Martha Joy: Good-bye, Canada; hello, Philippines!

MANILA, Philippines - Her Filipino-Latina features allows her to claim to be Iza Calzado or Maggie Wilson’s sister. And she doesn’t mind. She just may, on a dare.

Once you get up close and personal with Martha Joy, however, you know that she has more to offer than good looks and the ability to pose as Iza or Maggie’s sister.

Martha Joy, 18, can render an aria without straining her vocal cords. Then, as if it was the most natural thing to do in the world, she can shift to light pop in no time at all.

This, Pilita Corrales saw, and admired when she saw Martha Joy perform back in Toronto, where she was born and raised by her Portuguese dad and Filipina mom. Pilita took one good look — and listen — and decided to approach the 5’7” tall Martha Joy.

“If you’re interested in a singing career in the Philippines,” Pilita said, “Just give me a ring.” And she gave Martha Joy her calling card.

The then high school student didn’t jump at the chance at once. She had other options, like her studies, not only in high school, but also in opera.

Later on, though, she realized that the offer was too good to pass up. Six years ago, Martha Joy fastforwarded her high school studies to graduate ahead of her batch. Then, she packed everything she had, kissed her friends in Canada good-bye, and flew, pronto to the Philippines.

She was not even thinking of a temporary good-bye. It was good-bye, Canada for keeps.

Martha Joy has not had enough time to look back since. The Canadian Idol eighth placer sat, speechless as she heard a track a radio station aired from her debut album (under Viva Records) recently. The album, which has an all new original song line-up, is produced by Christian de Walden, who has created hits for Sarah Geronimo, Claire dela Fuente, Rachelle Ann Go, and others.

 Martha Joy is also slowly getting the hang of showbiz, having guested in TV shows together with other Fil-Latina beauties like Krissa.

Thus, she is leaving nothing to chance. Martha Joy vocalizes daily. Even if she is on the other side of the globe, she makes it a point to call her teacher in classical music back in Canada to get pointers about interpreting a song well.

After all, she has reached a point of no return. Martha Joy turned her back on the land of her birth to try her luck in the Philippines. She will make sure her gamble — calculated though it is — pays off handsomely.