Emman pours out emotions through songs

It could’ve been much better if Emmanuel "Emman" Abatayo made it to the Final 6 of ABS-CBN’s reality talent search Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA). But the 12th evictee has already felt satisfied for having been stayed inside the Academy for 14 weeks.

The 22-year-old knows no one is indispensable in a talent search where text votes greatly count.

"My stay has made me a better person not just as a performer but also in dealing with life’s challenges in a better wat and with greater strength," he says.

Master Jim (Paredes) has helped Emman and his co-scholars be more prepared in life with inspiring stories usually from experiences Jim had when he was just starting to make a name in the music scene.

Emman has been braving life’s trials since younger days back in Iloilo City. He was deprived of the loving touch and warm hugs of biological parents who left him in the care of his paternal grandma until his uncle Ireneo and aunt Emerlina adopted him.

Emman’s adoptive parents showered him with the same love they showed to their seven other children. To this day, Emman doesn’t know anything about his biological mom. His dad, who used to sing kundiman songs in Iloilo, passed away when Emman was in grade school.

Music has always been a passion which made Emman form the group Kwatro Kantos four years ago in Iloilo. His composition Waiting List, became No. 1 in the charts and is on heavy airplay for five weeks in the regional FM and AM radio stations before he tried his luck in the reality talent search. The singer-songwriter pours out his emotions through songs which express emotions, from romance to rebelliousness and shouts them out through the rhythm of punk rock.

"Although I didn’t make it as a Star Dreamer, knowledge in the proper way of breathing when singing and trying things I’m not familiar with have been very beneficial to me," he says.

Inside the Academy, Emman composed a Christmas song whose concept is differerent from the usual way of expressing love during the Yuletide season. The song, Merry Christmas Break na Tayo , talks about friendship.

Emman also composed Arigato Tomodachi together with co-scholars Jun Hirano and Jay-R Siaboc.

Friendship is one of the things Emman continues to cherish, even when he’s already out of the Academy.

"Aside from the lessons, we shared laughter and tears. The bonding was awesome. It was also a nice experience to be with scholars from various places with different personalities. We clicked on almost all things," he says.

Among the scholars still in the Academy, it is Jay-R whom Emman wants to become a Star Dreamer come graduation night on Dec. 16 at Araneta Coliseum. Emman says Jay-R is a total performer.

Emman, an Accounting graduate of Western Institute of Technology is grateful to his adoptive parents for supporting his his studies inspite of financial instability. His adoptive dad worked as a security guard and sent all his eight children to school. Emman plans to let his adoptive parents manage the Belgian Waffle franchise he got from PDA.