SiKat Ako. You can interpret it either way. SiKat Ako meaning “I am Kat.” Or SiKat Ako meaning “I am popular.” In both ways, you are right. Kat is Katrina Velarde who became known as the Suklay Diva when she competed in The X Factor Philippines with Gary Valenciano, one of the judges, as her mentor, with more than 300,000 followers (and growing) on her Facebook account.
In fact, in the ad for her first solo concert aptly titled SiKat Ako, Katrina Velarde Live in Concert! at the New Frontier Theater next Friday, Feb. 1, Kat is shown holding a big suklay, her wet hair in disarray waiting for her to comb it into place.
Although X Factor viewers and Kat’s fans already know it, perhaps some people are clueless how Kat got the title “Suklay Diva.”
“I’ve been keeping that comb for many years, since 2011 when I bought it for P10 at a sari-sari near our place,” Kat related in the vernacular. “We were poor and we couldn’t afford to buy a wireless microphone so I’ve been using that suklay as my mike when I rehearse. Nakasanayan ko na kaya hanggang ngayon, paminsan-minsan ‘yon pa rin ang ginagamit ko kapag nagpra-practice ako.”
Kat’s life story is reminiscent of those other singers who were born poor and rose to fame on the wings of their golden voice. Before she won in Tawag ng Tanghalan and metamorphosed into a Superstar, Nora Aunor sold water in the train station in Iriga City, Camarines Sur. Regine Velasquez came from want and determined to chase her dream by joining singing contests in the neighborhood and bringing home canned goods as prizes. Accompanied by her mom, Kyline Alcantara had to borrow money for bus fare from Bicol to Manila, wishing upon a star and undaunted by the cruelty of the big city where, unable to pay the rent one time, they passed the night on the street with their meager belongings thrown out by the heartless landlord (if he could only see Kyline now!).
The Velardes lived in a small barung-barong (hut) over a canal at the farthest end of a street at a squatters’ area in Tondo, Manila, so small that they slept sardines-like.
“My father (Joseph Velarde from Pampang) is a carpenter so he built a divider,” said Kat unapologetically. “I would help my mother (Lilia Coquino from Oas, Albay) string together sampaguita as garlands, taga-tuhog kami ng sampaguita, and the dealer would collect the finished garlands every day. From the earnings, we would buy two packs of Lucky Me noodles and boil them with lots of water to accommodate all of us…my parents and us five siblings (the eldest would succumb to cancer).”
At age 5, Kat began singing mostly Aegis songs such as Luha, Halik and Munting Pangarap which was the piece she sang at the first barangay singing contest she competed in when she turned 6.
“My mom and my dad also sing,” noted Kat, “they used to sing in school programs,” adding with a laugh, “pero ako lang sa pamilya ang makapal ang mukha na sumasali sa mga contests. I was the only one who had guts to join singing contests. As I grew up, I started looking up to other singers. My two top favorites are Regine Velasquez and Beyoncé. I love their songs.”
Because she was always joining singing contests, Kat’s grades suffered so she quit school. She didn’t lose hope even when she lost, ending up with no prizes, not even a half sack of rice or two packs of Lucky Me to bring home.
At age 9, Kat competed in the ABS-CBN talent search Little Big Star along with Charice Pempengco (now Jake Zyrus) and they both lost to Sam Concepcion. Charice finished first runner-up and Kat just a monthly winner.
Not losing heart, she continued joining more contests and auditions. And then came the ABS-CBN talent contest The X Factor Philippines where she ended up among the Top 12, all right, but she caught the attention of Gary Valenciano, her mentor, who promptly organized a singing group with Kat and five other also-rans. So impressed was Gary that he enlisted Kat as contract artist for Manila Genesis, the talent agency managed by Gary’s wife Angeli Pangilinan.
At 24, Kat has graduated from the proverbial School of Hard Knocks. She’s not ashamed to admit that she has a love son. She has managed to finish high school through the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and is deadset on tucking up a college degree.
As a contract star of Viva, Kat sings regularly at Music Hall in Metro Walk, Ortigas, Pasig City. Viva bosses believe in Kat enough to launch her in a solo concert where she will include songs from her favorites (Regine, Beyoncé, et al) in her repertoire.
The Velardes have moved out of the Tondo slums. Kat is renting a place for her parents and her young sibling somewhere in Novaliches, Quezon City. Her two older siblings live somewhere else with their own families.
“Okey na ang tirahan namin at maraming food,” was how Kat described their present situation. “We live better and eat better now.”
(SiKat Ako, Katrina Velarde Live in Concert! is produced by Viva Live and Manila Genesis, directed by Paolo Valenciano. Prices are: VVIP P3,200; VIP P2,800; Orchestra P2,500; Loge P1,350; and Balcony P850. For tickets, call 915-5555.)
2nd Tango Marathon slated for Jan. 25-27
Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to tango from evening till the wee morning hours as the Manila Milonga, Inc. (MMI), with the support of PAGCOR, brings the second Manila Tango Marathon Jan. 25-27, 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., at Makati Sports Club. This is part of MMI’s effort to promote Argentine tango, one of UNESCO’s intangible world heritage, which has found a home among Filipinos who have affinity with the dance, given the strong Spanish influence in our culture.
Building on the success of the first Manila Tango Marathon held Jan. 19-21, 2018, the three-day Tango Marathon aims to foster and promote tango tourism in the country, through the attendance and participation of tango masters, teachers and enthusiasts from all over the world.
Expected to attend are over 200 tango enthusiasts from the UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Argentina, Colombia, USA, Australia, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam as well as from different parts of the country like Cebu, Bacolod and Davao.
The event, which will be graced by the Argentine ambassador to the Philippines, will also feature performances by renowned tango masters every night.
The public is invited. For details, the organizers may be contacted through Facebook (Anthony Portillo) or through mobile nos. 0915-3151117 (Anthony), 0917-5508487 (Brix Arcega), 0917-8121445 (Jean Ty) and 0917-5305854 (Bebet Gozun).
Tickets will be available at the door.
(E-mail reactions at rickylophilstar@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)