Ronnie & the soundtrack of his life

Did you know that Ronnie Liang auditioned for more or less 300 times before he passed and got to where he is now?

“I never gave up,” said Ronnie who is marking his 12th year in the business with an eponymous fifth album (released by Viva Records) carrying 10 tracks ­­— Tila (plus Minus One), Ligaya (with Minus One), Yakap (with Minus One), Sa’yo Na Lang Ako (with Minus One) and Pakisabi Na Lang (with Minus One). “I had a dream and I pursued it.”

In his 12 years (highlighted by his finishing second runner-up in the ABS-CBN talent search Pinoy Dream Academy with Jay-R Siaboc as first runner-up and Yeng Constantino as Grand Star Dreamer), Ronnie recorded five albums, appeared in a musical (Bituing Walang Ningning), did concerts here and abroad, and starred in some films (Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife in which he used the screen name Sean Gutierrez; Esoterica Manila by T-Rex which also produced his fourth album Songs of Love; Fangirl/Fanboy as a K-Pop idol; 100 Tula Para Kay Stella; and the forthcoming Abay Babes), the last four produced by Viva with which Ronnie is a contract talent.

Ronnie’s story is told in the 12 songs that make up the “soundtrack of his life.” 

1. Ngiti (composed by Vince Katindoy) ­— “My first song na nagpasikat sa akin; it was a hit song and up to now it is still being played on the radio. I get royalties when it’s downloaded from iTunes and Spotify. People say that that song is pang-stalker. Lahat naman tayo mahilig sa nakaw-tingin, di ba?”

2. You Raise Me Up (by Josh Groban) — “My audition piece in singing contests, particularly for Pinoy Dream Academy. When I sang it, may tumutulo pang luha sa mga mata ko.”

3. Nais Ko (Basil Valdez) ­— “My winning piece in Pinoy Dream Academy which I sang during the grand finals.”

4. Gusto Kita (originally sung by Gino Padilla) ­— “My second hit song, a revival. I’m thankful that I was given the opportunity to remake the song.”

Viva artist Ronnie Liang encapsulates the story of his life in the 12 songs that mean so much to him, marking his 12th year in the business

5. Beginning Today (originally sung by Agot Isidro) — “I love the meaning of the song. My mom was part of the music video which was shot when she was already suffering from a heart/kidney ailment; she died in February last year. After all our misgivings, we promise that beginning today, I will make up for them. I cry when I sing or even just listen to it because I remember the years when we were so hard up that one time, pinaalis kami ng bahay which we were renting. When that happened, tumataas ang presyon ng mom ko.”

6. May Minamahal (Hajji Alejandro) — “Hajji is my idol. I love the lyrics. It’s included in my third album. Para sa akin, ang lyrics ng kanta ay tumutukoy sa mga lahat ng kasarian…LGBT, male and female, and everybody matanda man o bata, mayaman man o mahirap, lahat may feelings and may minamahal.” 

7. Nag-iisang Ikaw (Louie Heredia) — “I love the song, pang serenade talaga and lagi kinakanta sa mga shows ko. It’s part of my first album. I started singing it during my school days.”

8. Akala Mo (originally sung by The CompanY and then by Aiza/Ice Seguerra after) — “It’s the carrier single of my third album. I like the lyrics just like those of Ngiti. It’s a song para sa mga torpe, hahaha!!! Kadalasan talaga hindi natin ma-express ang feelings natin verbally pero nakikita naman sa gawa.”

9. Yakap (composed and sung by Junior, the Spanish singer who starred with Vilma Santos in the movie Rock, Baby, Rock) — “It’s a touching song included in my fifth album. Listen to it and you will feel what was in the heart of the singer when he was composing it.”

10. Ligaya (Eraserheads) — “No explanation needed; also included in my fifth album. “

11. She’s Always a Woman (Billy Joel) — “My tribute to my mom; she was always a woman who sacrificed for her family. I sing it when I perform in game shows and beauty contests. Magandang pang-harana.”

12. Tila (composed by Leevon Caoili, originally sung by Clara Benin) — “Also included in my fifth album as carrier single.” 

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)