JOSEPHINE "YENG" CONSTANTINO: DREAMS COMING TRUE!

YENG'S CLAIM TO STARDOM

Yeng's stardom doesn't come as easy as eating an apple pie. Yeng started dreaming, wishing upon a star and started reaching for it by stepping his best foot forward on a tumultuous stairway to it. Heavens must have lost patience on Yeng's obstinate invocation for her big dream to come true, 'till it was finally granted through the instrumentality of a might be one-off event, The Pinoy Dream Academy courtesy of one of the Philippines media giants, ABS-CBN.

While inside the “academy,” Yeng isn't yet done. There are various of them 'virtually' competing among the chosen circle of talents inside the PDA. Yet, at the final reckoning, Yeng proves it to herself and to the populace that she deserves to shine the most after months of grilling critiquing. Calling her the “Grand Star Dreamer” pulls her back to reminiscent the time when she was still an eager wanderer on the plains.

Yeng's stardom is definitely nailed on her natural inclination to music, natural charisma to the masses, pellucid and comely voice and the other half you would blame it to Yeng's innate acumen to song compositions. Some details of her stardom can be overshadowed on her willingness to submit herself to the noble yet exhausting responsibility as a young artist to young individuals.


QUICK BIO

Named Josephine Constantino by her loving parents Susan Constantino and Joselito Constantino of Rodriguez, Rizal. Yeng meets the world at the dawn of December 4, 1988. The youngest of the siblings of Susan and Joselito.

Despite the family's meager livelihood, Yeng made it to finish elementary as well as high school. Nevertheless, stopped to give way for others to finish and to help her parents as well. From the verdant hills of Rodriguez, Rizal, Yeng find her way through the doors of the reality TV talent search program of ABS-CBN, the Pinoy Dream Academy. She entered the PDA August 27, 2006 and triumphantly exited the hall December 16 of the same year.

A hefty package of wealth adds zest to her career as a winner, more in particular a new car, condo unit, gadgetry and a million pesos all from respective sponsors. As of now Yeng is enjoying her thought of her certified triple platinum debut album Salamat (90,000 copies sold), which was launched last January of 2007. And she's on for more to watch out.


Any stories to tell before you formally started as musicians?
Yung deadline namin ni papa is, bago mag seventeen dapat makapasok na ako sa industry, kung hindi, wala na po talaga, hindi na namin ita-try dahil sobrang tagal na ho naming nag ta-try. Twelve pa lang po ako, sumasali na kami sa mga contest, talent searches. So parang 'di ko na kakayanin. So, hanggang seventeen kung wala pa talaga, mag-aaral na lang. At naniniwala ako na si Lord laging may plan. Kaya noong seventeen ako, nag-audition ako sa PDA, 'di ko inasahan talaga na makapasok ako, although nakapasok ako ng 1st elimination, pero ang hirap talaga ng dinaanan ko.

If you were not chosen to enter the PDA, what supposedly are you doing this moment?
Nag-aaral. Kung 'di ako nakapasok sa PDA, isa akong Mass Communication student.

How do you rate your LIVE performances as of the present?
Say (1-10) Pa iba-iba kasi. Do you mean sa concert ko; ten kasi binigay ko po talaga lahat pati kaluluwa ko doon. Kahit na sabihin ng tao na worse yung performance ko, for myself, it's me. Ako yun, pinakita ko do'n walang halong kahit sino. Pa iba-iba kasi, like sa ASAP, minsan naiilang po ako sa damit, nahihiya ako sa kapwa ko singer. Hanggang 'starstruck' pa rin po ako eh; nakikita ko na lang si Anne Curtis na sa tabi ko, si Piolo Pascual, ano ba (giggles).

As part and parcel of the society, how do you think your music contributes in the betterment or development of our society?
As a musician, before pa, noong high school pa lang ako subrang aim ko talaga na makatulong sa music industry ng Pilipinas. Pero alam mo yun kuya parang katulong ka kasi through your art, maraming taong nahihikayat na tumangkilik sa musikang Pinoy. Through your art, maraming maniniwala na may talento ang mga Pinoy. Kasi noong time na high school pa lang ako, kadalasan hindi pa uso ang alternative na Pinoy, ang nagna-number one lagi sa chart puro foreign. Kaya palagi kong naiisip, kailan kaya Pinoy ang malalagay dyan? Syempre, kung yung mga batang nakikinig nakikita nila number one sa chart yung mga kapwa nila Pinoy, parang mahihikayat sila, magaling ang pinoy nagkakaroon ng tiwala.

Do you believe that music have the power to shape character for better or worse?
Opo, parang ganun. Noong elementary ako noon, si Mandy Moore yung nakabaliwan ko. Pa-girl ako noon eh (laughs, then goes singing). 'Di ako nagbabago. Alam mo mas comfortable ako doon sa mga tao na dati ko nang kakilala. Kasi, di pa ako si 'Yeng Constantino' grabe na yung friendship namin. Yun, di ako nagbabago, kaya mga barkada ko nga eh; sa sobrang mahal ko sila, pinilit ko na sa production ng album ko maisama ko sila. Pero, may apekto talaga ang music sa mga kabataan. Pag mahilig sya sa rock, medyo nag rerebelde s'ya sa family. Pero as we grow old we will realize na hindi ganon ang ibig sabihin ng rock. It's just a music, expression of ones feelings. Kaya mahirap maging music icon dahil naniniwala talaga sila sa sinasabi mo eh.

Do you think music connote spiritual entity in human beings, since animals don't know how to make music?
Naniniwala akong may Diyos, ang we are not made by chance. It's a gift. Pero sa akin pagkumanta ka, nai-share mo yung bahagi ng kaluluwa mo talaga sa mga tao. Lalo na pag songwriter ka hindi lang kaluluwa mo talaga, kundi buong pagkatao mo binabahagi mo sa mga tao. Hubad ka talaga sa harap ng lahat (smiles).

Would you agree with me if I say that music is solely just a form of entertainment? How can you widen its horizon?
It's an entertainment of course. Pero sa part ko, pag nawala ang music sa buhay ko, mamamatay ako. Parang part sya ng katawan ko na parang heart, na pag nawala 'to mamamatay ako. So it's not just an entertainment, because it's part of me eh. Parang hindi lang basta pag masaya ka. Kasama ko 'to pagmalungkot ako, kasama ko 'to pag umiiyak ako.

Do you believe that music has no boundaries? In what way?
Wala. Kasi kahit anong music puwede mong gawin. You wanna make music about hatred, puede! You wanna make music about love, about plants, nature or anything. Kahit mag pokpok ka nga lang ng bato may music kang nabubuo. Music is everywhere.

“As long as mahal mo yung music mo, yun yung pinaka importante. 'Di ko masabi na good music ang classical, at di ko rin masabi na bad music yun, pero para sa akin kahit anong klaseng music pa man yan, basta ikaw as individual kung ano yung gusto mong music, at yun ang maganda sa 'yo, yun yung maganda para sa 'yo.”

How do you understand good music?
Depende yan sa tenga ng tao. As long as mahal mo yung music mo, yun yong pinaka importante. 'Di ko masabi na good music ang classical, at di ko rin masabi na bad music yun, pero para sa akin kahit anong klaseng music pa man yan, basta ikaw as individual kung ano yung gusto mong music, at yun ang maganda sa 'yo, yun yung maganda para sa 'yo.

If I were to attend your concert, how would you convince me to do so?
Hindi ko kasi nakasanayan yun (smiles) na magbibigay ako ng dahilan para manoud ka ng concert ko. Pero 'di naman ako ang taong walang pakialam kahit 'di kayo manood.

And if I were to buy your album, how would you convince me to buy it?
Pakinggan mo na lang, kung magustohan mo, ok. Kung 'di mo nagustuhan ok pa rin.

Who do you think in need of more music, you (artists) or the listeners?
Both. Palagi ako neutral sa mga ganya (laughs). Kasi kailangan natin ang isa't-isa. Kaya n'yo kami kailangan dahil gusto n'yo makinig ng music. Kailangan ko ng music, kasi iba rin sa parte ko ang paggawa ng music.


KNICK KNACKS

What song is in your head right now?
(And she goes singing me a song) “Somehow, everything's gonna fall right into place...We'll make it last forever” Hallelujah by Paramore.

What's your favorite word?
I Love You!(laughs)

Are their music you dislike?
Wala akong kantang 'di gusto. Meron akong kantang 'di pinapakinggan masyado, pero 'di ibig sabihin 'di ko sila gusto.

If you could invent a new instrument, what would it sound like?
Di ko alam. (Thinking long). Pero, like pag nasa taas kami ng bundok tapus may hagin, parang music sa akin yung flow ng hangin.Siguro yung instrument ko tunog hangin (demonstrating how it sounds like, then laughs).

Do you think music can heal sick people?
Oo. Totoo yan! Alam mo ba pag may sakit ako, nakikinig ako ng mga emo (emo-rock), gumagaan yung pakiramdam ko. Kasi yung sakit minsan mind-setting lang naman yun eh, pag sinabi mo gagaling ka, gagaling ka rin naman agad.

What do you think the world would be like without music?
Boring. Wala. Wala.

If you were a song, what song would you be and why?
Hawak Kamay.

If you could hear what someone is thinking for a day, who would you choose?
Presedente natin. Kasi gusto ko talagang malaman kung bakit ganito yung bansa natin (laughs).

“...pag nawala ang music sa buhay ko, mamamatay ako. Parang part sya ng katawan ko na parang heart, na pag nawala 'to, mamamatay ako. So it's not just an entertainment, because it's part of me eh. Parang hindi lang basta pag masaya ka. Kasama ko 'to pagmalungkot ako, kasama ko 'to pag umiiyak ako.”

If you had only 24 hours to live, what would you do?
Sasabihin ko sa papa ko subrang mahal na mahal ko s'ya. Spend ko yung buong araw ko kasama yung buong pamilya ko. Sasabihin ko rin sa crush ko... (laughs).

If the whole world were listening, what would you say?
Let's help each other.

If you could ask God any one question, what would it be?
Why do you love me so much?

What is the sweetest compliment you ever heard about you?
Papuri ng papa ko masarap palagi eh. Yung ano pa, yung may isang ale na lumapit sa akin, sabi nya sa akin, 'alam mo ba inspiration kita yung song mo, Hawak kamay. Saka, kanta ko yun sa baby ko. Alam mo yung baby ko bulag.' Tapus yun, naiyak ako, on the spot. Then sabi ko thank you po. Yun yung best complement narinig ko, na naging inspirasyon nyo ako.

Are their anything more you wanna change about yourself?
Maraming bagay. Ugali siguro. Masyado akong critical sa sarili ko. Pagnagkamali ako lagi kong bini-blame yung sarili ko, nabubogbog na ako emotionally, saka lagi akong umiiyak. Saka, ayaw kung maging emotional. Pero pag 'di kasi ako magiging emotional 'di naman ako makakasulat ng kanta (laughs). Saka gusto ko pa maging accomodating (laughs). Marami pang baga, magpaparetoke ako ng mukha, di joke lang (laughs). Di, yun lang, wala naman sa pisikal.

If you could not differentiate beautiful from ugly, how would choose your spouse?
Basta mahal ako, mahal na mahal ako. Madaling magmahal eh. Basta ako ayaw ko no'ng lolokuhin ako. Kaya mas pipiliin ko yung taong mahal na mahal ako, kaysa mahal ko (giggles). Basta lagi akong naiintindihan, kasi masyado akong werdo mag-isip minsan, pabago-bago yung isip ko. Yung masasabayan lahat ng mood swings ko. Para makita ko na s'ya (laughing, giggles).

(For Yeng) If you could be given a chance to a a man for a day, who would you choose?
(Laughs) Piolo Pascual.

(For Yeng) How would you tell that a guy is really in love with you?
Pag nababaliw s'ya sa akin (laughs). Pag nagagalit ako, tawag ng tawag tapus umiiyak. Nag mamakaawa sa magulang mo (laughs).Pero pag ganon yung lalake, in love na talaga sa akin yun.

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