Ciara’s career now as fragrant as her name

Ciara. The name is unique and comes from one of Revlon’s old line of scents. As one of the rising stars in the local showbiz firmament, Ciara Sotto’s career is now as fragrant as her name.

Ciara’s mother, Helen Gamboa, the biggest star in the movies and recording in the late ‘60s, knew even from way back then that her youngest daughter was destined for the performing arts.

Helen knew this because even before Ciara could turn two, she was already the most eager among the Sotto kids to perform during the birthday celebration in Eat Bulaga of their Dad, Sen. Tito Sotto. ("She was such a great mimic," gushes Helen.)

By the time she learned to read at age four, in fact, Ciara was already singing different types of songs.

When she turned five, she developed another interest: ballet – and so Helen enrolled her at the dance school of Shirley Halili. To limber up her body some more, Ciara later took up gymnastics with Bea Lucero.

Mother and daughter would also watch – just the two of them – ballet presentations like Romeo & Juliet at the Cultural Center.

Around the time she turned 15, it was inevitable that she would embrace the world of show business. But not so fast. Mother Helen, after helping develop Ciara’s artistic talents, realized that she didn’t exactly relish the idea of letting her youngest child join show business.

While she loves the entertainment profession with such passion, Helen (she’s not only an excellent singer, but an award-winning actress as well) felt that things were no longer the same in this business. "It was different during my time," she rationalizes. "Today it’s more permissive."

Ciara’s heart back then broke into a million pieces. She had offers – particularly from Viva – and she couldn’t understand for the life of her why her mother wouldn’t let her join the one business that raised them Sotto kids.

"Oh, how she cried!" recalls Helen. By her own admission, Ciara had always been a good and obedient daughter. Maybe it wouldn’t really hurt if she gave in to her daughter’s wish to join the entertainment business. With Senator Sotto, it wasn’t much of a problem because as Eat Bulaga’s top executive Malou Choa Fagar (a good family friend) puts it: "Kayang-kaya ni Ciara na lambingin ang tatay niya."

With much reluctance, Helen eventually agreed to Ciara’s joining show business. Initially, Ciara was made to record Dalagita under Viva Records. Movies were also lined up with every project mapped out carefully by Mina del Rosario.

But it seems that mothers really know best – or was it a classic case of woman’s intuition? Just when Ciara was about to be launched into the big time – with everything on the planning board – Mina del Rosario suddenly died and along with her all the plans for Ciara’s career. It was back to step one for Ciara. Obviously, it wasn’t really time for Ciara to enter show business then.

Helen Gamboa’s instinct proved right. And now, looking back, she believes that everything still turned out to be a blessing in disguise. For one thing, she says, Ciara was given more time to hone her craft.

On Ciara‘s part, I salute her for turning to the groves of academe. After finishing high school at Poveda, she went to the Conservatory of Music at UST where she is now on her fifth year. (Three more years and she would be able to collect a master’s degree in music.)

Actually, what Ciara is doing – balancing her time between schooling and show business – is no joke. After all, as a music student, her subjects aren’t limited to music (which is already difficult in itself). She is also saddled with other subjects like psychology, mathematics and languages.

Her ultimate dream is to be able to study in a prestigious music school in London. "But I don’t think we can afford that!" protests Helen. "Pounds na ang usapan diyan – and given the exchange rate..."

Maybe Ciara can very well save up for her London studies. After all, her showbiz career is now on the upswing.

Only the other night, BMG Records Pilipinas staged at the Holiday Inn (formerly Galleria Suites) a grand launch for her self-titled album, Ciara.

Ciara is a 10-track album that features various songs of different styles. "My favorite is Adagio," says Ciara. A poignant Italian tune (with lyrics by Broken Vow sensation Lara Fabian), it is also my personal favorite among the cuts in Ciara Sotto’s album. (My next favorite is her remake of Joe Cocker’s A Whiter Shade of Pale – which also features her brother Gian on the guitar.)

I am not a music expert and I have no intention of encroaching on Baby Gil’s territory, but I did observe a tremendous improvement in the quality of Ciara Sotto’s singing voice as soon as I played her CD. Her rendition of her songs is so much mature and she is able to project a different personality with each song. (Like she is able to make herself sound like a temptress in This Time Last Night.)

Bumping into her at Annabel’s restaurant last night, I also noticed how much prettier she is today now that she has bloomed fully into a young lady.

Finally, things are falling into place for Ciara Sotto. Her career may have been derailed due to unavoidable circumstances the first time, but now it is definitely on the up, up and up.

Yes, she should have listened to her mother back then and waited for the right time (which I believe is now). After all, don’t mothers know best?

Specially if your mother is the original pop diva who knows the business.