Pinoy in UAE jumpstarts singing career for a laptop
AL AIN, United Arab Emirates — To get in touch with his family back home, Renzo Saforteza joined a singing contest in Qatar where a laptop was among the prizes.
“Gusto ko lang talagang mapanalunan nun yung HP laptop kasi gusto ko maka-chat ang family ko,” the 27-year-old sales associate in Rivoli Group shared in an email. “Hindi kasi ganun kalaki ang sahod ko kaya nakikigamit lang ako ng laptop.”
Lady Luck was apparently on Saforteza's side that day: His version of Luther Vandross' sentimental hit “Dance with My Father” earned him the first runner-up spot — and the much coveted laptop prize.
Asked why he chose that song, Saforteza said it's because he always hears in on his way to work.
“Karamihan sa mga kasama ko sa bus ay yun ang pinapakinggan, mapa-Pinoy or ibang lahi. So I decided to sing it para mas familiar,” he said.
His choice of the song, as it turned out, was more than just giving the audience what they wanted to hear.
“I never thought na yun pala ang magiging song ko para sa tatay ko who just passed away last year,” Saforteza said.
Surprises
Now in Dubai, Saforteza has continued joining in singing contests—around 20 to date—with his sister Irish.
“Sabay kami sumasali para kung matalo man ang isa, may isang bala pa,” he said.
In 2010, it finally paid off: Saforteza won in the Jukebox Karaoke competition held in Avenue Hotel Dubai.
“My sister and I decided to just sing the piece and go home. Pagod na pagod kasi ako nun dahil 10-10 ang shift ko sa shop,” he said.
“Feeling ko din kasi ay wala naman kaming chance manalo sa ibang mga contestants na bumibirit. I sang ‘Ordinary People’ by John Legend sa first part and ‘If You’re Not the One’ by Daniel Bedingfield sa second part,” Saforteza continued.
“The next day, I received a call from the organizer of the competition, si DJ Reesha, and told me that I won the first-ever Jukebox Karaoke competition!”
Saforteza had also won in “So You Think U Can Sing,” a singing contest held at the Hyatt Regency Dubai that same year.
“Most of the audience noon [ay] mga puti and I remember nung in-approach ako nung isang audience to sing 'One Sweet Day' with her. Back-up singer pala siya ni Mariah Carey sa mga concerts niya!” he said.
Choice of music
Saforteza, who started singing in the Philippines when he was 4 years old during church and school activities, prefers to sing any type of music.
“At present, I belong to an RnB group with my buddies, Bibo and RJ. We have been the front act during the concerts of Juris and David Pomeranz held at the Indian High School last year,” he said.
“Masarap kasi mag-discover ng kung ano yung kaya mong gawin. Since nag-start ako sumali sa mga competitions lately lang, most of the songs I sang ay yung gusto ko lang talagang kantahin.”
For A Cause
Together with his sister, Saforteza had participated in a charity concert last 2011 in Ras Al Kaimah for Carmelia “Baby Iya” Zelien.
The daughter of two OFWs, Baby Iya had been diagnosed with biliary atresia at Dubai Hospital. Only a liver transplant can save her.
Saforteza also joined in the Xmas Concert in Dubai, Concert for Ondoy Typhoon Victims, and Concert for Yolanda Victims.
“My brother joined us that time. We sang ‘Paraiso’ by Smokey Mountain and ‘Heal the World’ at the Comedy Junction-Dubai and in the Kitakits Kafe & Klubb at Marco Polo Hotel Dubai,” he said.
“Nakaka-proud kapag nagpe-perform kaming magkakapatid. Yun kasi ang pinakabonding namin. Wala kaming bisyo kundi ang magtrabaho, kumain, at kumanta.”
To conclude, Saforteza said: “Hanggang sa pagtanda ko ay hindi ako titigil sa pagkanta kasi parang nakadikit na ito sa pagkatao ko. Parang hindi na ako si Renzo kung hindi ako kakanta.” — KBK, GMA News
“Gusto ko lang talagang mapanalunan nun yung HP laptop kasi gusto ko maka-chat ang family ko,” the 27-year-old sales associate in Rivoli Group shared in an email. “Hindi kasi ganun kalaki ang sahod ko kaya nakikigamit lang ako ng laptop.”
Renzo Saforteza: It all started with a laptop.
Asked why he chose that song, Saforteza said it's because he always hears in on his way to work.
“Karamihan sa mga kasama ko sa bus ay yun ang pinapakinggan, mapa-Pinoy or ibang lahi. So I decided to sing it para mas familiar,” he said.
His choice of the song, as it turned out, was more than just giving the audience what they wanted to hear.
“I never thought na yun pala ang magiging song ko para sa tatay ko who just passed away last year,” Saforteza said.
Surprises
Now in Dubai, Saforteza has continued joining in singing contests—around 20 to date—with his sister Irish.
“Sabay kami sumasali para kung matalo man ang isa, may isang bala pa,” he said.
In 2010, it finally paid off: Saforteza won in the Jukebox Karaoke competition held in Avenue Hotel Dubai.
“My sister and I decided to just sing the piece and go home. Pagod na pagod kasi ako nun dahil 10-10 ang shift ko sa shop,” he said.
“Feeling ko din kasi ay wala naman kaming chance manalo sa ibang mga contestants na bumibirit. I sang ‘Ordinary People’ by John Legend sa first part and ‘If You’re Not the One’ by Daniel Bedingfield sa second part,” Saforteza continued.
“The next day, I received a call from the organizer of the competition, si DJ Reesha, and told me that I won the first-ever Jukebox Karaoke competition!”
Saforteza had also won in “So You Think U Can Sing,” a singing contest held at the Hyatt Regency Dubai that same year.
“Most of the audience noon [ay] mga puti and I remember nung in-approach ako nung isang audience to sing 'One Sweet Day' with her. Back-up singer pala siya ni Mariah Carey sa mga concerts niya!” he said.
Choice of music
Saforteza, who started singing in the Philippines when he was 4 years old during church and school activities, prefers to sing any type of music.
“At present, I belong to an RnB group with my buddies, Bibo and RJ. We have been the front act during the concerts of Juris and David Pomeranz held at the Indian High School last year,” he said.
“Masarap kasi mag-discover ng kung ano yung kaya mong gawin. Since nag-start ako sumali sa mga competitions lately lang, most of the songs I sang ay yung gusto ko lang talagang kantahin.”
For A Cause
Together with his sister, Saforteza had participated in a charity concert last 2011 in Ras Al Kaimah for Carmelia “Baby Iya” Zelien.
The daughter of two OFWs, Baby Iya had been diagnosed with biliary atresia at Dubai Hospital. Only a liver transplant can save her.
Saforteza also joined in the Xmas Concert in Dubai, Concert for Ondoy Typhoon Victims, and Concert for Yolanda Victims.
“My brother joined us that time. We sang ‘Paraiso’ by Smokey Mountain and ‘Heal the World’ at the Comedy Junction-Dubai and in the Kitakits Kafe & Klubb at Marco Polo Hotel Dubai,” he said.
“Nakaka-proud kapag nagpe-perform kaming magkakapatid. Yun kasi ang pinakabonding namin. Wala kaming bisyo kundi ang magtrabaho, kumain, at kumanta.”
To conclude, Saforteza said: “Hanggang sa pagtanda ko ay hindi ako titigil sa pagkanta kasi parang nakadikit na ito sa pagkatao ko. Parang hindi na ako si Renzo kung hindi ako kakanta.” — KBK, GMA News
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