OCTOBER 27 NANG dumating sa bansa si Maria Aragon, ang 11 years old na singer na naunang sumikat sa YouTube sa na-upload niyang video na kumakanta, hanggang pati si Lady Gaga ay napansin din siya at kinuha siyang maka-duet sa isang concert nito. She was here para sa ilang mall shows kaugnay ng pagiging endorser niya ng SM Supermalls kung saan may ini-record pa siyang Christmas jingle para rito. Kasabay na rin nito ay ang pagpu-promote niya ng kanyang self-titled album released by Star Records kung saan siya pumirma siya ng dalawang taong kontrata.
“It’s my second time to be here in the Philippines,” ani Maria nang makakuwentuhan namin bago siya umalis last Monday (November 7). “We (her Mom at ilan pang kaanak) first came here in July (o this year). And we stayed until September.”
Sa unang pagbisita raw niya sa bansa, nagkaroon siya ng sapat na panahong makapasyal at mabisita rin ang mga kamag-anak niya sa Ormoc.
Maraming Pinoy ang very proud sa unti-unting paggawa niya ng pa-ngalan bilang isang batang singer. At labis naman daw niyang ikinatutuwa rin ito.
“It’s a great honor to be called… Pinoy pride. And… I don’t know. I just feel really honored. And I wanna say salamat po sa suporta ninyo. And… mahal ko ‘yong fans ko.”
May mga nagsasabi rin, she is following the footsteps of the international singing sensation na si Charice Pempengco. Nangiti naman muna si Maria bago nakapagbigay ng reaksiyon.
“Uhm… I don’t know. I don’t think we should be compared to each other. ‘Coz we’re completely different. Of course we respect each other. And I look up to Ate Charice a lot.
Masaya naman daw si Maria na tinatangkilik ng sambayanang Pinoy ang mga awiting laman ng kanyang kauna-unahang nai-record na CD.
“It feels great to have… you know… recording my first album. It’s like… all my dreams have already came true. And I just really wanna thank the people of Star Records who came over to us, and asked us if we wanna do an album with them.”
Marami nang nakaka-kilala sa kanya hindi lang sa Canada kung saan siya nakabase kundi maging dito nga sa Pilipinas at sa iba pang mga bansa. Pero nakakatuwang sa personal ay napakasimple pa rin niya na gaya ng isang ordinaryong seven year old kid. Ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit napaka-lovebale ng dating niya lalo at marunong siya umintindi at nakakapagsalita rin ng Tagalog.
Kahit busy na sa kanyang singing career, sinisikap ni Maria na maipagpatuloy pa rin ang kanyang pag-aaral. Right now, she is into a home study school daw sa Canada . Nasa 6th grade na raw siya.
Isa pang ikinai-excite daw ni Maria ay ang trip niya to Las Vegas. Siya kasi ang napili na kumanta ng Philippine national anthem na Lupang Hinirang sa nalalapit na laban ni Manny Pacquiao laban kay Juan Manuel Marquez sa MGM Grand.
Overwhelming daw for her ang ganitong opportunity. Isa na namang dream come true niyang itinuturing dahil number one fan umano siya ni Pacman.
And how is she preparing for this?
“Well… we went to the National Historical Commision. We met up with the people from there. Those are the people that if you don’t sing it right, you’ll gonna get in trouble with them. So… we met up with them. We made sure that we’re gonna sing it properly. Just to make sure I’ll be singing it (the Philippine national anthem) properly. And we practice everyday para ma-perfect ko ‘yong Tagalog,” na tono ng tamang pagkanta ng Lupang Hinirang ang ibig niyang sabihin. Memorize ko na po ‘yong national anthem natin. Opo.”
What was her initial reaction and feeling when she was told na siya nga ang kakanta sa pinakabagong laban ni Manny?
“Oh… I felt so amazed. And, you know… it’s such a big honor to sing the national anthem for his fight. I love to support Kuya Manny. Not only to get to sing for him. You know, I feel so out of this world. I feel so amazed. And I just wanna thank everybody who helped me get here.”
Is she nervous as she wait for that moment that she’ll sing the national anthem in the Pacquiao fight?
“Of course, I am!” nangiting pag-amin ni Maria. “Pero with the prayers of course, it will take it all the way. And hopefully I’ll make the Filipinos proud,” sabi pa ni Maria.
Rubbing Elbows
by Ruben Marasigan
