Singing is in his blood

BALDWIN PARK, CA — Being the son of Tawag ng Tanghalan eight-time champion in the `50s Lerrie Pangilinan is both a privilege and a responsibility. But for Val Pangilinan Villar, it’s more of a privilege.

“To be Lerrie’s son is an honor, but it is tough at the same time. People expect me to be as good as my mom. That will never happen and I am OK with that. No one can compare with my mom,” Val says.

Lerrie hails from the respected Pangilinan clan known for its strong Christian faith. She is the aunt of Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, media man Anthony Pangilinan, and talent manager Angeli Valenciano. Val is very proud to belong to this family that taught him to be thankful for one’s talents and abilities.

Val started in the industry in the late ’80s as a member of singing groups Adobo and Altered Rhythm. His talent was discovered by no less than his mother, when Val and brother Peter would record their voices, pretending to be radio announcers in a game show called Radio Pow!

“I think Tita Sharon (Cuneta, Sen. Kiko’s wife) has a copy of that tape,” Val reminisces.

Though Val looks and sounds like a serious singer, he admits he really just does this for fun. He humbly says he does not think much about his singing career because “I always thought I’m just an average singer.”

When he was 16, Val arrived in Los Angeles in 1984 and experienced what he called “ the saddest part of my life” — separation from friends he knew since he was a child. His only consolation was that he was with his family during this time when he found it difficult to be accepted in the US.

“There was a lot of discrimination and of course, I experienced culture shock,” Val recalls.

His first job was a sales representative at Radio Shack where he ranked No. 1 in sales after six months. He also worked as a clerk, filing dead people’s records at the Scientology Church, then at a bank for six years before joining the family’s collection agency for a couple of years. Val also ventured into car sales for two years and became a top seller.

His big break came when he started working in the wireless industry AT&T/Metrocall in 1998 when he was awarded the President’s Club Winner for being No. 1 in sales in the whole country for seven straight years. When the company closed in 2005, Val opened his own Verizon Wireless Store in Los Angeles. All his previous clients followed him including Los Angeles World Airports, Miller Coors Brewing Company, Worley Parsons, Parsons, FEDEX, Food Distributors and about 3,000 more customers. In 2008, Val added Sprint and Nextel to his products.

Since singing is in his blood, he joined different singing groups to make him happy. But he stopped singing when he got caught up with work until his friend Ninette Tenza Umali asked him to jam with her band which plays in The Promenade at Gano Excel, a coffee bar/warehouse in Irwindale, California owned and operated by Joven and Maricar Cabasag.

Val pursued his singing career with the full support of his mom, who had a show called Chelsea Dancetime with Diomedes Maturan in the ’50s, his dad Eduardo Villar, Val’s wife Roxanne Dimaandal Villar and his sister Edna also an excellent singer. Val says, “Grabe ang galing ng boses niya and without effort talaga. I think siya ang nagmana sa mommy ko. She’s been singing since she was six.”

Val joined the 4828 band headed by Tateng Katindig with Maricar as his partner on lead vocals. The other 4828 members are Ner de Leon, Myke Gonzaga, Edd Evidente, George Rossi and Robman.

For Val, the most challenging part of being an artist is juggling his singing career and full-time job. But he forgets all his fatigue when he sees his audience having a great time and hearing their applause.

Val sings R&B and ballads at Gano with the 4828 band. He looks up to Earth Wind and Fire, George Benson, Spandau Ballet, Brian McKnight, Michael Buble, Luther Vandross, Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano.

“I like R&B and ballads because I grew up listening to that kind of music. Every once in a while, I also sing jazz songs. I am open to anything as long as it’s not heavy metal,” Val shares.

Next year, Val plans to visit Manila after 25 years of being in the US. He would love to be on the same stage with top performers in Manila like his favorite band Freestyle. He also dreams of opening his own restaurant/lounge and more Verizon Wireless branches.

Until then, Val will continue to do what he truly does best: Being a good son and a good singer.