humility shown, greatness earned

it has been almost a month that this birthday special has been shown, yet i still can't get over the fact that this was a showcase of my dad's paradigm, that "we really don't lose anything with being humble."

for the uninitiated, regine velasquez always had a show during her birthday month, april. used to be when i was still in high school and college, i will watch out for her "songbird sings streisand" in mandarin oriental. not being able to afford the ticket, but just to wait for it to be shown on tv. then her live concerts followed by tv specials until then the "roots to riches" which was just recently showed in may came. the press release that got to me was that, the staff did a research on who used to be her main rival in the amateur singing circuit way back and they were able to track her down.

her name is minerva "eva" castillo.

eva has beaten regine, who was used to be known as "chona", in all contests except one. they were in a tie that time, only once sharing the same price but never beaten. imagine? amassing around 300 trophies all in all. that's how good eva was at that time.

thus when i was able to watch this one out, i was amazed. it has been and will always be true that talent will out. that true born singers, no matter what happens, will sparkle with their gift. and they will always deliver...she did...eva castillo did...

her style counterpoints with regine's high flying runs and acrobatics. her style is classy, her voice is nuanced, her delivery is with conviction.

true, her voice evokes of life's hardships and experiences and not merely acted out. for me, i call her "No Ordinary Diva." as she may just be any ordinary woman, washing clothes and making ends meet, but once she sings, you listen.

not only was this scene with regine, heart tugging at the very least. what i always talk about with closest friends is that regine exhibited extreme humility with showcasing a used-to-be contender who's never given her the light of day in singing, and admit this to the entire world. and more, to show her on the same stage with her.

when i saw the footage from "mel and joey" during their rehearsals, eva was given the same treatment, given a make up artist, a gown from pepsi herrera no less. and regine even talked to her in the dressing room. if i were some diva, i will lump her together with the rest, she's a "no who?" anyway. give her the regulation clothes, why waste designer rags? and let me have beauty rest, as i needed to given my stature.

but sorry to disappoint big time. regine took time out giving her pep talk. assuring her. inspiring her to make it a good performance, for who knows? and i am one person who believes in giving chances. true enough. eva castillo reigned with regine in the show.

i admit, regine was a disappointment to me as of late. what with her reckless "Listen" rendition in SOP. goodness, practice was sooo badly needed. what with her relationship with ogie a. i mean, she was single for the longest time and why have a complicated one?

but i think, undeniably. her effort for this special paid off. much more, her effortless and sincere idea of helping someone out was remarkable. true, she didn't have to? true, this person may have ran to the bank with winnings she should have gotten? true, this person is now a nobody.

but that is the essence of what she has shown. greatness is not asked. it is given. and in moments where we least expect it, if we are sincere and meek enough, the spotlight may not be on us anymore, but the attention has never faltered.

happy Wednesday everyone :)

here's the link to that remarkable song number: eva castillo with regine velasquez