The Sharon ‘stalker’ who made good

Remember the singer-composer featured by Korina Sanchez on her show Rated K as a self-made success who started out sweeping the floor of his mom’s broom-making shop in Lucena City, Quezon?

He’s none other than Jojo Mendrez who is being dubbed as “The King of Revivals.” Jojo’s songs, Magkaibang Mundo (a remake of Jirah Lim’s song), Sana (original by Tina Paner) and Basta Ikaw (his own composition) have been big hits on social media (Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music), counting more than one million viewers since they were uploaded last year.

Those songs actually marked the comeback of Jojo who started in the music industry in the ‘90s, after he came back from the US to resume his rudely interrupted career. But that’s getting ahead of the story.

“I began by joining singing contests in our province,” Jojo recalled. “I won by singing Mr. DJ which was a popular song by Sharon Cuneta at that time. I am an avid Sharonian.”

Jojo is more than that. He’s admittedly a Sharon “stalker.”

“Yes, I am,” he said laughing. “Years later when I had the means, I even produced a Sharon’s concert, a ‘first’ in Quezon Province.”

Jojo took a leave from singing and engaged in the real estate business and that’s where he made a lot of money (the “means,” as he put it). He recounted that Sharon was then renting a house in Ayala Alabang and to be near “my Idol,” Jojo decided to rent a 1,300-square-meter house in the same area.

“Every day, I would walk around Sharon’s house for one hour just to feel her presence,” narrated Jojo. “I had two pet dogs, Mega and Chow-Chow. When Chow-Chow got lost, guess where I found it…in Sharon’s house! When Sharon moved to another house somewhere, follow din ako. I also rented a house nearby, only to find out na lumipat na pala uli si Sharon.”

Recalling his “stalking Sharon” experience made Jojo laugh.

“Up to now, Sharon is still my idol. I listen to her songs over and over again. She also went into the real estate business and she was the one who inspired me to do the same. I follow stories about her in the newspapers and on social media. As far as I am concerned, walang kapalit si Sharon, wala siyang kapantay!”

Two more songs and Jojo is ready to release (on Star Music) his first album which will include the three songs mentioned earlier.

His big dream?

You guessed it: “To do a duet with Sharon!”

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