For singer-songwriter Moira dela Torre, the past year was her best one yet.
Moira topped the list of most streamed female Filipino artists on Spotify in 2018, an achievement she thought she would never get. Some of her big hits are "Malaya,” "Tagpuan" and “Tagu-Taguan."
MOIRA DELA TORRE
In an exclusive interview with Bulletin Entertainment, Moira said she is overwhelmed to know her music has helped "even if just one person" feel a little less lonely.
“It’s (recognition) something not just, me as a musician, would want. I want to be a friend and I’m honored that people chose to listen to me when they felt sad," she said.
“God is so faithful to me. At one point in my life, I remember telling myself that as long as I can sing, I’m good. I only want to reach out to one person, but then, I got five hundred, five hundred audiences listening to my songs. That’s so overwhelming."
Moira also got engaged to her boyfriend of over a year in 2018. They are set to tie the knot any day now.
MOIRA WITH fiance Jason Marvin Hernandez
She thanked her fiancé, Jason Marvin Hernandez, her family and fans for staying by her side amidst all her leanings and mistakes.
“It’s not easy to be in this industry. It’s hard to keep encouraging, to keep sharing your music when people are judging you. They think we, musicians, don’t get affected but we actually are because we always give our time and effort,” she admitted. “That’s why I’m most grateful to my fiancé, to my fans, for just celebrating with me… for walking with me through my highs and lows.”
This 2019, Moira leaves behind hate, negativity and even body shaming issues.
Apparently, she recently became the target of heckling at a yearend concert, with her weight supposedly being ridiculed by the audience member.
She took to Twitter and addressed the individual who called her “fat” and “ugly.”
“To the rude kuya shouting, ‘Ang taba mo, laki mo, Moira, panget, taba’ while I was performing last night, I was so tempted to look at you and give you a piece of my mind. But I didn’t want anyone feeling how you made me feel. Even you,” she wrote.
“Women are beautiful whatever size and may I be the last person you disrespect like that,” she continued. “May you learn to love yourself enough that you won't need to bring people down just to feel ‘funny’ or important. If you’re reading this, I hope next year showers you love. Happy new year.”
As for future plans, Moira revealed she will sing a different tune – that of appreciation and optimism.
“I’ve learned to love regardless. 2018 made me realize that sometimes you don’t need to fight back, you just let them (bashers) know that they are loved. My fiancé did that to me, so I also want to share it to other people."
The singer-songwriter will soon release a sequel to her “Malaya” album, describing the coming collection as the “braver” one.
“This one will imply knowing your worth, knowing where to fight and when to keep silent,” she hinted.
If there’s one foreign artist she would want to collaborate with in the future, it's Ed Sheeran.
Another bell?
Well, Moira isn’t the only bride-to-be that we know as of press time.
There are rumors Zsa Zsa Padilla will exchange “I Dos” with architect boyfriend Conrad Onglao early this year, or even this month.
Apparently, Zsa Zsa’s daughter, Karylle Yuzon, remains “clueless” about it.
“It’s her story to tell so I will just wait and see," she said in a TV interview. "But I’m always here for whatever her plans are."
In previous interviews, the Divine Diva said they want a wedding as sans fanare, relating a luxurious one no longer fits them.
High hopes
Bulletin Entertainment also caught up with artists, Bamboo and Ben & Ben, and they talked about what’s in store from them in 2019.
Bamboo joked fans will likely get “tired” of his face in the coming weeks and months. He will release new material, but remains mum on the possibility of sitting on the coaches’ chair of “The Voice Philippines” yet again.
“We’ll see what 2019 brings,” he shared.
But if ever, Bamboo said he, along with fellow coaches Lea Salonga and Sarah Geronimo, will continue with coaching contestants on the show.
“You know, at the end of the day, our goal is to enrich OPM, to find new talents. I think we’ve done a good job on that. So we will stay with the course, continue what we are doing and let’s see what will happen,” he said.
Ben & Ben consist of twin brothers Paolo and Miguel Guico on acoustic guitars and vocals, Poch Barretto on electric guitar, Jam Villanueva on drums, Agnes Reoma on bass, Patricia Lasaten on keyboards, Toni Muñoz and Andrew de Pano on percussions, and Keifer Cabugao on violin. The band has been known for their popular hits “Ride Home,” “Leaves,” and the critically-acclaimed “Kathang Isip.”
“We’re very happy, we’re very thankful,” they said of 2018.
They’re eyeing to release more songs, as well as create another soundtrack for a film. They first did it with “Maybe The Night,” an OST for Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino movie “Exes Baggage.”
They also collaborated with an LA-based producer for a song, which according to them, has an EDM genre.
Ben & Ben dreams to work with Gary Valencian. They hope to see foreign artists John Mayer and Barbra Streisand in the future.
Asked about their wish for the music industry, the group has this to say.
“Our wish is for it to keep growing. The only way up is if we all do it together. 2018 had been a testament to that, so I hope Filipino artists continue working together."
All four artists headed Eastwood City's Year-End Countdown to 2019.