The name Kate Quioge Valentino does not ring a bell just yet. But this jetsetter and entrepreneur is about to stir the Philippine music industry by providing a platform for Filipino singers, newbies or veterans, to make it internationally via an online contest dubbed Level Up Pinoy Singing Competition.
This tilt will serve as a springboard for talented Pinoy singers to be recognized worldwide and given a chance to enjoy a sustainable international singing career.
Based in Arizona, USA, Kate has travelled the world from Europe, America to Asia and lived in the most exciting and colorful cities where she learned different cultures and enjoyed an enviable lifestyle. But wherever she is, her heart always brings her home to a passion that has been nurtured since childhood.
As far as Kate can remember, music played a huge role in her family. She was a member of the school choir. Her parents too, were members of the church choir. She fondly remembers her parents going to church before the break of dawn. Relatives would also come to the house to play musical instruments and sing to their hearts’ desire. These were the bonding sessions that brought them closer. These were the memories that stuck to her mind and heart. This is why she became so inclined in becoming part of this creative endeavor that her parents loved so much – so she can continue their legacy.
Kate was a full-blooded Manileña in her younger years. Having been educated at St. Paul University and De La Salle University College of Saint Benilde with a degree in Accountancy, she lived a fairly comfortable life. Manila though, is not for the faint of heart. So she learned to be street-smart. This toughened her up and molded her into an intrepid individual.
Life took a major turn when she met the love of her life. Having fallen in love with a pilot, Kate packed her bags and joined her husband in the US. This was one of the best times of her life as she had endless opportunities of travel and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. During their marriage, they were blessed with twin girls. Shuttling between different jobs was not new to her, so becoming a mom-preneur, in order to attend to her businesses and growing kids, is something that she cherishes.
After 17 years, her marriage came to an end. But she says they maintain a cordial relationship as they try to be the best parents.
The trials of married life did not stop Kate from dreaming big. One dream that lingered in her mind for so long was to continue the musical legacy of her parents. And so one fateful day, Kate decided to proactively pursue that dream. In order to achieve this, she started a new undertaking as host and producer of an online singing competition to honor her parents.
Recently, Kate put up a company, Unicorn Dreamers Production, where she serves as the President/CEO in order to bankroll the singing contest, Level Up Pinoy.
The contest aims to discover the next generation of internationally-renowned Filipino singers and help them chase their dreams. It is open to all Pinoys worldwide who want to make it big internationally. Auditions have started where aspirants are required to send a video of their singing piece.
A spinoff of the singing competition is the Level Up Pinoy Lifestyle Edition which features singers and non-singers aimed at inspiring them to fight for their dreams and reach their life goals.
The winner of the competition gets a cash prize of 50,000 pesos and round trip tickets to Bangkok, Thailand with 15,000 pesos pocket money. The second and third placers will receive 30,000 pesos and 20,000 pesos, respectively.
Winning does not end here. The grand prize winner will embark on a career marked by trainings supervised by international vocal coaches, significant online presence, promotions and virtual concerts. The winner’s journey will be supervised by Unicorn Dreamers Production as the management team.