Upcoming singer Tiana in a class of her own

She is to the manner... and the music... born. It’s in her genes, inherited from such artists as her paternal grandmothers Armida “Tita Midz” Siguion Reyna and Irma Ponce Enrile Potenciano, grandfather Chito Ponce Enrile, uncle Carlitos Siguion Reyna and aunt Bibeth Orteza (and their children Rafa and Aya), cousin Cris Villonco and, most especially, her maternal grandmother Cristina Castañer Ponce Enrile. Even the Tirona Sisters are her relatives.

And yet, Cristiana “Tiana” Ponce Enrile Kocher insisted she’s “different.” She’s in a class of her own.

“Growing up,” explained Tiana, youngest of Katrina Ponce Enrile’s four children (names of the two other daughters start with the letter “K,” except Tiana who’s named after her grandmother; the boy is named JR), “I was never into the same style of music as theirs. I’m contemporary/R&B while they are more operatic and musical theater. I do have a certificate in musical theater but it’s more a dance-heavy acting course. I’ve been exposed to the arts.”

Turning 20 on Feb. 5, Tiana graduated from the Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts in the UK where she also learned how to live independently before she moved to L.A. which has been her second home since she was 17, staying in a place so tiny compared to the huge family residence in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City where The STAR sat down with her three Saturdays ago.

She was catching up after having been unable to spend the holidays with her family due to a previously booked New Year gig in L.A. (stage name is Tiana Kocher; her dad is James Kocher). She stayed for only 10 days (Jan. 5 to 15) just “to see everybody” since the last time she came home was a year ago.  “As I was saying,” she continued, “growing up, I was exposed to the arts. But I took it seriously only three or four years ago. I was also athletic most of my life. I played volleyball, softball and soccer. I would attend soccer camps in the US. And then I turned to the arts because I tore my calf muscle in a game. That’s why I had to find something to kill time so I wouldn’t get bored.  So I went back to singing and acting.”

She’s now working on her debut album which she hoped to release first in the US and then worldwide. Tiana and her team (songwriters, film crew, dancing group, etc.) have just cut the first single and they aimed to release one more single every two months until they complete the 15 original songs for the album — songs about love, friendship and heartbreaks.

Oh, heartbreaks. How many boyfriends has she had?

Mom Katrina Ponce Enrile Kocher on Tiana: I’m proud of her. She’s doing great. She has matured a lot.

“I only had one,” she said, her voice devoid of any tone of regret.  

Asked who the unlucky guy was, Tiana looked at me straight in the eye. “He’s irrelevant. He doesn’t deserve the time of day anymore.”

Still, that “irrelevant” guy has inspired Tiana to write three songs (she does only the words and is learning to also compose the music), titled Recover, Official and Boy, By.

“I can actually write 12 songs on one topic,” she shared, “and make each of the songs different...sound differently.”

It was music that helped her recover from that heartbreak — “And the people around me who got my mind off it. The way I see it, all the artists…Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande and others — have written breakup songs to help people go through it, so I must do the same thing.”

Has she gotten used to living alone in the US (doing the laundry, cleaning the house, cooking her meals, etc.)? How has it been so far?

“It’s amazing! I wanted to grow up, to get out of this ‘Manila mindset’ where everything was handed to me. When I turned 17, I told my mom, ‘I’m gonna get used to it, with everything spoon fed; I’m gonna get stuck in it; I’m gonna get spoiled if I stayed. I think I’m gonna go and be independent and be myself.’ So I went to Cambridge to study and then transferred to L.A. Since then, I’ve been on my own. I have matured so much emotionally, physically and spiritually. I’m happy. I feel great! My mom is proud of me.”

Admitted Mom Katrina, “Tiana used to be somewhat spoiled when she was here. She’s doing great living alone and learning things her own way. That’s the good part,” referring to Tiana’s other siblings who are abroad. “They learn. Tiana is on allowance, until she starts making her own money. She limits herself to the allowance; she doesn’t even have a credit card.”  

And neither does she drive her own car.

“I have yet to get a driver’s license,” admitted Tiana. “I take Uber anywhere I go. My New Year’s resolution is to get a license. I haven’t tried driving in Manila but I know that if you can drive in Manila, you can drive anywhere in the world.” 

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Did you know that, aside from his ex-wife Pops Fernandez,  Martin Nievera also qualified as judge/expert for the CBS talent search The World’s Best (which starts airing its 10 episodes on Feb. 3)?

During the presscon the other day at Luxent Hotel for Timeless Classics, his Valentine show with Lani Misalucha set for Feb. 14 at the PICC Plenary Hall, Martin revealed that he auditioned via Skype and passed with flying colors.

“It was mine already but I couldn’t do it because of my previous commitments. They (people behind the show) said, ‘We want you, Martin,’ and I told them, ‘I had a co-host for many years and she’s very good.’ They asked, ‘What’s her name?’ Pops Fernandez, I replied. ‘Oh, she’s on the list, too. How did you know her?’ I have two sons with her. ‘How did that happen?’ They wondered. It’s a long story, I told them.”

The irony is that, according to Martin, it was his desire to make a name internationally that was a factor in his breakup with Pops.

“It was in the palm of my hand and I gave it to the woman that I lost.”

Among the 50 judges/experts from different fields around the world, Martin got the news that the Philippines (specifically Pops) is highly rated. Around 25 talents are competing, including the Philippines’ TNT Boys.

Speaking of Martin and Lani (who have been paired in several concerts), they have both learned from their separate stints in Las Vegas.

“At one time,” said Lani, “I was performing every night and I was afraid of losing my voice. What I did was strengthen my vocal cords by vocalizing and observing a healthy diet. There are some food that are bad for the vocal cords because they can cause acid reflux.”

“Between us,” conceded Martin, “Lani is the more dedicated performer. She’s the legit singer who doesn’t take things for granted. Give her the microphone and you have a show.”

At the end of the presscon, a huge cake was presented to Martin who is celebrating his 57th birthday on Feb. 5.

Timeless Classics is a production of Starmedia Entertainment (headed by Anna Puno) in association with Global Police Community Relations, for the benefit of the projects of Rotary Club of Makati East, Rotary Club of Cubao Central and Rotary Club of Parañaque East. (For tickets, call 891-9999.)

Martin happy for Pops, wishes her good luck

Martin Nievera at the Timeless Classics (with co-stars Lani Misalucha, below) presscon at Luxent Hotel with his 57thbirthday cake baked by Pinky Fernando. — Photos by Ricky Lo

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