Morissette comes home

CEBU, Philippines — Cebuana singer Morissette Amon used to frequent singing competitions at local fiestas, malls, and radio stations. Eventually, the Minglanilla native got to open for celebrities like Kim Chiu, Yeng Constantino, Coco Martin and Sarah Geronimo.

After leaving her hometown at 14 years old to pursue a performing career, the 22-year-old singing sensation returned for a sold-out concert, finally performing on a stage in her turf.

Eight years after the first step of her journey towards reaching her dreams, Morissette finally came home.

Droves of Morissette’s fans flocked to Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino despite the downpour to witness her homecoming concert dubbed “Morissette is Made” last July 14. Filling the Pacific Grand Ballroom to the brim, Morisette was met with a roaring crowd and an ocean of blue LED lights, starting off the night with an epic “Survivor” by the Destiny’s Child introduction. The 22-year-old emerged with a heated rendition of “Burnin’ Up” and “Against All Odds” as well as a performance of “Cebuana” by fellow Bisaya talent Karencitta.

The last time Morissette dropped by Cebu, she came for a quick performance at the inauguration of the Mactan Cebu International Airport’s newest terminal. But it’s been years since the singer got to come back to her hometown after going to Manila with her parents to pursue her singing dream when she finished as a runner-up on TV5’s “Star Factor” reality singing competition. Afterwards, she was welcomed into Sarah Geronimo’s team after she auditioned for “The Voice Philippines” in 2013 to really pursue her singing career.

That had been a massive risk for then teenager Morissette who seemingly started all over again in the contest despite her appearances in TV5. Morissette eventually finished as a semi-finalist for Team Sarah after losing to Klarisse De Guzman who lost the championship to Mitoy Yonting, trained by Lea Salonga.

Even though she didn’t win in “The Voice,” Morissette made a name for herself because of her well-loved covers of popular songs, singing for the Himig Handog songwriting competition and regularly performing with Angeline Quinto on the ABS-CBN variety show ASAP as a “Homegrown Diva.”

She also became the first  Filipino artist to be granted a V Live (Korean video streaming app) channel, earning a standing ovation at the Asia Song Festival in Korea last year, and was also able to perform with singer Jessie J who invited Morissette to sing for the latter’s concert.

Morissette was also hailed as the next superstar, called the next big diva by no less than Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez Alcasid.

But for “Morissette is Made,” the Morissette that faced the Cebuano crowd was an earnest young lady who wanted nothing more than to perform for the people of her hometown. Morissette made sure to introduce herself as if she was not a star in her own right already, as if the crowd hadn’t been chanting her name like a prayer.

Morissette unmade and then made herself as the evening progressed. The singer took the audience in a journey and showed them her humble beginnings as a kontesera –  joining contests like “Little Big Star Cebu –  told of her roots in rock music, how her father became her first vocal coach before rocking it out to classics like “Dream On” by Aerosmith and “Sweet Child of Mine’ by Guns N’ Roses and Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer.”

Morissette then performed a medley of songs that have become teleserye soundtracks namely “Puso Ang Siyang Nagsasabing,” Kahit Hindi Pa Sabihin, “Kapag Ako ay Nagmahal” from “Flordeliza,” “Anong Nangyari sa Ating Dalawa” from “Two Wives,” “Hanggang” for “The Better Half” and “Ikaw ay Ako” from “Doble Kara” – endlessly saying her thanks for the people who believed in her despite not winning the national competitions she braved all those years ago.

Her reportoire also included a medley of ballads composed of “Sana’y Maghintay Ang Walang Hanggan” by Sharon Cuneta, “Bukas Nalang Kita Mamahalin” by Lani Misalucha, Regine Velasquez’s “Pangarap Ko ay Ibigin Ka” and her very own “Akin Ka Na Lang.” When Morisette failed to immediately show off her signature whistle register in the middle of “Akin Ka Nalang,” the belter recovered by cheekily pointing out how all of her singing is done live, much to the amusement of her adoring crowd.

Getting emotional in between her ballads, Morissette told the crowd: “Ang ako lang gusto, proud mo nako,” the Aliw Awards and MOR Pinoy Music Best New Artist winner says.

Morissette also performed “You Are The Reason” with Daryl Ong, Bisaya songs like “Usahay” and Kurt Fick’s “Puhon,” as well as “Journey,” “This Is Me” from the Hollywood film “The Greatest Showman,” “A Secret Love Song” and “Rise Up,” as well as her latest single “Panaginip.”

Before coming full circle and closing with a song she hasn’t sang in about 10 years (“And I am Telling You,” which was Morissette’s go-to contest piece), the singer once again shared to the crowd about how she’s felt throughout her budding career.

Despite being a well-loved artist, like many other stars, she also got to face controversy. Apart from being relentlessly compared to mentor Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo, Morissette has also been accused of lip-syncing during a song and dance number. She also received backlash from Popsters (Sarah’s fans) after allegedly poking fun at Sarah’s publicized breakdown. She also received flak for seemingly trying to “upstage” American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez.

Prior to her show in Cebu, Morissette shared how she felt like “Made” was such a fitting theme for the show, saying that for her, a person who is made is someone who had to face so many things, who had so many things happen to them before being able to stand proud to where they are now.

“Di ko katuo...I don’t really feel like made na jud ko. Being just 22, I still have a long way to go,” Morissette quips in a video.

Throughout the show, Morissette shared her thoughts in a series of videos where she spoke about how she started as a singer, how she fared in Manila, how “Made” finally came to be. The singer shared how, between starting out and being where she is now, she and her family had to sacrifice so much, constantly second guessing every move on their way to fulfilling Morissette’s aspirations.

The singer shared how so many people greeted her when she came home and her singing competition days flashed through her mind. She realized that performing was the one thing that she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

“Reflecting on where I am now, maka ingon jud ko nga sakto ang decisions. I’m on the right path, worth it tanan nako giagian,” Morissette narrates.

It has always been her dream to share her talent to the world, to come back home and perform for her fellow Cebuanos. Morissette gushes her thanks to God, her family, the team behind the show, her friends, classmates, teachers, mentors, neighbors, even those who she competed against.

Apart from a homecoming concert, the show felt like a thanksgiving celebration as Morissette gathered all of her favorite people to celebrate everyone who has been part of her journey in the place where it all began.

“Of course I still have my share of lows gihapon but I feel like those are lessons for me to be a better person. These achievements, I feel are those that continue to inspire me and humble me,” she says, adding that she has learned so much from the people she was able to meet, and how they keep her inspired and motivated to do better.

“This is the first time nga nakauli ko and just being able to stage my own solo concert...mao jud ni akong gusto buhaton. And to just see all of you here, it warms my heart. Each and everyone of you made me. Mao nang salamat kaayo!” Morissette calls to the affectionate crowd.

After her Cebu leg, Morissette is set to bring “Morissette is Made” on September 2 at the SMX Convention Centre.