Lito Villareal: Blazing the trail for Pinoy Artists in the U.S.

Almost every Filipino singer and songwriter dreams of breaking into the international market, particularly the US,

Recently, one Filipino singer-songwriter actually had no less than David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager (writers of "The Prayer" by Celine Dion and Andrea Boccelli) adjusting their own schedules just to meet him! His name is Lito Villareal, and this is how it all happened.

The quick turn of events began with Lito’s membership in tonos, an internet network community of musicians founded by Foster, Sager and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds which allows its members from all over the world to submit material. Lito’s "As Long As I Have You" made it as one of the Top 10 picks for site’s section called "Whitney Houston Opportunity," which meant that it was forwarded to one of Houston’s producers for consideration for her album. Although it was one of only 10 songs included in the list, Lito caught the tonos founders’ attention because his good nature shone through in messages he posted on the sites message boards, thanking TONOS for opening doors for songwriters as far away as the Philippines.

Shortly after that, Lito went to Denver, Colorado to attend the Gospel Music Association Seminar in the Rockies. What he thought was a small event turned out to be the biggest gospel event of the year where all the top gospel recording artists, managers and record producers gathered. Lito participated in the singing and songwriting contests and won three regional awards: two for singing and one for his Urban Gospel composition "He Will Renew". Later he moved on to win Best Urban Gospel Song of 2002 for the same song in the International Finals.

Lito got to meet top gospel artists Sandi Patti, Steve Green, Third Day, Jars of Clay and many more, some of whom asked him if he would consider moving to the US to begin a career there. He said he’d think about it. Overjoyed at his awards, he decided to share the news with the tonos community via the internet message boards.

After the contest, he flew to San Francisco to stay with his sister and was preparing for his trip back to Manila when he got an email from tonos telling him that since he was in the US, Sager wanted to meet him in her house. And as if that wasn’t exciting enough, the following day he was informed of a change in plan: instead of Sager’s house, they would all be meeting in Foster’s Malibu home and recording studio!

And so it all came to pass. Lito flew to Malibu and met with these two US music industry giants. Explained Sager on their wanting to meet Lito: "You know why we wanted to meet you? Because not only are you an extraordinary singer and songwriter. We know you are a good man."

He meeting lasted for two and a half hours. Foster then took to his baby grand piano and accompanied Lito in the rendition of the writer’s winning song. Foster and Sager were even supposed to spring a surprise on Lito: Michael Jackson was supposed to record in David’s studio that same day but wasn’t able to make it at the last minute.

With no less than David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager and the likes of Sandi Patti and other top gospel artists encouraging Lito to stay in the US and push forward with his dreams, how could he not? The Whitney Houston Opportunity, the Gospel Music Association awards, meeting David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager… all these in a span of about two months. The whole thing is truly mind-boggling. Lito himself can’t fully grasp everything that has happened. "I didn’t do anything but all I know is God is good!" he says.

Anyone who knows Lito well would expect such a response from him. He has dedicated his life to singing and writing songs to tell others about the wonderful things God has done for him. Lito was born with a deaf right ear, which caused him a lot of physical pain. Doctors and specialists told his parents his condition had no cure. But one day in 1979, a missionary couple visited him and prayed a simple prayer for Lito to be healed. After 11 years of deafness, pain and suffering, God healed Lito completely.

Today, Lito is a remarkable singer and songwriter. He did the music for such Philippine musicales as The Little Mermaid and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe where he also performed as Aslan, the lion king of Narnia. He has also performed in the Philippine production of Les Miserables, Chang and Eng and Joseph The Dreamer.

This undoubtedly blessed guy carries with him the hopes and aspirations of his fellow Filipino songwriters and continues to be an inspiration to artists all over the world. And to quote one of many tonos members who are as happy for Lito as all Filipinos should be: "Run with it, Lito! It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy."

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The author is an award-winning songwriter, best known for her compositions like "Tell The World Of His Love" which won the Grand Prize as Official Theme Song of World Youth Day ’95. She is currently president of KATHA, the association of Filipino composers and songwriters.