Sofia to music born

There’s no escaping it. If it’s in one’s genes, there’s no other way to go but…yes, showbiz!

“I’ve always loved to sing since I was a kid,” Sofia Gonzalez Romualdez recalled to movie writers Thursday last week at the Manila Polo Club where she was formally launched as a recording artist. “I don’t want to be a star; I just want to make music,” added Sofia who plays the piano, guitar and ukulele. “That’s all I want. I love to express my feelings through music. I write my own songs.”

Sofia comes from a family steeped in music and the arts. Her mom, Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez, is a semi-retired singer-actress, the daughter of ’60s Sampaguita matinee idol Jose Mari (Gonzalez, former Congressman who was a member of the band Electromaniacs and who owned a recording studio). Cristina’s two siblings, Ana Margarita and Michael, were one-time actors, and their mom Charito Malarky is a former model.

Sofia’s paternal side also has musical background. Her father, former Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, is the nephew of former First Lady/Congresswoman Imelda Marcos and we all know what a good singer she is (aside from having been a classic beauty, one-time Miss Manila). Ilocos Gov. Imee Marcos, one of Alfred’s cousins, is into theater and producing indie films.

Quite a formidable legacy to carry on and Sofia knows it.

During the launch, Sofia impressed the audience with her rendition of Thinkin’ Of U, her own composition. She was backed up by the I Love Tacloban Band which was organized by Cristina and Alfred on the heels of Typhoon Yolanda that nearly wiped Tacloban out of the map in 2013. Sofia has been under contract with Viva Artists Agency (VAA) since 2016. Her debut single, Pikit Mata (composed by Nica del Rosario), was included as soundtrack of Fangirl/Fanboy which topbilled Julian Trono and Ella Cruz. Up next is her debut album, consisting of her own compositions, to be released by Viva Records.

Will Sofia include a song recalling her Yolanda experience and the lessons she may impart from it?

Up to now, the experience remains fresh in Sofia’s memory. The storm surge destroyed the family seaside house, along with hundreds of others in the city (and in most parts of Eastern Visayas).

“I remember how the typhoon started hitting hard early in the morning that fateful day,” Sofia related to Funfare in a previous interview. “By early evening, I was scared because I sensed that something was wrong. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t anything bad to happen to my family. I know how to swim and Mom made sure that we were wearing the salva vida (life vest).

“We stayed at our submerged house for more than two hours. When the water subsided, I remember that we walked and walked to safer grounds where we found a place to sleep in that night.”

Present at the launch were Cristina and Alfred.

“I really encouraged Sofia to pursue her passion for music,” said Alfred. “As we all know, music is a good therapy and it should help Sofia cope with the trauma and hopefully make that experience a lesson that will make her stronger.”

“At first,” said Cristina, “I didn’t want her to join showbiz so soon because we wanted her to finish college first. She has always been very musical. She was just a kid when she asked us to buy her a guitar and a keyboard. She would sing muna in her room because she was very shy, until our guests would ask her to sing during parties at home.”

Now Sofia is singing on a bigger stage for a bigger audience.

“We know that she is up to the challenge,” added Cristina.

James a ‘reasonably strict’ dad

James Yap with son Michael James (MJ) in one of his favorite photos. Says James, ‘I won’t dictate my son what he should be when he grows up. Whatever he wants, I will support him.’

As Funfare broke the news last week, James Yap will be a father for the fourth time in June. It will be a girl. His first three children are boys: the first with his non-showbiz girlfriend, the second (Bimby) with his ex-wife and the third (Michael James) with his current partner.

Asked if he would be more strict with a daughter, James said, “I think so, kasi like all dads medyo mas strict ka sa anak na babae, reasonably strict. Pero, the same lang siguro, whether sa son or sa daughter. Mahirap ang masyadong mahigpit.”

Michael James (MJ for short) is turning two in August.

“I am teaching him right from wrong,” said James. “When he leaves things around, I tell him to put them back where they should be. He’s learning fast. Ngayon, automatic na ‘yon. Kapag may iniwan siyang bagay, isinosoli niyan kung saan dapat ilagay.”

Will he train MJ to be a basketball player like him?

“I don’t want to force anything on him,” added James. “Whatever he wants to be, I will support him. Ayoko ng pinipilit. Like me. Walang pumilit sa akin maging player.”

By the way, James doesn’t know yet what the name of his daughter will be. He’s leaving it all to his current partner.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)