Misfortune becomes a blessing for budding singer

CEBU, Philippines - What was initially thought as a misfortune became a blessing for 15-year-old Chadleen Alberth Lacdo-o, who is a singing wonder not just because of her beautiful voice but because of what she went through just to get to this point in her life. Chadleen used to have a cleft palate and that deformity was the reason she could not do what she loved the most: sing. No matter how hard she tried, she could not interpret the songs simply because she could not pronounce the words properly.

One of her nursery teachers, however, saw a potential in Chadleen and asked her to sing in class. She gladly accepted the invitation, thinking that her classmates would begin to accept her if they knew she could sing. But when she did perform, she was literally laughed off the stage by her classmates.

Because of the treatment she received, there grew in Chadleen an innate desire to break free of her condition, no matter what it took. So when her mother brought her to sign her up for Operation Smile, she did not complain — even though they had to stay in line for much of the day.

In 1998, when Chadleen was only three, the Operation Smile team refused to have her operated because she was too young. Still hoping, together with her mother, they lined up again the following year, and Chadleen was finally given the go-signal to undergo the free operation.

“She was the last patient on the last day of the operations,” said Operation Smile Philippines president Bobby Manzano in a presscon last week at the Teatro Casino of Pagcor Cebu in Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. “She is, indeed, a child of destiny.”

Chadleen began to mend soon after her surgery, but full recovery came a year later — helped in no small measure by music. Her mother, Alejandrina said that Chadleen’s speech was improved by her singing and soon she was a normal kid again. Her life had been radically changed by a simple operation.

She joined the “Little Big Star” singing contest on ABS-CBN Cebu and, despite it being her very first time to join a contest or even to sing before a large crowd, she became a finalist. Chadleen did not win that talent show, but because her story was so unique and touching she began to get invitations to sing at various events.

Last year, when Operation Smile was celebrating its 25th anniversary, Manzano struck upon the idea of presenting “proofs of changed lives” to media at the celebration’s press conference in November that year. They found three such persons, and one of them was Chadleen.

The following month Chadleen performed before members of the US Congress in Washington, DC at the climax of Operation Smile’s 25th year. Since then she has performed with such luminaries as Kuh Ledesma and Pops Fernandez at the Meralco Theatre, and at the Pinoy Dream Academy concert at Lapu-Lapu City.

Chadleen is an avid fan of the Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo, Charice Pempengco, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Miley Cyrus.

“I really listen to their songs and watch their videos in You Tube to see how they perform so that I could also have the idea on what to do on stage when I will be performing. They are also one of my sources of inspiration and motivation in going international with my singing career someday,” enthused Chadleen.

She was also featured in various TV programs such as Rated K with Korina Sanchez, ANC Storyline with Patricia Evangelista, Probe Team with Cheche Lazaro, MAG TV and CCTN Channel “Babae” hosted by Aileen Senoran and Stella Palomo.

She had an early big gig for this year as she performed with pop icon David Pomeranz in a series of concerts aimed at raising funds for Operation Smile. Chadleen said that she was indeed very excited about the show and her dream came true to be singing with an international star.

For Manzano, Chadleen’s duet with Pomeranz — who is a member of the Celebrity Smile Ambassadors — is nothing short of an “Operation Smile miracle.” “This just shows what Operation Smile can do to change lives,” he said.

And for Chadleen, who is currently studying at Marie Ernestine School North Campus in Mandaue City as a second year high school student, the concert is a chance to help others who are suffering from the condition that had once prevented her from reaching her dreams.

“Yes, perhaps, I can now say that I have made my mark; that I have achieved much, much more that other normal kids my age have ever dreamt of. But the greatest achievement is that I can now sing… sing for those who can’t… sing for those who dream… sing for those who need a miracle. Thanks to Operation Smile, especially to all the volunteer doctors and donors who made not just my dreams and hopes come true but also those of thousands of children like me all over the world,” Chadleen ended.

— Marigold P. Lebumfacil