In the short time that he’s been in show business, singer Edward Benosa has already accomplished a lot — for a newbie, that is.
The mestizo behind the hit song Di Man Lang Nagpaalam can’t believe all the things that have come his way in 2015. On top of that list, of course, was being named Best New Male Recording Artist in the Star Awards for Music of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC). “Di ko talaga in-expect, sobra akong nagulat, sobrang surprised,” says Edward.
In fact, when he got up to receive the award and finally made it onto the stage, he was so nervous and flustered that he forgot to thank so many people, including his own manager, stage, TV and film actor Arnold Cruz Reyes and one of his most loyal supporters, who he referred to only as Tita Lorna. She goes to practically every show and gig of Edward, bought multiple copies of his album, and is always there for him in whatever shape or form. So when he forgot her last name during the awarding, he felt so bad because he’d missed the perfect opportunity to thank and publicly acknowledge her for her support.
He also forgot to thank the people of Dannon Clothing, who have been backing him from the beginning, when he wasn’t even a household name. “Ang dami ko talagang nakalimutan pasalamatan, kasi nga na-blanko ako. Actually,” says Edward, “nanginginig pa ako no’n. Kasi naman nagulat ako talaga.”
That was just one of the big blessings that happened to Edward in 2015. He admits that he wanted to win because the award would have been a big boost to his career. But he went there the night of the awards ceremony, not really expecting to win. His manager says they were both aware of what the award meant, or would mean to him. “Kaya katakot-takot na panalangin ang ginawa namin,” says Arnold. “Aminado naman kami na kailangan namin yung award, kasi talagang big boost sa career ni Edward. Sa isang nagsisimula na tulad niya, mabigyan ka ng Best New Artist of the Year award, di ba malaking bagay ‘yon? Parang enough reason ‘yon na ipagpatuloy mo ‘yung ginagawa mo.”
But never in their wildest dreams did they actually allow themselves to think that Edward would win it. And yet now that he has, he still can’t believe it.
“Para siyang naging Christmas gift ni Lord sa akin,” says Edward. “Unbelievable na, pero dapat tanggapin kasi magandang regalo ito.”
He’s hoping that 2016 will be another good year for him. Edward dreams of releasing more songs, maybe even a full album, and appearing in more theater productions. He had a taste of that in Chuva Choo Choo, a musical based on and inspired by the music of OPM hitmaker Vehnee Saturno. It starred Morrissette Amon and Joanna Ampil in the lead roles.
“I’m still learning a lot (about theater),” says Edward. “Ang laki ng ginawa ng stage sa akin. Iba kasi ang acting sa stage sa acting sa TV or movies. Pati pagbato ng kanta, iba. Ang saya at ang sarap mapabilang doon, at matuto sa ganu’ng klaseng environment. Marami ka talagang matututunan ’pag magagaling ang mga kasama mo.”
It helped even his singing. So now Edward is going into 2016, taking with him all the lessons of the year that came before it. He is confident that the coming year will be full of more blessings, and bigger things, and that despite some criticism leveled against him, that his career will be on the upswing — frankly, we expect no less.