Birit baby now a lady

MANILA, Philippines - Eat Bulaga!’s Birit Baby 2009 first runner-up Kris Angelica (sans the last name, Dela Cruz) is back as she finally releases her debut single Nasaan Ka Na?.

In an interview during The STAR’s 27th anniversary, she said that this year serves as the start of her career and she’s all geared up to hit the music industry with the highest note.

The once cute and chubby 10-year-old Birit Baby has now transformed into a 14-year-old stunner. She has become slimmer and taller for her age. With her powerful voice, Angelica treated The STAR employees with songs by Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys’ Girl on Fire.

She was three, Kris Angelica related, when her parents discovered her penchant for singing. She grew up with the music of Regine Velasquez. At seven, she started joining amateur singing contests until the day came when she tried her luck in Eat, Bulaga’s Birit Baby.

Charice, too, has been one of her inspirations. Aside from living in the same town of Calamba in Laguna, they’re also good friends. She was one of Charice’s back-up singers when the latter performed during an Eastwood event. “Masaya po ako kasi nakasama ko si ate Cha. Yung tungkol sa pagpapalit niya ng sexual preference, okey lang po sa akin. Kung saan siya masaya, suportado ko naman siya ever since.”

Good thing Kris Angelica is an optimist. She wholeheartedly embraced the difficulties she had gone through while pursuing her dreams. “I don’t mind them for I know that trials are part of life. I just look at the bright side and the good things or blessings that come my way. I would always tell myself, ‘This is where God wants me to be…this is my talent and I should use it.’”

She added, “There were times when I really wanted to give up. Pero pag mag-give up naman ako, I’m going to regret it for the rest of my life at walang mangyayari sa akin. Siguro when I reached 50 at wala pa ring mangyari, duon na talaga ako susuko, hehehe…”

Kris Angelica said she has to go on, come hell or high water, just as long as, “I’m happy with what I do and I want to share my talent with others.”

Thus far, Kris Angelica considers the very highlight of her budding career when she was chosen by David Foster to join him in his Hit Man Returns: David Foster & Friends concert in 2011. Via David’s online singing contest Born To Sing, Kris Angelica and one boy stood out among other contenders. She related, “I was so lucky and I still can’t believe it. I didn’t expect that I will be chosen dahil sa dami ng nag-audition. It’s a great honor having the chance to sing in Araneta kasama ang isang David Foster kasi hindi naman lahat nabibigyan ng ganuong opportunity. Sir David told me I did great and said that I should learn to play the piano.”

It made a great impact on her. “Malaking tulong po siya (David) kasi nadagdagan po yung mga taong nakakakilala sa akin sa Internet.”

Back in 2011, Kris Angelica joined Talentadong Pinoy. At the time, she passed the early auditions and became one of the six contenders. She was among those who reached the Battle of the Champions round but unfortunately, Kris Angelica didn’t make it to the finals. “Kaya lang po hindi ako pinalad, but it’s okay. I know it’s God’s will,” she said.

Kris Angelica has always had plans of joining the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, California. Unfortunately, she couldn’t join yet because she hasn’t found a sponsor. But, still, she hopes to compete in an international singing tilt in the near future. “Marami na po akong hirap na pinagdaanan, yung mga inaasahan ko na hindi natutuloy or yung promises na hindi natutupad, pero I’m willing to feel more. Kung yun po ang makapagpapagaling sa akin at magpapatibay sa kung ano ako ngayon.”

Kris Angelica is grateful to her dad Cris for always guiding her. He even acts as her PA. “Sobrang mahal na mahal ko si Daddy. I can’t imagine my life without him. He really takes care of me and even if he’s strict, I understand him kasi he’s been through a lot dahil sa pagsuporta niya sa akin. Naranasan niyang magsisi sa pangarap niya dati na hindi natupad at ayaw niya itong mangyari sa akin kaya ganun siya ka-strict, kaalaga at ka-supportive. My mom is working abroad. I understand that she’s not always on my side kasi I know she’s doing everything for us. ’Pag nandito naman siya lagi niya rin naman akong sinasamahan ’pag may kanta ako. Hindi sila nagkulang sa pag-aalaga sa akin. I’m so lucky to have them.”   

She recently signed a five-year contract with RED Models and Talents Manila, Inc. “What makes me more grateful is that in seven months’ time, they were able to introduce me to various network heads and have given me vast opportunities.”

She concluded, “Hopefully, sana magustuhan ng mga tao yung debut single ko. We shot the music video for two days and it’s my first time na ma-experience yun. I was so happy that I didn’t feel tired at all.”

(Watch out for the music video of Kris Angelica’s debut single titled Nasaan Ka Na? to be released this month.)