Quest reads books on leadership and desire

Award-winning singer-songwriter Quest will once again break new ground this holiday season as he collaborates with Grammy-nominated British singer-songwriter Joss Stone in a brand new love song that he wrote titled So Amazing.

Arranged by Jokko Pena and Bong Andres, So Amazing will be released this Christmas on iTunes for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Yolanda.

It should be noted that Quest and Joss Stone were two of the featured artists in the 2012 Malasimbo Music Festival in Mindoro and So Amazing marks their very first collaboration.

“It’s such an honor for Joss to recognize my music during the Malismbo Music Festival,” says Quest. “To collaborate with her is a milestone. I’m humbled and excited to work with her. This is a moment in my life that confirms that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be. I feel so grateful and blessed that I am doing what I’m designed to do in life.”

Quest has been a very prominent figure in the underground music circuit since 1999 until he went mainstream in 2010. An accomplished singer and songwriter who considers Francis Magalona, Rey Valera, Ogie Alcasid, Stevie Wonder, Tupac, and Gary Valenciano as some of his major influences, Quest recently won the grand prize in Pilipinas Shell Songwriting Contest for the song that he wrote titled Isang Daan. The song embodies the mission and vision of Shell, which is anchored on the advocacy of not merely providing gasoline for Filipinos, but supporting several relevant causes like education and environment preservation. Isang Daan will be the official theme song of Shell’s 100th anniversary in 2104.

Quest was also part of the winning team of the recent Philpop Songwriting Competition as he, along with Sam Concepcion and Tippy Dos Santos, took home the grand trophy as they performed the winning song “Dati” which bested 11 other original songs that participated in the contest.

Prior to his winning streak this 2013, Quest received critical and commercial success with his single Sige Lang which was the official theme song of Gilas Pilipinas which won the gold medal of the William Jones Cup in Japan in 2012. Magic 89.9 also named Sige Lang as 2012’s OPM Song Of The Year. Sige Lang, which is an upbeat, feel-good, inspirational song that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit against adversity, is now a favorite graduation anthem among high school and college students and the Girl Scouts Of The Philippines also made it as their official theme song. With a music video directed by Nolan Bernardino, Sige Lang will be released as part of Quest’s second full-length studio album titled “Life Of A Champion” in the first quarter of 2014. Sige Lang also received massive airplay on music channel Myx and it peaked at number one for several weeks.        

Another single written by Quest is Saludo and it was once again chosen by Gilas Pilipinas as its official theme song this 2013. Gilas used Saludo when it competed in the Federation International Basketball Association (FIBA) Asia that was held here in Manila. Saludo is arranged by Jokko Pena and its music video was directed by James Muleta with Miss World 2013 Megan Young as co-director. Some of the artists who appeared in the video are the Gilas Pilipinas team, Jericho Rosales, Jim Paredes, Abby Asistio, ventriloquist Ruther Orquilla from ABS-CBN’s Pilipinas Got Talent, and the Philippine Army.

“It’s such an exciting journey. It has always been my life’s mission to inspire and empower people through my music,” says Quest. “Music has the healing power to uplift. With all the many crises that we faced in recent times, I am very happy to share my music and it is my wish that through music, we will all be moved in celebrating hope, love and life.”

When asked about his favorite books, it comes as no surprise that Quest fancies inspirational books that empower and enlighten not only the mind but the soul as well.

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. “I think that every man should read this book. This book helped me in my finding the real and authentic meaning behind life’s great mysteries and questions.”

The Journey of Desire. “This is a very inspiring book that is centered on how one should accept, understand and realize one’s true desires and how bring them to life and transform them into actual realities.”

Failing Forward by John Maxwell. “Another enlightening book that aims to teach its readers on how to turn set backs into set ups for success.”

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. “A must read for those who aspire to lead others into the path of what is good and right. For me this is one of the best leadership books out there.”

Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels. “As you may obviously see, I’m drawn to works that inspires the heart and mind. This piece guides us into becoming a leader wherever we are, whatever the situation.”

Chasing Daylight by Erwin Raphael McManus. “Each moment and incident in our life carrries a valuable lesson that will shape the person that we will become in the future. This book taught me to seize and cherish the power of every moment.”  

The Barbarian Way. “This made me bolder when it comes to believing God for outrageous things.”

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. “This is required reading for anyone wondering if the Christian faith is still relevant in a postmodern culture.”

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. “I love Zombies (no… not that way). Just making sure I’m prepared for Zombie Apocalypse. This is a super fun read.”

The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur. “This collection features some of Tupac’s personal poetry. The cadence of his language is very lyrical and he writes about ordinary things about his life in an extraordinary manner. The content is very well and beautifully written. Every aficionado of modern poetry will surely love this book — the side of Tupac that I love.”

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“The Reading Club” recommends Status Anxiety by Allain de Botton, a travel journalist. Available in National Bookstores and Powerbooks.

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Your comments and suggestions are welcome at gr.rodis@gmail.com.