Iñigo Pascual: the next Gary V?

MANILA, Philippines — You do not tell Iñigo Pascual to do things just because he has an image to keep. He will balk and break free.

That is exactly what he did three years ago in the U.S., as a member of a band whose handlers wanted him to be what he is not.

“They wanted me to cut my hair, Mohawk style (both sides of the head are shaven, with only a strip of hair in the middle). It’s a weird cut,” he recalls.

Iñigo was then 16, excited to find himself. Then someone comes along to tell him this is what he should look like? He just had to put his foot down and say no.

He adds that he is not alone. Other artists in the US — like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus – he says, have rebelled because people want to turn them into something they are not.

That is why Piolo Pascual’s 19-year-old son is overjoyed he can dye his hair blonde because he feels like it. Iñigo knows others frown on his experimental look. But that would not rob him of the happiness he feels by expressing himself.

“They say it looks bad.  But I’ll do it because I’m confident in what I do.”

With music being an extension of himself, Iñigo applies the same principle when he writes songs and performs them. He takes his guitar, plays the chord progression, and puts lyrics to them. 

Then, he brings his work to the recording studio, and asks Gabriel ‘Gab’ Tagadtad to add rap elements. The result is “Dahil Sa‘yo,” a bouncy song that zoomed to number one in the Billboard Philippines charts.

Foreigners lip sync the song, and dance challenges have been created around it. 

The “The Voice Teens Philippines” bet Mikko Estrada surprised Iñigo by performing the song during his blind auditions.

True, “Dahil Sa ‘yo” speaks of love that moves mountains, the kind teens like Iñigo and Mikko can relate to. But Iñigo meant it to be something else — a tribute to God.

Take a look at the chorus: “Dahil sa ‘yo ako’ymatapang / dahil sa ‘yo ako’y lalaban/ para sa’yo pagmamahal na walang katapusan.”

Iñigo adopts the spirit of Gary Valenciano’s praise songs by dedicating his chart topper to a Higher Power responsible for everything good in his world.

“The song has a special meaning to me. I’m thankful to Him because He’s always by my side. He gave me the ability to sing. What else can I do but thank Him?”

Iñigo’s godly side keeps him from letting success get the better of him. In fact, his models in this area are international artists who remain humble despite the many hits to their name.

“We have no right to act in a certain way because you see how humble they are even if they’re bigger than us.”

The thought that he is not there yet makes Iñigo strive for greater growth.

He watches K-pop videos and saw South Korean-Chinese boy group Exo‘s concert in Korea to get fresh ideas. He also wants to learn Spanish songs, since they are getting bigger these days.

Yes, music is Iñigo’s playground, a place where he can do what his heart desires.  That is why “Inigo’s Playground,” the title of his digital concert on Sunday, July 2, 6 p.m. on Onemusic.ph (live in the ABS-CBN studio) is most apt.

“I wanna show my playful side. I want to show who I am as musician, as a person and performer. I’ll be doing covers and original songs from my album.”

He is excited for the K-pop medley and promises a lot of dancing along the way.

And like the diamond symbol he chose as part of his digital conference’s logo, he vows to promote only what is strong and positive – like love and hope, among others.

This should be an interesting way to usher in a new week, and welcome the challenges another new month brings.