Following her grand win in TV5’s Born To Be A Star where she bagged the P1M prize money and recording contract from Viva management last year, the Cebuana singer Jehramae Trangia was able to help her family business, aside from getting career opportunities, of course.
She recalled in a virtual call how her stint in the singing talent competition changed her fate in a big way.
Prior to Born To Be A Star, Jehramae joined a lot of singing contests but this one had created a huge impact in her life. She said, “I got the title and the prize. I was able to help my family. Yung dream po namin na makapagpatayo ng mini-grocery, natupad po yun. I’m so happy and grateful kasi nakaka-overwhelm po yung thought na natupad namin yung dream ng family ko through the competition na sinalihan ko.”
“Not only the prize money, but also the opportunities na dumating po sa akin after the competition,” she added.
She described her 2021 experience a “roller-coaster” ride. “We are in the middle of a pandemic, I didn’t expect na makasali ako in a competition and won.” She told The STAR, “Unexpected po talaga lahat ng nangyari kasi this pandemic, sobrang hirap po talaga nun sa part ng family ko kasi we were relying on our business lang, yung sa store namin. I’m very happy na makatulong ako sa family ko after the competition.”
Last year, the 18-year-old artist dropped two singles under Viva Records: Lumalapit, a cover of a popular The Juans song, and Magparaya, her first original recording, written by veteran composer Vehnee Saturno.
“What excites me the most about my music career is getting to meet a lot of talented artists from all over the country, and it’s such an honor to be able to share my experiences with them while also allowing people to hear my music and craft,” she said.
This year, she is eager to try acting, “For the year 2022, I am planning to do workshops not only in singing and dancing but also in acting because one (goal) on my bucket list is to try acting and hopefully din soon, ma-experience and ma-try ko na ang acting.”
She also hopes to have a big breakthrough in her profession, such as releasing her own album, “It is my dream to release an album and in that album, (there) will be the stories na naging part ng life ko.”
Jehramae is a graduating student and plans to take up Accountancy in college.
Given the opportunity to act, she would like to be part of a teen movie with The Juans’ RJ Cruz as her leading man slash crush.
The young talent’s singing idol is Sarah Geronimo who has a big influence on her passion in music. “Since I began singing, Miss Sarah Geronimo has been an inspiration to me. She became my role model in singing because she is such an icon. She can dance, she can act, she can host. I mean, is there anything she can’t do? She’s completely idol material and hopefully soon I could get to collaborate with her.”
Jehramae wants to be known as a versatile singer who could perform various music genres including rap, ballad, R&B and pop.
Asked how she got her unique name, it was the combination of her mother and father’s name, said Jehramae. “Sinasabi ko nga po sa mother ko, ‘Ma, bakit Jehramae yung pangalan ko?’ Ang hirap pati yung spelling. Andami pong taong nagtatanong kung saan galing yung pangalan ko ba’t ang hirap ng spelling. Sabi ni mama parang combination daw po ng pangalan nila ni papa.”
“In school, minsan ‘pag nakikita nila yung name ko, akala nila lalaki. Pero ‘pag makita nila ako personally, they would say, ‘Ay babae pala si Jehramae,’” she shared.