Nikki Gil on breaking free

"I don’t mind," Nikki Gil quickly offered when pressed for comment on Gary Valenciano’s plan to migrate to the US with his family for better opportunities. Nikki is close to the Valencianos since Gary and wife Angeli’s second son, Gab was once romantically linked to her (Nikki).

"They have their own plans and agenda," continues Nikki. "If God has something in store for them, my prayers go with them. Godspeed. Hopefully, they will find themselves in God’s will. That’s breaking free from something."

Speaking of breaking free, Nikki is part of the Asian version of Breaking Free, one of the sound tracks of the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical. The teen flick is about Troy, a popular cager, and Gabriella, an intelligent new student, who love singing and performing. The road to making their dreams come true, however, is hindered by their cliques and high school stereotypes. The movie reminds one of Grease and Footloose.

Accompanying the hit Disney film is a music video featuring Nikki and two other recording artists, Vince Chong of Malaysia and Alicia Pan of Singapore. The MTV will premiere on July 23, 7:30 p.m. on Disney Channel. Breaking Free, says Nikki, is a positive song which represents the spirit of the younger generation. It talks about breaking out from one’s shell and reaching one’s goal.

Nikki did not audition for the music video. Local executives had Nikki in mind when asked to study the song and find a local artist who could sing Breaking Free and emulate the qualities of the film’s leads.

Nikki recorded the song in Singapore. She collaborated with singers Vince and Alicia. It was Nikki’s first time to work with regional artists and she enjoyed it. A Disney official says the three were real troopers and professionals. Nikki finds her fellow artists fun-loving and very good. They intimidated Nikki at first. And they wrapped up the recording and shooting of the MTV in two and a half days.

Breaking Free is a typical story of following one’s heart and passion against all odds. It’s similar to the stories of Mulan, Aladdin and Cinderella, which are Nikki’s favorite Disney animation films. It’s a song anyone can relate to including Nikki herself. Nikki recalls that she was more like Gabriella, the studious, geek type in High School Musical, when she was in high school. Proof of this is that Nikki graduated valedictorian.

Who would ever think Nikki was once a nerd? She was able to break free from that image when she sang in the Coca-Cola commercial years back. This paved the way for her entry into showbiz.

Nikki hosts ABS-CBN’s ASAP ’06, Studio 23’s Breakfast Supersize and shows of MYX. She will also host the daily reality search show Pinoy Dream Academy. She has also recorded an album featuring Sakayan ng Jeep and Glowing Inside.

Nikki is a walking testament that breaking free is not that bad at all.

Asked what other stereotype she wishes to break free from, Nikki answers, "That a showbiz personality can’t pursue his studies."

As an English Literature student at the Ateneo de Manila University, Nikki has broken free from that misconception.