To Watch Over You. For special guests, Frenchie will have her former band Overload, with Kim Flores and Erik Santos, with Kapitbahay ni Kuya’s Mariel Rodriguez and Vietnam Rose star AJ Dee as hosts.
There will be a lot to look forward to in the show, particularly Frenchie’s renditions of power ballads by the likes of Aretha Franklin, to whom her voice has been compared. But watch out for her "impersonations" of some singers, during which Frenchie, in her irrepressible style, promises to spare no one. She’ll be doing impersonations of Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Tina Turner, Jaya, Pilita Corrales, Vina Morales, even Sharon Cuneta!
This is Frenchie’s first solo show, and she is naturally excited and nervous. But she knows this is only the beginning. Better things are yet to come. Who knows her dream album may happen soon.
Meanwhile, Frenchie can only promise to give her 100 percent with each song and each performance. "Basta, gagawin ko lang ang best ko," she says.
We will be watching, Frenchie.