MARAMING natutuhan ang recording artist at Pinay singer na si Maria Laroco kay Simon Cowell, na naging mentor niya sa The X-Factor UK 2018. Kahit umabot lang siya sa Top 6 sa girls team ni Simon at hindi pinalad na Manalo, malaking achievement na maging mentor niya ang sikat na international celebrity, talent show judge, producer, at businessman dahil marami siyang nakuhang advise at learnings dito.
“He is the Simon Cowell. He played a big role po sa buhay ko. And meeting him taught me a lot of things na thinking to myself na, ‘Wow, I am a lucky girl to be mentored by one of the best in the industry.’ Kaya talagang super thankful po ako that I got to be one of his Top 6 po during ‘The X-Factor UK 2018,’” sabi ni Maria sa amin sa grand launch and presscon ng kanyang international album na Just Maria sa Woorijib Home of Korean Buffet noong August 26.
Ano ang best advice na ibinigay sa kanya ni Simon? ”He always advises us – the girls – to be who we are and not to be anybody else. We just have to be ourselves and to be strong no matter what challenges he gives us because it’s his way of helping us grow and to be our best every time.”
Sinabihan siya ni Simon na bumalik at mag-audition ulit sa susunod na X-Factor UK. Gustong subukan ulit ni Maria. Pero hindi niya lang alam kung pwede pa lalo na ngayong nag-release na siya ng sariling album. Gayunman, gusto ring sumali ni Maria sa iba pang singing competitions at talent shows sa abroad.
Bago pa ang kanyang stint sa X-Factor UK, noong bata pa si Maria ay sumasali na siya sa singing contests dito sa Pilipinas. Kasama na riyan ang The Voice Kids season 1 na napabilang siya sa team ni Coach Lea Salonga.
Nagsimula ang career ni Maria sa recording scene nang maging bahagi siya ng Universal Records Philippines at ini-release ang rendition niya ng kantang Beauty and The Beast. Ini-release rin ni Maria ang revival single niya na Hindi Ko Kaya na pinasikat noon ni Geneva Cruz at ginamit pang theme song ng isang Koreanovela sa GMA na All About My Mom. Naging kinatawan din si Maria sa Child Aid Asia concert na ginanap sa Tokyo, Japan.
Naging grand finalist si Maria sa The Will To Win ng Wowowin at naging grand champion sa Great British Festival na ginanap sa Makati City at pinangunahan ni Ambassador Daniel Pruce.
Sumunod na ang pag-audition niya at pagpasok sa Top 6 ni Simon sa The X-Factor UK and the rest is history ‘ika nga.
International album katuparan ng pangarap ni Maria
NARITO sa Pilipinas si Maria Laroco para i-promote ang kanyang international album na Just Maria under Odic Records (an American record label). Nakapaloob dito ang 10 tracks na kinabibilangan ng carrier single niyang Imagine kasama ang Bad Luv, Eager, On My Way, I Like It, Bae, Delay, Vault, Outerspace, at Can’t Stop.
Siyempre masayang-masaya si Maria dahil katuparan ito ng pangarap niya. ”I am so thankful and grateful to God kasi finally natupad na po ‘yung isa po sa mga ipinagdarasal ko po. Super thankful din po ako to all the people who have helped po sa album na ito. Napakalaki po ng naitulong nila. Of course, to my family, napakasarap po ng feeling na ever since they were there to support me. And of course to all those people who love me, my fans and supporters. If not for them I am not who I am today. I have become stronger, I really fight for what I really want like my singing, I’ve always love this. I never gave up because this is what I want, this is who I wanna be,” ani Maria.
Maaari nang mapakinggan at mabili ang kanyang buong album na Just Maria at ang 10 tracks dito sa mga digital platforms tulad ng Spotify, Deezer, Spinner, iTunes, cdbaby, at marami pang iba.
PABONGGAHAN
ni Glen P. Sibonga