Angeline Quinto’s rise to stardom is the stuff fairytales are made of. Now, she’s living her dream and continues to aim higher, hoping to make a mark on her own terms. Here’s tabloid!’s chat with the singer many say will most likely follow in the footsteps of her idol, Regine Velasquez.
Q. Your life is an open book and people admire you for the determination you’ve shown in having a singing career. Looking back, what memories do you cherish the most?
A. The day I won Star Power, the singing competition. It will forever be in my mind, and in my heart. It opened the door for me. It helped me go places I have never been to. I made my dream come true. Besides that, I cherish the experience of going to even the smallest singing contest in an unknown town just to make a living and support my grandma. Those nights of singing before people I did not know — it made me stronger. It was like practising, and if I won, it was good because there was a cash prize. If I didn’t, it was a learning experience. It was the toughest, but really the ones you appreciate more now that things are a little better.
Q. A lot of people say you’ve perhaps taken your admiration of Regine Velasquez a bit too far — sometimes you even look or sing like her?
A. She has been my idol for so long, of course, it would show in my performance. But I always try to do things with my own touch. I am a performer, I have my own style. Maybe because people also associate me with my idol, so that is what they see. But I also want to say that there is no shame in that. To sound or look like her is an honour. Yet, I also want to make a mark of my own. I want to be remembered as me; to be appreciated for my music. My journey has just begun. I may have been in this industry for three years, but I still have a long way to go.
Q. But people have also noticed a big transformation, for the better.
A. Thank you, I appreciate that. I make an effort. As you know, I did not finish high school because I was the breadwinner. I enrolled in a personality development programme. I want to be better, and I am glad it is showing.
Q. Your alleged relationship with Erik Santos: Tell us about that.
A. We are friends and get along well. We are dating and trying to get to know each other better. If there is something beyond that, I am open to it.
Q. It has been the butt of jokes in the industry. Are you bothered?
A. Not at all. People will always believe what they want to, and if I base my happiness on that, I will never be able to enjoy my life. What I know about our friendship is what I believe in.
Q. What are you busy with at the moment?
A. Beauty in a Bottle. The movie will be out soon. I play the role of a woman who is insecure about how she looks. Like me when I was starting out.
Q. What were you insecure about?
A. In Star Power, I always saw the other female contestants as better looking and had more talent. I had to exert more effort. But I’m slowly trying to overcome it… it’s part of the programme I enrolled in — to gain more self confidence.
