Still on a ‘Wishful’ thinking mode

MANILA, Philippines — Louie Anne Culala, Ace Bartolome, Princess Sevillena, Kimberly Baluzo and Carmela Ariola will have their concert, Wishful Journey, and an album launch on June 19 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum

Wishful 5 is a welcome addition to the ever-growing Original Pilipino Music (OPM) family. Composed of Princess Sevillena, Kimberly Baluzo, Louie Anne Culala, Carmela Ariola and Ace Bartolome, the group is the discovery and product of Wish 107.5’s Wishcovery: Your Road to Stardom Starts Here. Princess is the online singing tilt’s grand champion, while Kimberly, Louie Anne, Carmela and Ace are the (first, second, third and fourth) runners-up.

After the competition, they naturally gravitated towards each other and formed a vocal group. As the cliché  goes, “The rest is history.” For Wishful 5, the journey has just begun.

“We’re still on a wishful (thinking) mode,” said Princess when she and her co-Wishful 5 members recently met up with the press. “It is very important for us that our feet are kept on the ground.” Staying grounded is a crucial reminder to established and up-and-coming artists, especially when all things seem bright and beautiful. Princess speaks of the right mindset for dreamers, who have just entered the competitive, creative recording industry.

Meanwhile, Lady Luck seems on Wishful 5’s side as Princess, Kimberly, Louie Anne, Carmela and Ace will have their first major project titled Wishful Journey and an album launch on June 19 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. 

The showcase features the members’ love for singing and individual musicality. Their genres range from pop, rock, ballad, mellow and soul. They can treat audiences to slow and fast tunes. Most members play instruments such as the guitar and beat box.

Part of the concert’s highlights are their songs (Pangarap Kong Bituin by Princess; Alam Mo Lang, Kimberly; Sana Ako, Louie Anne; Pangarap Kong Pag-ibig, Carmela; and Kaya Ko Ba, Ace). These will be sealed by the anthemic, collaborative tune Patuloy Ang Pangarap. The songs composers are Jungee Marcelo, Kiko Salazar and Jonathan Manalo. Released under Star Music, the album consists of 18 original and revival tracks. Also gracing the Wishful Journey show are Kris Lawrence, Morissette, Yeng Constantino, Daryl Ong and Pilipinas Got Talent Season 6 grand winner Kristel de Catalina.

With their singer-storyteller potential, vocal diversity and genre flexibility, the Wishful 5 girls are off to face the recording-concert stage and find their niche as “big voice and traditional divas” as Jonathan described them.?“Mas matatag, mas malakas. Mas powerful (I hope we will become more stable, resilient and powerful as a singing group),” said Princess of what the future awaits for Wishful 5.

“I hope we stay together,” added Carmela. “At first, we were total strangers (to each other). Now, we’re more than a family — iba na yung bond namin.”

For Kimberly, Ace and Louie Anne, they also agreed with Carmela, echoing the ideas of longtime partnership (togetherness) and sisterhood. “Yung pangarap namin ay makuha at maabot namin na magkakasama kaming lima. Kung ano ang plano ni Lord, siya na ang bahala. No matter what happens, I know His plan will be done in our lives,” said Kimberly.

Again, Wishful 5 is a welcome addition to the existing stable of OPM artists, who prove that Filipino music is evolving and robust. The local tinseltown only wishes the girls the best. 

“It’s a combination of talent, luck and blessings from the Lord,” Jonathan shared his thoughts on making one’s dreams come true. “It’s a gift na kapag natanggap mo, magiging grateful and thankful lang tayo. Hindi natin alam kung kailan matutupad yung pangarap. It’s all up to God kung kailan niya papakinggan ang prayers natin at i-ga-grant niya yung mga panalangin natin na tuparin ang mga pangarap.”

(Tickets for the concert are on sale via ticketnet.com.ph. Wishful 5’s debut album is available at the ABS-CBN Store. For details, visit starmusic.ph, like Star Music on facebook.com/starmusicph and follow it on Twitter and Instagram @ StarMusicPH.)