Pursuing her dream on homeground

A few months ago, Fil-Am singer Jayke Reyes was just another starry-eyed newcomer dreaming of making an album and launching a recording career. Now here she is, the owner of a brand-new, self-titled album which she proudly describes as “one of my achievements.”

The album was independently-produced and contains three original songs: Kay Palad Mo (with words and music by Jimmy Antiporda and Jamie Rivera), Sana’y Pakaingatan Mo (words and music by Arnold Reyes), Perry’s Will (words by Jingle Buena and music by Arnold Reyes), and two remakes, Paano Na Kaya (words and music by Ryan Cayabyab, originally popularized by Bugoy Drilon for the Kim Chiu-Gerald Anderson movie of the same title) and her version of We’re All In This Together from High School Musical.

The daughter of an LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) officer and a hospital receptionist, Jayke attended the Los Angeles High School for the Arts, but came home to Manila after trying to start a performing career in the US. She had done voice training with Seth Riggs — who also taught Michael Jackson, among other artists — appeared in commercials, auditioned for shows for Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, and bagged a role in a stage musical, but the dreamed-of big break did not materialize.

“I came so close, but they would always say, ‘Sorry, we’re looking for someone who’s white and has blue eyes,’” recalls Jayke of those early disappointments. “Then the opportunity to come to the Philippines came up, and my parents said, ‘Anak, ikaw ang bahala, you choose.’ So I chose to come here because at that time, I was thinking, ‘What if?’ I wanted to see what would happen. The truth is, I moved to the country kasi mailap ang opportunities for Filipino artists in the US.”

Part of acclimatizing herself with the Philippines includes learning the language. Since moving back in 2009, Jayke has been trying to master Tagalog. When she was still in the US, she spoke to family and friends in English. However, since coming home, she switched to Tagalog. She’s become better at it, and this is evident in the three Tagalog songs on her album.

How was she able to convince her parents to let her come back to the country? “I told them, I’m still young, I want to travel, I want to experience new things, kaya gusto ko mag-move sa Philippines.”

And like any parents who only want the best for their children, both mother and father gave in. While they are still based in the US, they fly to Manila occasionally to be with Jayke.

Choosing Manila as the launchpad for her career proved to be the right decision. Jayke’s Kay Palad Mo and Paano Na Kaya have been getting good airplay, and feedback from the listening public has been positive. During a recent mall show at SM Bulacan, Jayke sang and was overjoyed to find that the fans knew the song and were singing along with her. 

“Masarap ang pakiramdam na kilala nila yung kanta ko,” says Jayke, who was born Beatriz Jacqueline Reyes. “I’m happy na maganda ang feedback nila and gusto nila ang rendition ko.”

But this is just the beginning of that long, hard climb. While she dreams of eventually making it in the industry — and she’s getting a lot of help from her management, her parents and her album producer Arnold — she knows enough to temper her dreams with a big dose of reality.

Jayke is aware of how competitive the industry is. While what she set out to do may be easier to achieve in the Philippines compared to the US, it is not by any stretch of the imagination going to be a free ride.

And yet, she has very clear ideas of where she wants to go. “I have a lot of dreams,” says the 18-year-old singer and recording artist. “My expectations now are to achieve my dreams. I want to join ASAP and do out-of-the-country shows.”

She is fortunate to be getting a lot of support from the people who matter in her life. “Alam ko na mahirap to achieve dreams, but my dad always says, ‘A Reyes is born ready’ so I’m ready to do it.”