Maricris Garcia: Singing with her heart

Maricris Garcia, Pinoy Pop Superstar (PPS) Season 3 grand winner, is a whiff of fresh air in an industry where vocal excellence has been commonly — and quite wrongly — equated with belting (pagbirit). She sings languorously, stirringly, without having to aim for the highest notes. The 20-year-old member of SOP’s La Diva — a trio which also includes Maricris’ fellow PPS winners Aicelle Santos (runner-up to 2006 champion Gerald Santos) and Jonalyn Viray (Season One winner) — recalls the best compliment she got which she’d like to believe is also her edge. “Actually, it’s hard to say what my edge is. But like what Danny Tan has said (musical arranger Tan was one of the judges during Maricris’ Pinoy Pop Superstar stint) before, I sing with class. Simple but elegant.”

That is exactly what her debut album from GMA Records offers: Engaging vocals and heartfelt rendition. The 12-track CD contains remakes like Bakit Ikaw Pa Rin (by an artist named Noah) and Thank You (originally by Tyler Collins) and originals like Since Then, With You, Ikaw Lang Ang Iibigin, Nang Dahil sa ‘Yo, Kung Sana Bukas (theme song of the just-concluded Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita), Umiibig Na Ba, I Love You Still, Kaligayahan Natin and Huwag Mong Iwan ang Puso.

Perhaps the track with the most immediate recall is Mahal Kita, which became popular as the love theme of the Pinoy version of Marimar.

Maricris found an outlet for her passion for music when she became a lounge singer a few years back. Little did she realize she was destined to sing before a larger crowd when she was prodded by close friends and classmates at La Consolacion College (where she was taking up Tourism before showbiz beckoned) to join the said talent search.

Nothing much has changed after her victory except for the busier work schedule and the decision to set aside her studies for the meantime. Maricris is aware of the stiff competition and the quick turn-over of artists. She is lucky to have been given a break and she’s naturally making the most of it. “What I keep in mind is that I should strive to improve the quality of my voice instead of straining too much for effect. Although I cannot totally do away with the birit thing because somehow people have come to expect it from singers nowadays.”

Maricris vows to continue singing from the heart as opposed to merely screaming her lungs out as most artists are wont to do. “Sooner or later, people will get tired of it if it’s the only thing you can offer,” she says.