Music in his Soul

Im your ordinary bloke at the bus stop," insists Carlos Alberto Ibay. But one look at his credentials will tell you this 24-year-old is definitely far from ordinary.

 This young man‘s talent as both tenor and pianist takes him on performance tours all over the world. Fortunately, his lack of eyesight is never an issue.

 "I’ve always loved playing and listening to music. That’s a pursuit that doesn’t require my eyes," he says. "Besides, I found out about my handicap only recently. For many years I always thought that my eyes were working just fine. I didn’t know because nobody, not even mama, ever told me I was blind."

Carlos’s dad Roman says that his son always had a good ear for music and nimble hands for the piano. "Even as a child, he could already play any song on the keyboard immediately after hearing it," he shares. And as if that wasn’t enough, it was later learned that Carlos is also blessed with a clear and poignant singing voice.  

 He now fuses those skills in performances that leave audiences in awe. "I want to share my talents with everybody," Carlos says. "I’m constantly trying to incorporate my favorite musical categories into the set. And it makes no difference where it’s held because I always try to play my best."

Carlos has a great passion for tunes in many genres, and the emotions readily take charge of his whole music. While there might be some exaggeration about how good he is (mainly because of his visual disability), he really has a memorable flow with his repertoire. Carlos romances his instrument in the first part and later conquers the entire length of the ivory keys.

Aside from playing in numerous universities in the US, the former child prodigy just concluded a series of shows in Russia and is now ready for his debut concert here on Feb. 27 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. In cooperation with Sinagtala and the John Paul II International Center for Family and Communication, it promotes the Filipino artist as a first-class performer. Part of the show’s proceeds will go to charity, something that Carlos is enthusiastic about.

It came as quite a surprise that Carlos has been to Europe, South America and other parts of the world before visiting the Philippines. "Matagal na talaga namin gusto bumisita dito sa atin pero ngayon lang kasi nagkaroon ng offer na tumugtog," mother Carmencita explains.

 Although born and raised in the states, Carlos insists that his family is as Filipino as adobo–a reason why the Ibays are spending a whole month here. And Carlos is definitely excited to learn more about the country, especially our food. "I’ve heard so much about Pinoy cuisine. There’s lechon, mechado and sisig! And it’s a pity I haven’t tasted any of them. But I’ll be making up for it. So by the time I leave I’ll be oinking," he laughs.

Carlos speaks very little Filipino, but it’s a forgivable lack if you have mastered six different languages. He speaks French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Japanese so fluently that he can pray and sing in all of them.

It seems like Carlos is leading quite a life these days, but his parents admit that it wasn‘t always so smooth. "We did have our trials and difficulties," Carmencita says.

His mother had such a difficult pregnancy that doctors even suggested terminating it. But Carmencita refused and delivered her son prematurely. Carlos struggled to survive. Over-exposure to oxygen inside a nursery incubator damaged his eyes.

"I was very angry back then," Carmencita shares. "He was our only child kasi. So Roman and I were naturally sad that all our son will ever see is darkness."

She adds: "Thankfully, I still found my inner peace. It was from God–with our faith and prayers. And Carlos turned out to be wonderful. We always knew he had talent, but my husband and I had other priorities–like giving him the most normal life possible."

They soon realized their son‘s awesome potential, however, and the Ibays did well to develop it. Through extensive education and the right teachers, Carlos blossomed into the accomplished artist that he now is.

While he leans towards the classical pieces of Mozart and Rachmaninoff, his repertoire bares his high level of versatility to include opera, Broadway, jazz, tango, world and even pop.

Manila audiences will finally get a chance to experience the unique talents of Carlos Ibay when he holds his debut solo concert at the CCP Main Theater on Friday.

"I can travel the globe and meet new people by doing what I love most," says Carlos. "I‘m living the dream even without sight. And I wouldn’t have my life any other way."