Carol Banawa picks up the pieces

Carol Banawa has a talent bigger than her name. But it’s early on in the game. One day, she’s going to be a big, big singer –just as big as her enormous musical talent. She even has a cheering squad behind her that would make any diva wannabe red, blue and green with envy.

Consider this: International singing champion Dessa was once quoted to have said, "Ang linis-linis ng boses niya."

Noted composer Jungee Marcelo declared, "I believe so much in Carol’s talent. She is one of the singers who will stay in the music scene for a long time." Ima Castro, the singer who wowed audiences recently when she portrayed Kim in Miss Saigon said that Carol will "soar as a singer. Ang galing niya talaga." Good friend and theater veteran Luna Inocian once wrote that "You’ll be mesmerized by her voice."

After shining brilliantly in Trumpets Production’s Little Mermaid and in Star Cinema’s Tanging Yaman, Carol has proven that there’s no other way for her but up. She is now a regular in ASAP where she can be seen every week pitting talents against the country’s top singers. And now, she is ready to spread her musical wings in the concert scene as she will headline a free concert entitled Key of C at Onstage in Greenbelt on April 27 at 7:30 p.m. Her concert, which features Lani Misalucha, South Border, III of a Kind and the Hotlegs as special guests, will also be seen as a Star Studio Special to be aired on ABS-CBN. In her repertoire will be classic pop ballads like It Might Be You, When You Say Nothing At All and Better Days. Carol will also groove to the beat of Diana Ross’ I’m Coming Out and Janet Jackson’s All For You. And of course, the night wouldn’t be complete without Carol’s trademark song, the heart-rending Tanging Yaman.

Directed by Leo Rialp, with Ric Mercado as musical director, Key of C is a concert that will, according to Carol, talk about her life, love, family, her successes, hardships and inspirations. And Carol, life is indeed all that. And more.

Almost two years ago, Carol was unwittingly dragged into the publicity maelstrom. She was in the papers everyday for almost a week, not because of a rumored pregnancy or a DOM boyfriend but because her father and her brother figured in a tragic accident. They were waiting for Carol who was coming from school and they parked their vehicle in the parking lot of a nearby mall. Carol’s father and brother tried to get a little shut-eye inside the vehicle with the air-conditioner turned on.

Hours later, they were discovered unconscious due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Carol and her friends rushed them to the nearest hospital. Carol’s father was able to survive. Her bother Alex didn’t make it.

"Na-depress talaga ako noong time na iyon. Feeling ko I couldn’t go on with my life anymore. I lost my brother while my dad naman was in critical condition, I just cried and cried and cried," remembers Carol.

With prayers from her family and friends, Carol realized that she must not wallow in pain and sorrow. She thought that if her brother were alive, he would have told her to continue her career as a singer. Says Carol, "He knows that this has always been my dream and he would be the happiest person if I make it. He always told me to be strong to face challenges head on. And I’m doing just that."

In a recent press conference organized by the ABS-CBN Talent Center, facing the challenge of meeting the very hard to please entertainment writers was what Carol did and she did it splendidly.

She charmed the press with her youthful wit and charm. She mesmerized them with her voice when she sang songs like Ikaw, Fallen, Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin and I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing. Then someone challenged, "Carol, bilib na talaga kami sa iyo pag makanta mo ang Moonriver. Unfazed, Carol got the mic, and sang the song Henry Mancini wrote long before she was even conceived, "Moonriver, wider than the mound… I’m crossing you in style…"

Carol faced the challenge head on. Just like what her brother wanted her to do. Just like what she wanted to do. Bravo, Carol.