SINGING MY WAY TO STARDOM!
EDGARDO S. CASTANEDA JR.
"Every morning we have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them". This quote from Carmelo Anthony has motivated me and inspired me in pursuing my dreams and ambitions in life. This article tells you about my choices in life which made me who am today. My failure and success are intertwined to create my wonderful story of success which you are about to discover.
At the age of 10, I dreamt of becoming a professional singer and perhaps pin my name in music industry. However, I realized that it wasn’t that easy at all. It appears that in achieving my childhood dream, it seemed to me like a roller coaster ride - there are ups and downs, screaming and scheming and success and failure. I feel that to realize my dream, hardships and struggles are meaningful part of my journey. They may cause pain and discouragement, but I believe that those experiences I have, had helped me grow and prepared for what the future lies ahead, such facing bigger challenges and difficult instances.
Remembering my first attempt in joining a singing competition, I represented my elementary school cohort. I think that the experience was rather nerve racking. Furthermore, it seemed to be like a whirlwind of emotions - there was a tad bit of excitement, fear, and anxiety. However, the results had left me feeling disappointed as I failed to grab the grand champion title. On one hand, despite of my first failure I have decided to join other singing competitions such as barangay level of singing competitions. Similarly, I failed over and over again. At that young age, I have felt that there is no luck for me in singing. It seemed to me that joining a singing competition is a battlefield of failure for me - which I have no hope of winning at all. Therefore, due to those failures, disappointments, and discouragements, I decided to stop chasing my childhood dream of becoming a professional singer. I ventured myself and decided to develop my professional career instead. I went to university to pursue my career in teaching. I have switched off the music, drop the microphone and never sing again.
Never sing again?
Colloquially saying, if it is meant to be, it is meant to be! When I decided to stop chasing my dream, I know that I would wake up one day to continue following those dreams again. I considered that my decision in stopping from singing career is in fact a blessing in disguise. I have unexpectedly become a teacher - which was one of my other life career options. Becoming a teacher has restricted my time in doing extra activities as it consumes most of my time during the day. I felt that maybe singing opportunities could be inevitably missed as I don’t have much time to look for it. Nevertheless, I have found myself opening my door again to joining singing competitions despite of my busy work schedules as a teacher. I remembered my father used to tell me, “If there is a will, there is way”. Hence, I find ways. I know it’s never going to be like a walk in the park, but I am determined. As a result, I ended joining hundreds of singing competitions both local and national levels. One of the highlights in joining such competitions is when I had the chance to compete in television. It felt like I am beginning to realize my childhood dream when I had a television appearance as a contender of a prestigious tv shows. However, I must say I had so many ups and downs. I was wounded by many disappointments and failures. Meanwhile, I also reaped some fruits of winning. The taste of winning had kept me going, not knowing what the end goal of all these was. The pain, the sleepless night, the long travels, the sacrifices I have made and not to mention the exhaustion of going one place to another just to get to the place where I wanted to be where I have to keep this journey going. The place where I wanted to be? I have no idea where that place was.
The place where I wanted to be!
One quiet afternoon, I came across to a singing show where my lifelong singing idol is on a tv announcing his success from his recent international singing competition. On top of him winning the competition, he was also the very first Filipino who ever bagged the grand champion title. My brain just took me to the place where I was him. I was daydreaming! My dream has come to my senses once again. I know deep inside I have felt the avalanche of emotions where I need to push further with my singing career. I know that I can be where my idol was. I knew from that moment this is what i want. I wanted to represent my country, I wanted to be like my idol. I wanted to be the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OF PERFORMING ARTS (W COPA) CHAMPION!
THE STARDOM- WCOPA
It took me several years of many attempts, sacrifices, sweats, pains, discouragements before I realize my most desired destination in my singing career. WCOPA is the Olympics of talents in singing. Intense training and strong determination are required to be able to be part of the team who will represent the Philippines in an international stage. On top of those trainings and sleepless nights, I also need financial support to sustain my survival. I have made arrangements with our local government to ask for sponsorship and financial support, some family members and friends whom I thought would be kind enough to help out a little with the expenses I would need. However, it seemed the luck is not on my side on this matter. Additionally, the Covid situation during that time has limited my resources in earning extra income to at least fund my expenses for the competition. There are invitations for wedding singing opportunities, but it was very rare. It seemed hope is far from my reach.
I believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. When some of my close friends and family had learned that I was joining the Team Philippines for WCOPA, they generously extended help. I am now part of team Philippines WCOPA representative. I finally got in to represent the Philippines in Anaheim, California, USA. It felt more like living the most amazing life the world can offer. The pain, the sacrifices, tears, sweat- those were all worth it. IT PAID OFF!
Indeed! The moment I was receiving my first medal is like a dream come true. Then followed by second, third, etc. Now, I am known to be the WCOPA multi-medalist. Wow! There are no words that could describe how I felt receiving the title WCOPA Multi-medalist. I may not be able to grab the grand title, but I know in my heart that I have lived my most desired stage in my lifetime.
Whilst it’s true that success tastes sweet if you sweat for it, it also right that, we were all born chooser. If we choose to win, then we will win and if we choose to lose then we will lose. I chose to win despite of all the struggles and disappointments because I know at the end, I can see the light of the STARDOM