Patrick Quiroz wants to focus on singing career after Sing Galing win

Patrick Quiroz, who has played roles in A Soldier’s Heart, Hello, Stranger and He’s Into Her, wants to focus more on his music after being hailed as the first Ultimate Bida-oke Sing-lebrity of TV5’s Sing Galing! Sing-lebrity Edition.

The grand finals recently staged at the newly-restored Metropolitan Theater Manila saw Patrick — called the “Coverboy Crushie” of Sing Galing! — earning 67 percent of the votes sent through Facebook Messenger, a broadcast innovation introduced in the show produced by Cornerstone Studios for Cignal Entertainment.

Patrick, 20, bested other celebrity grand finalists such as Pepe Herrera, Aljur Abrenica, Jerald Napoles, Boobsie Wonderland and Chuckie Dreyfus to take home the P1 million cash prize.

Patrick bested other celebrity grand finalists such as Pepe Herrera, Aljur Abrenica, Jerald Napoles, Boobsie Wonderland and Chuckie Dreyfus to take home the P1 million cash prize at the Sing Galing! Sing-lebrity Edition.

He told The Philippine STAR in a one-on-one interview: “During the first two days (after the finals), I couldn’t believe it. But it felt so good to wake up, knowing I won in Sing Galing. It’s really nice and it’s really something new to me, of course. It was also my first competition.”

Asked what he would do with his prize money, Patrick said, “Since I’m really just starting in show business, I’m putting (my prize money) into savings. Mag-iipon muna ako for me to be able to hopefully invest really.”

Patrick had “no expectations at all” to win “but I did my best as a competitor.”

But no surprise really. He was a musician first before he dabbled in acting.

Before joining showbiz, the singer described himself as a happy kid in the US doing covers on the side with his friends.

“I was in the US at that time studying high school. I would make covers with my friend who also played the guitar and we’d post them online, on Facebook, we’d do live (sessions). And one day, a friend told me that nag-va-viral na pala yung mga videos ko sa Pinas,” he recalled.

“This was during my totoy days pa, hahaha! One reason why, I think, my videos went viral was because mukha daw akong foreigner tapos kumakanta po ako ng Tagalog songs,” said Patrick, whose favorite artists are Gary Valenciano and Bruno Mars.

“A lot of managers came in, and chatted with me and my mom (asking if) I wanted to go back and try out showbiz in the Philippines. I told my mom, ‘Ma, di ba ito yung pangarap natin dati?’”

Patrick has tisoy good looks but he’s pure Pinoy who lived in the States for almost five years after his stepdad petitioned him. But as a child, he would already go to auditions for commercials and ABS-CBN shows with his grandmother.

After his videos went viral, he returned around 2017 to chase his showbiz dreams.

Patrick’s career has gotten a boost with the Sing Galing victory.

“It’s a blessing for me. But not just for me, but also for my family. It’s an achievement for me — a big, big achievement! I’m just proud to say that I’m the first-ever Bida-oke Sing-lebrity of Sing Galing,” he said. “(I remember) before I stepped on the grand finals stage, I told myself I was gonna give it my all, my very best, and I really worked hard for this trophy.”

“Gutom na gutom ako sa pagkapanalo dito sa Sing Galing and man you don’t know, grabe yung ginawa kong trabaho and focus just to get this win. Ang saya lang, na naging successful lahat,” he said, adding that his game plan included taking lots of rest, drinking only water during the finale week, not going out with friends, and just practicing at home.

He went on to thank his supporters. “I just wanted to say thank you to those who supported me and those who voted for me. I just wanted to tell you guys maraming, maraming salamat.”

“For those who want to pursue showbiz, especially with their music, keep doing it, you know, don’t give up your passion, embrace it, kumuha ka rin ng inspiration for you to keep going para di mapagod. It may get physically tiring at some point but if your heart’s in it (craft) and you’re giving it your all, I feel like ‘di ka mapapagod sa ginagawa mo,” he added.

Meanwhile, Patrick is releasing new music under the record label CS Music in the months to come, starting April, which he wrote himself.

“I’m really new to songwriting but, you know, it’s really fun to express your emotions through music. It is a whole different world for me but when I did it, ang saya pala talaga,” he said.

According to CS Music AVP Caress Caballero, Patrick’s genre is OPM mellow pop and his songwriting style is “melancholic.”

The young artist said he was inspired by the experiences of the people around him, including his friends who went through heartbreak.

While he plans on focusing more on his music, he also welcomes any acting assignment.

“Personally, I really wanna pursue my singing right now, but given the opportunity to do both, why not do it and grab it?” Patrick said, also sharing how he envisioned his career five years from now.

“I’m really the type of person na, in general, I claim everything. So hoping I see myself as a big star, wow! Hahaha! But yes, hopefully I inspire more people through my music and give them good entertainment.”