Alisah Bonaobra welcomes the New Year on a high note

MANILA, Philippines — Belter Alisah Bonaobra culminated the year that was and welcomed the New Year on a high note. Among the reasons for this was the Best Inspirational Song award given to her single, Faithful, at the 43rd Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA).

Such achievement has validated Alisah and her team’s hard work in propelling the former’s recording career, and signaled that they are on the right track. The song and the award will make Alisah and her label RJA Productions remain faithful and more inspired to create songs in the coming years.

“This is our first award,” said Alisah, who exuded feelings of glee and gratitude during her virtual one-on-one with The Philippine STAR, held just a few days before everybody said adieu to 2021. “It’s sobrang nakaka-inspire po, na lalo (ko pang) pagbutihan next year.”

Interpreting a tune by Cecile Azarcon-Inocentes, the well-known songwriter behind such hits as Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin, I Think I’m in Love, Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga and Reaching Out, was both a blessing and privilege to Alisah, who became privy, at some extent, of the composer’s creative process and learned valuable insights from it.

“Before we recorded the song, we had a video call,” Alisah gave everyone a sneak peek into the recording of Faithful with Cecile. “She told us (me and my manager Rosabella Arribas) on how things should be done. Every time na nagsasalita po siya, para akong na-jaw-jaw-drop (I got amazed every time she said something). As an artist, I didn’t expect that I would reach that point (this early in my career), that I would be blessed that much, yung mga taong hinahangaan ko ay nakakatrabaho ko na ngayon at sobrang nakakataba po ng puso at sobrang nakaka-inspire, knowing that they are there (already, they have reached that level of success), marami na silang achievements, but they remain very humble and down-to-earth.”

In this collaborative session, Alisah, the singer would listen to the composer and executive producer and her vocal coach in establishing a connection with the song.

“I really take things seriously and before we record the song, inaaral ko talaga kung ano yung pinaghuhugutan ng song,” said she, who is thankful to the San Francisco-based RJA Productions, headed by Rosabella, for giving her opportunities to flex her vocal muscles in varied music genres and in interpreting different songs. “I need to dig deep (into the song), so that I will be able to make the listeners understand what the song wants to tell them.”

For singers like Alisah, it’s not enough for them to hit the right notes of a song and deliver them well, but they also have to put across the story the song conveys. Her curiosity always pays off.

“Matanong din talaga ako sa mga recording, especially if there are parts that I’m not sure of if (my idea or input is) proper to include in the song,” shared she. “As a singer, medyo nagkakarambol, rambol na rin yung mga techniques that I can do. With the particular song, I make sure to ask the vocal coach. I ask if bagay bang ilagay ito dito o bagay bang ikulot dito sa part.” But Alisah said she knows, too, how to have ice-breaker at work. “Importante din talaga na i-balance,” added she.

Looking back on what she has recorded so far with her label, Alisah reported that she has ballads and inspirational songs, that include Faithful, Gintong Sandali, Gintong Tinig and Do You Have Miracle for Me. Her latest single, Muli’t Muli, was released last Dec. 31 and is now available on all digital platforms.

“For me, I take it as (an) inspirational (song) because it’s about a dream,” she said, “it’s an addition to my blessings.”

With her songs making her heard and seen by the public, Alisah is, somehow, also taking on the role model stance to the youth, and some of them have been inspired by her journey as a contender at The Voice Philippines and X-Factor UK.

“As an artist and an individual, you really need to inspire (people) than spread negativity,” said she, who also shared her lessons learned from participating in the international reality TV singing competition. “The most important is never ever doubt yourself kasi kapag ikaw mismo ay wala kang tiwala sa sarili mo o sa kung ano yung kaya mong gawin sa buhay, wala eh, hindi ka makakalipad, yung mga pakpak mo naka-stay lang yan dyan. (We, singers,) have our own uniqueness and yun ang nagpapa-espesyal sa atin as performers, kung paano natin i-approach or i-execute yung mga bagay na kaya natin as a person, as a singer, as an artist na we’re unique in our own way.”

Asked what’s in the pipeline for her in the next two years, Alisah had this to say of what she could accomplish within that timeframe: “I’m a second-year college student and (taking up) Bachelor in Music with major in music theater at UST. I would juggle my career and studies. (I hope), (I’m keeping my) fingers crossed, we’ll have more achievements with RJA Productions, LLC, na-explore ko na siguro the different genres that a singer could possibly try. Hopefully, we’ll have live staging of concerts.”

As for continuing her studies, which was put on hold years ago, Alisah looked at it “as something na hindi pwedeng makuha ng iba, yung pag-aaral mo (your education is something that others can’t take away from you). As a singer, hindi naman po forever na nandyan yung name natin, hindi forever na sikat, we really need to establish our future with our education, which I find very important.”

Now that the chance to finish her college did present itself, Alisah never had second thoughts of grabbing it. Her knowledge and skills gained in music theater will open doors for Alisah to be a part of local and international musical productions.

“Actually, it’s my dream to be a part of Broadway and West End (productions),” said Alisah, who has watched Phantom of the Opera live, and Miss Saigon and Les Miserables through new media platforms.

With her pop singing career and enthusiasm in music theater, she could follow in the footsteps of Lea Salonga and Rachelle Ann Go, who did remarkable work as Kim and Gigi, respectively, in the Cameron Mackintosh production.

While mustering the courage for that possibility, Alisah, for now, will continue to master her brand of singing and remain faithful to and inspired in creating more songs.

(Watch the music video of Faithful at https://youtu.be/FM2vSVpEY90 and visit https://www.facebook.com/rjaproductions/ to know more about RJA Productions.)