Chasing a dream

"I am Chase. I wanna be a rock star who has a good heart."

Twenty one-year-old Chase Tinio is not kidding when he says he wants to make it big in the Pinoy rock scene. From playing small gigs in Las Vegas, he picks up his guitar and flies back to the Philippines to try his luck, nay fortune, to what he feels is his true calling – to become a rock musician.

Not your typical rockstar (yet), this good-looking, clean-shaven (except for the patilya) native of Nueva Ecija would like to make a dent in the international rock scene through his music – to be the first Pinoy rocker to make it internationally.

"I noticed there are not many Pinoy rock bands that make it big internationally," observed Tinio, "I want to raise the Filipino flag. I wish that rock bands from the Philippines can compete internationally. I realize I want to represent the Philippines."

And why not? There is always room for musical dreams as big as Chase’s and music can cross boundaries, break social barriers, speak one language and run across the miles.

What gives him confidence to do exactly what he says is his musical exposure with Nirvana, Aerosmith, Metallica, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, AC DC, Mr. Big, and a host of other rock contemporaries and legends.

He particularly looks up to Richie Sambora, guitar god of Bon Jovi. He considers Sambora one of his major musical influences and his inspiration for his love of the craft and one of the reasons he plays the string instrument.

In the local scene, he expresses admiration for The Dawn’s Jet Pangan and Alamid.

"I like his (Jet Pangan) beat especially when he sang Living on a Jet Plane."

Armed with a husky voice and talent with the guitar, Chase continues to hone his God-given gift. He started playing the guitar when he was only nine under the tutelage of the family driver. The first song he learned was Line to Heaven by the Introvoys. He then enrolled at the Yamaha music school to perfect his skill.

To learn more about his passion, he purchases instructional CDs that contain works of some of rock’s guitar pioneers. One of his pastimes is collecting more of the works of those he considers geniuses in the field (he’s got a complete collection of Bon Jovi’s albums and even the limited edition of Richie Zambora’s works) intensifying his passion even more.

To top it all off, he composes own songs that reflect his experiences, the things he sees around especially when it affects him greatly – social issues such as poverty, domestic violence, drugs, etc. He also writes songs about love, anger, triumphs and of failures.

"I want my music to be ingrained in the minds of people who listen to it," noted Tinio who wants to be known in the glam rock or bounce rock/blues genre, "I love entertaining people, interacting with them, sharing good times and channeling them through my music…."

Like Bono (of U2), Tinio wants to be a rock ambassador of goodwill, a "rocker with a cause."

Tinio’s dreams may seem like shooting for the stars. His clean-cut looks, toothpaste smile and approach is not what rock fans are used to or readily accept. His approach is far from what aspiring rock musicians normally do such as performing in underground venues, asking organizers to give them even a few minutes in the limelight, etc. Acceptance and following may come a bit difficult.

But according to him he is prepared for everything, "I will play for as long as I live and I am going to keep on trying."

He even stressed that there are still rockers who don’t look like a junkie or sport the madumi look and they still got some following, like Bono (though he admitted to have sported spandex or leather pants matched with spiked boots just to play the part in previous gigs).

"I am still going to be myself," finishes off Tinio, "I will play with my heart."