Guji Lorenzana documents family life, passions to inspire people

Almost seventeen summers ago, YouTube made its presence felt in the digital world and created a new culture of watching and sharing videos. The platform has inspired many to produce unique content and become a repository of their creativity.

Among the local celebrities who have found their niche and voice on YouTube is Guji Lorenzana, who was named as one of the 12 winners of YouTube NextUp 2021. The latter was a YouTube and Smart Communications, Inc.-led competition that supports the growth of up-and-coming YouTube content creators.

“Being an artist, of course, you don’t want to stop creating,” said the actor-singer in a one-on-one with The Philippine STAR. “That’s why a lot of people, who know me, know that I wear so many, so many different hats throughout my journey as an artist.”

The local showbiz industry got to know him as a talent of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic that saw his potential in singing and acting. As a newbie then, he acted in Precious Hearts Romances Presents with Kaye Abad as a leading lady, and had his first performing gig in ASAP. These were followed by TV and film projects, single releases and theater works.

“I’ve been an artist’s manager,” added he. “I work in the industry also, I’m also into theater. Once I had a family and I had children, parang sila yung naging focus ko sa buhay, mas naging focus ako sa family life and everything. Naturally, as a proud father, you want to document everything.” Like every parent out there, Guji wants to be a part of his children’s every milestone. YouTube is his platform to capture all that.

“So, I started to document my family life and what I did,” said he. “YouTube has become helpful to sustain my career as far as being at least seen in a different platform.”

His channel is a glimpse into his personal life, which encompasses “things he is most passionate about, travels, down to his life as a husband and a father, that he hopes could also inspire people,” as stated in the information given to media.

In fact, Guji embraced the platform and put out content there around two years after YouTube’s launch, “but never in a capacity nung parang ginagawa ko ngayon, where it is more consistent,” shared he. “It’s so nice to see that YouTube noticed me and realized that my channel has the potential to become more frequently visited and also perhaps my potential to be a more quality type of YouTube creator than I was doing before.”

As a winner of YouTube NextUp, Guji had the opportunity to participate in its online Creator Camp which gave him a crash course on production techniques and in-depth training in building his channel. He got mentored by previous winners, YouTube stars, and industry experts to enhance his skills in content creation.

Although it is a fertile ground for his creativity and a venue for creative pursuits, Guji said that “I haven’t stopped doing showbiz… never naman akong nawawala from that side of things. But being a creator on YouTube has definitely given me an outlet to continue to do my other passions like music.” Actually, he will do a project with Viva weeks from now.

“It’s nice to know that (a platform like) YouTube really cares about its creators and they saw something in me, I’m very happy to be a part of it and one of the 12 winners and I can still continue to do what I love,” said Guji of his latest achievement and turn in his career.

“Maganda yung platform na YouTube because the OFWs na naging fans ko before are able to see me more regularly if wala akong project on TV and then I’m also able to gain new fans, who are interested in my family life and how I raise my daughters,” added he. “I’m also showing how I feed them, my process being a dad, and I put everything there. It’s been really an enjoyable journey, an enjoyable ride to be a part of an amazing platform like YouTube and of course, with the help of YouTube NextUp, (it) really helped level up my content.”

Aside from his family life as subject in his YouTube channel, Guji’s love for music also takes the spotlight.

“The music side of me, I haven’t stopped making music even though it is not as regular as before,” said he. “I’m a fan of ‘90s stuff, ang dami ko ring covers that I put out on YouTube and I’m continuously doing that. I have one cover with friends that I released. I think it has six to seven million views since we released it. It has really helped me keep alive also in the music scene, in that sense as a performer. It’s a great platform… So, kahit papaano music doesn’t leave my side, it’s there pa rin and hopefully, one of these days, makakasama ko yung mga kids ko in a song maybe on YouTube. They’re still too young but maybe soon, we’ll see.”

With YouTube, Guji nurtures his creativity and his works can also inspire others to be content creators. “I’m able to wear the director’s hat. I’m able to be an editor. I’m able to create the soundtracks,” shared he. With that, we can only expect more content — a visual “snapshot and slice” of life — from Guji.