1. My first album Hey It’s Me under Octoarts International. I was forced to write my own song because we couldn’t find a material as my first single. During a storm, I took a bus and brought it to the OctoArts office. The song was rejected but I insisted that it be included in the album. Bob Guzman gave in and used it as my first single. Within a week of its release, Hey It’s Me became the most requested song in MRS station. Soon, it turned "gold."
2. My first major concert at the Metropolitan Theater, a dream come true because that was where I trained under Dr. Myrna Lopez. As a trainee, I dreamed of singing on that stage.
3. When I won as Best New Female Recording Artist of the first Awit Awards. The other nominees were Joanne Lorenzana, Regine Velasquez and Timmy Cruz. I’m not even sure if they knew they were nominated because I didn’t see any of them there during the awards night. I myself didn’t know that I was nominated; I went there only because Tita Aster Amoyo told me to.
4. I represented the Philippines in the Expo ’90 in Osaka, Japan. There were three shows a day, showcasing the talents and culture of the Philippines. Working with the Tourism Department and the Ramon Ubusan Dancers was a great privilege and opportunity because I learned so much more about our own culture.
5. My second major concert held at the CCP wherein I learned to dance the Singkil under the supervision of Nestor, member of The Ramon Ubusan Dancers. At first Freddie Santos (my all-time director) would not allow me because he was afraid I might not learn the Singkil in time for the show. So I trained every day for a month and had it as my opening number.
6. When I auditioned for Miss Saigon in the Philippines, New York and London. I accompanied my friend Ricky Ongtengco (from the MET) to give him moral support. Since I was already there, I auditioned as well and passed. They were looking for a Kim to open Miss Saigon in Broadway. Then after a few weeks, I was invited to go to London again to audition. I did not like London then. It was too cold for me and I did too much walking. I wanted to back out. Luckily, I met friends like Isay Alvarez, Jenine Desiderio, Pinky Amador and Robert Seña, all members of the Miss Saigon cast, so I accepted the offer.
7. I did Miss Saigon for one year and a half, first as an ensemble at night. I was a saling pusa to get a feel of how it was to be in a musical. In the morning, I would train as an understudy of Kim. Soon, they gave me one performance a week as Kim and as ensemble member at night. Then it became twice and soon I was alternating with Jenine.
8. I was asked by a good friend (Archie Castillo) to do the lyrics for the theme song of the movie The Magic Temple. He gave me the storyboard and after a day I did the lyrics for two songs. One became the theme song, Bakit Iba ang Ating Mundo; the other one was Nakapagtataka, a love song sung by Jolina Magdangal. Bakit Iba won as Best Theme Song in that year’s Metro Manila Filmfest.
9. When I sang for Betsy Bloomingdales and Mrs. Nancy Reagan. After Miss Saigon, I was invited by my sister in Texas to do a fund-raising concert for the Mt. Pinatubo victims. But before the event, we visited our friend in Beverly Hills. His name is Al and his mother is Betsy Bloomingdales’ cook. When Mrs. Bloomingdales learned I was there in their house, she asked me if I could sing for her guests, including Mrs. Reagan.
After my song, Mrs. Reagan went to me and we chatted for a few minutes. It was a memorable experience.
10. We had several shows in London in 1993 to help raise funds for the Mt. Pinatubo victims. But I believe more people wanted to help and I was right. I went to Texas on the invitation of my sister’s fellow doctors to raise funds for the victims. I went to two cities, Houston and Beaumont. That’s when I realized that in times of crisis, Filipinos become brothers and sisters in the real sense of the word.
11. My first movie, Paniwalaan Mo, with Aga Muhlach no less – very memorable because it made me feel how it was to be an artista. In the movies, you get your pay after months and shooting time takes days to weeks to months, depending on the schedules of your director, co-stars and the circumstances. In singing, we do the concert for a day or two.
12. The musical I did in Singapore, entitled Bugis Street. I learned that Singaporeans and Chinese are more like us Filipinos – sensitive yet urbane; conservative but modern. We bonded as Asians. We liked the same climate, food and clothing; and shared the same sentiments about political issues. Even our movements are similar.
13. When I became a mother while doing my first album under Star Records. I wanted to make a good impression. I co-produced the album with Jong Azores and, again, wrote my first single under this label, entitled I’m Sorry. I was already on my eighth month of pregnancy while shooting the music video, sitting all the while so they could cover my tummy. I got so exhausted after the video shoot I was hospitalized. I gave birth and my album was launched. So it was like giving birth to two babies.
14. When I became a spokesperson of Kenny Rogers for the singing and songwriting contest for students. We went to different schools in Metro Manila. Seeing the kids compete against each other brought me back to the time when I was a student full of ambitions and dreams of becoming a great singer.
15. The Jubilee album that turned five-times platinum. At the end of every year, I would think of what I want to do the following year. It was December 1999 and I planned to retire the following year. Several days before Christmas, my brother asked me if I wanted to record The Jubilee Song (written and composed by Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo). I was not keen on doing it. Nevertheless, I recorded it on Christmas Eve. Little did I know it would become my greatest hit. All the children in Catholic schools, all the Catholic churches and the whole world sang it because it was the theme song of the 2000th birthday of Jesus Christ.
16. Heal our Land, which I sang in the Senate and at People Power 2 and became the CMMA Album of the Year in 2001. We had no plans of siding with anybody or any camp. We wanted to have a song that could unite our country and serve as a prayer for our nation. So my brother and I again recorded Heal Our Land, a song written and composed by Tom and Robin Brooks adapted from the Bible in Second Chronicles 7:14. Because of that song, they gave me the title "The Inspirational Diva."
17. When I sang the theme of the Fourth World Meeting of Families and sang live via satellite to Rome for Pope John Paul II, writer of the event. He said that the family is the good news of the third millennium. He chose the Philippines as host country and again I was one of the few singers who recorded the theme song written again by Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo. The Holy Father wanted very much to be here for the event but his ailing health prevented him from traveling. Come culmination night, Celeste Legaspi, The Apo Hiking Society and myself sang the theme song in different languages, including ours.
18. When I helped launch the New Mystery of the Holy Rosary, the Luminous Mystery. I have a great devotion to the Rosary and to Mother Mary. So, when the Catholic Church launched the New Mysteries of Light, we thought of a way for people to understand it better. We requested Former President Cory Aquino, Bishop Soc Villegas and Cardinal Vidal to lead the Rosary and narrate the Luminous Mystery.
19. When I had a concert, produced by Star Records, at the Sto. Domingo Church entitled Jamie In Season. Sto. Domingo is an icon church. It’s home of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Every October (month of the Holy Rosary), we UST students would join the La Naval procession. I have always wanted to pay tribute to our Lady on Her special day. And so I did – on the Feast of La Naval in October 2003.
20. Recording the album Purpose-Driven Life. I read the book by Rick Warren. It changed my whole perspective about life and death and what I am here on earth for. I believe God made me for a purpose and that is for me to sing for His glory. So when my brother asked me to sing the song he wrote entitled Purpose-Driven Life, I did it right away. I knew that by singing the songs in the album, I could reach more people and persuade them to come back to our Lord. I got an e-mail from an anonymous person who questioned why I am singing a born-again Christian song (Warren is a born- again Christian) while rendering Marian songs. I did not reply anymore. But this is what I would tell him or her if I did: "This is not about religion. It’s about your relationship with Christ."