Why Jed Madela believes Pinoys are among the world’s best singers

CEBU, Philippines —  For a natural stage performer like Jed Madela, some may be surprised that he initially did not see himself as part of show business.
“I am a very shy, quiet person off stage,” he said during a recent press conference at Casino Español de Cebu.

“Singing was just a hobby for me. It’s just that the people around me saw my potential and pushed me to audition for singing competitions. Eventually, I found my place in showbiz.”
Some of these supporters are his family members, especially his father, who was a choir master.

“He’s my first teacher in a way because he trains the choir at church, and I would be sitting in the corner picking up everything he says. That’s where it all started,” he shared of his musical roots.
“Everybody in the family is musically inclined.

Some can sing, some can dance, and some can play an instrument. There was never a day at home when music wasn’t played. Music has always been part of my life.”
Madela, 47, also grew up in a religious household in Iloilo. His parents and grandparents were part of religious groups, and he is a proud member of his church’s Singles for Christ.

Being a performer for two decades, he felt that his purpose as a singer has become more faith-driven.
“When you have been in the industry for a long time, your purpose becomes different already, and you question what that is. You yearned for that applause, and after that, is that it? You often ask what’s next,” he said.
“I would always pray for what is my next purpose, and I ask the Lord to use me as an instrument so I can use the talents He gave me. That’s where I would find a deeper meaning as a performer, where it’s not just me anymore, it’s for the Lord as well.”
When he was offered to headline the benefit concert of Saint Padre Pio Home for the Relief of Suffering–Philippines Foundation Inc., he didn’t have to think twice. Concert proceeds will fund the organization’s sanctuary project in Barangay Pulangbato, Cebu City, which will feature a 100-foot-tall image of the Italian saint.
“I usually go on tour and have Cebu as a stopover.

But when I found out that it’s also a fundraising project, I got excited because I have a higher purpose of being on stage. It’s not going to be one of my usual concerts. Rather, it’s going to stay in the hearts and minds of the people, especially for those working hard for this project in Padre Pio’s name. It was an instant yes for me.”
Titled “Heart and Soul,” the concert will feature Bituin Escalante, JM dela Cerna, and Marielle Montellano as guests.
“This is a good lineup because when I do concerts, I don’t want to make somebody in the audience feel out of place.

JM and Marielle can entertain the younger ones, while Bituin and I can perform for the ‘mature’ ones,” he said. “I normally choose songs that will cater to everybody, so no one gets left behind.”
“Since this is a fundraising concert, a lot of the songs will be inspirational and will move the audience’s heart and soul. It’s going to move people for a good cause in building the sanctuary.”
Music has been a crucial factor in the foundation’s mission to raise funds for the Pulangbato sanctuary. Last year, they organized the “Huni Kang Santo Padre Pio Alang sa Santuario” songwriting contest at the IEC Convention Center, which featured actress and Padre Pio devotee Kim Chiu as guest performer.
“Padre Pio is a fan of opera and classical music,” said Michael Eric Go, a member of the organization’s board of trustees. “Music has a remarkable ability to unite people of different walks of life. Even if we have different dialects and you may not understand the lyrics completely, you are in the moment and united with the rest. That’s what we want to do with the sanctuary – where people go on a journey and everyone accompanies each other.”
A 2018 visit to Cebu, where devotees flocked to get a glimpse of Padre Pio’s heart, prompted the local organization to build a sanctuary and a chapel in his name in the province.
“That was our wake-up call because there is a space for Padre Pio in Manila and Batangas, but not a single space in the Visayas and Mindanao.

That became our dream. We looked for a place where we could build for him where people could pray and seek spiritual solace,” said Go, who hopes the chapel will open by October, while the retreat house will be finished by 2027.
Madela is a crowd-conscious performer, aware that every concert has a different crowd that brings a different energy.
“Cebuanos have a high standard for entertainment because the majority of good singers are from Cebu, and that’s why the standards are so high,” Madela observed. “You need to have that certain factor to win their hearts. That’s why it’s a challenge for us artists. Instead of letting that eat me up whenever I perform here, I make it a goal to have a successful concert in Cebu.

If you can capture the heart of Cebuanos, that’s a sign that you are a good performer.”
Madela also agreed with the internet’s sentiment that Filipinos are indeed good singers. He cited his experience in the World Championships of Performing Arts, where Filipino singers, whether competing for the Philippines or representing other countries, had the edge.

He noted Fil-Austrian singer JJ, the latest winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, as an example.
“Filipinos are cutthroat above the rest when it comes to singing and performing. I would see how other countries performed, and everybody is amazing technically, and they are very polished, but the heart isn’t there. Iba talaga ang mga Pinoy when they perform because there is that certain magic.

They sound like they are telling a story from their hearts when they sing,” he said.
If there’s one thing Madela appreciates about the newer generation of performers, it’s their willingness to take risks and experiment with their sound.
“That’s what I noticed from the younger talents. They are not afraid to try something new,” he said.

“In our time, when you did ballads, you were nervous to try a different sound. But the younger generation, they don’t stay in the same sound. They incorporate elements from their idols and twist them into their own style.”
If there’s one advice he wants to give the younger audiences, it’s to appreciate the nuances of a performance and not feel the need to post everything on social media instantly.

“Everyone wants that instant gratification to the point that they forget what’s important, which is the little things,” he said.
“In my case, as an artist, I would remind the younger ones to enjoy life and the music and entertainment given to them.

Everything is so fast that sometimes we forget [to enjoy the process]. I encourage everybody to slow down and enjoy everything that happens in their life, whether big or small. Savor everything because we don’t know how long it will last.”
Tickets for Jed Madela’s “Heart and Soul” concert on August 5 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino will be available at the hotel’s lobby and at SM Tickets soon.

Prices start at P800 for balcony, P1,800 for silver, P2,800 for gold, and P3,800 for VIP.