Ahead of their US tour which will kick off in Las Vegas, Nevada on Oct. 13, OPM stars Bugoy Drilon and Daryl Ong reminisced about their humble beginnings before rising to stardom in the music industry.

It wasn't too difficult for them to enter the entertainment scene, but they smiled when remembering moments that pushed them to become singers. Bugoy rose to fame when he joined the Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 in 2008. On the other hand, Daryl became a semi-finalist for The Voice Philippines competition of ABS-CBN in 2014. 

"First time ko pumunta ng Maynila and hindi ko talaga alam ang magiging buhay ko dahil big risk talaga ang ginawa ko. I was terminated sa scholarship ko sa school and my only option is pagkanta like when I do mopping sa canteen. Yun ang nagiging stress reliever ko. 

(It was my first time to go to Manila and I didn't really know what my life would be like because I took a big risk. I was terminated from my scholarship at school and my only option is to sing like when I do mopping in the canteen. That is my stress reliever.)

"Naririnig nila akong kumakanta tapos sinabihan nila akong may audition sa mall. Hindi naman talaga ako nag-a-audition kung saan kasi wala naman akong pamasahe or bagong damit na gagamitin. Even requirements wala ako pero dinala talaga ako ng life situation doon. 

(They heard me singing and then they told me there was an audition at the mall. I wasn't really auditioning anywhere because I didn't have the fare or new clothes to wear. I didn't even have the requirements but the life situation really brought me there.)

"Noong natanggap ako sa isang audition at nasa shortlist na ako, wala pang kumu-kontak sa akin. From the province, dumating yung bus sa Ali Mall yata ng around 6 a.m. Good thing may mga relatives pala ako sa city and they picked me up. And they received a text message that I need to audition (Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2) ng 4 pm," said Bugoy during a Zoom.

(When I was accepted in an audition and I was on the shortlist, no one contacted me. From the province, the bus arrived at Ali Mall around 6 a.m. Good thing I have relatives in the city and they picked me up. And they received a text message that I need to audition (Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2) at 4 pm.)

Bugoy, 33, was placed as Second Star Dreamer in the reality show in 2008.  Although he didn't win first place, the experience helped him appreciate the little things in his life.

Daryl, 36, transitioned from being an animator to pursuing a music career.

"After ako naging animator, napunta na ako agad sa band scene. Kumakanta rin ako sa mga weddings. Hindi ko naman siya naramdaman na parang struggles pero looking back, natatawa na lang ako dahil may mga time na tinatakbuhan kami ng talent fee sa wedding.

"After I became an animator, I immediately went to the band scene. I also sang at weddings. I didn't feel like I was struggling but looking back, I just laughed because there were times when we didn't get paid the talent fee for the wedding.)

"P1,500 na nga lang hindi pa kami nababayaran. Kasama ko sa bus yung keyboard artist ko and violinist. Tatlo kami pupunta ng Batangas sa halagang P1,500 at minsan thank you lang. Uuwi kami tawanan na lang kaming tatlo," said Daryl.

(We haven't been paid P1,500 yet. My keyboard artist and violinist are with me on the bus. The three of us went to Batangas for P1,500 and still, we didn't get paid. We'll just go home and laugh.)

But his life changed when he became a dad. He also planned to become an entertainer in Japan.

"Noon may gig din ako na mula 9 pm hanggang 3 am sa halagang P800. Pero kapag mahal mo yung music or mahal mo yung ginagawa mo, hindi ako nagrereklamo kasi nag-eenjoy lang ako. 

(Back then I also had gigs from 9 pm to 3 am for P800. But when you love music or you love what you do, you don't complain because you just enjoy it.)

"From 2009-2013 ganun yung buhay ko. Noong 2013 kasi meron na akong anak, sabi ko hindi na uubra ang ganitong sistema. Kinunsider ko mag-hosto sa Japan. Magho-hosto na dapat ako sa Japan pero nakita ko yung audition sa The Voice sabi ko last na ito. Sabi ko kapag hindi talaga ako natanggap dito, pupunta na ako ng Japan. 

(From 2009-2013, my life was like that. In 2013, because I had a child, I realized that the set-up would no longer work. I considered becoming an entertainer in Japan. I was supposed to go to Japan, but I saw the audition for The Voice Philippines. I said this would be the last. I told myself if I'm not accepted here, I'm going to Japan.)

"Nakapasok ako sa The Voice. I didn't win but I would say I was blessed dahil maraming mas deserving sa akin even sa band scene, five years akong nag banda, so iba't ibang way talaga bine-blessed ni Lord ang mga tao. I was given the chance dahil may mga ginamit si Lord na mga tao para matulungan ako. Nabigyan ako ng chance na kumanta ng teleserye theme songs," added Daryl.

(I got into The Voice Philippines. I didn't win but I would say I was blessed because there are many more deserving than me, even in the band scene, I was in a band for five years. The Lord really blesses people in different ways. I was given the chance because the Lord used some people to help me. I was also given the chance to sing teleserye theme songs.)

And the rest is history for Bugoy and Daryl.

Produced by Berce Productions in cooperation with KreativDen Entertainment, Bugoy and Daryl will headline the show entitled "B.A.D. Boys of RnB US Tour" at Jefebet Center Silver Nuggets Casino Las Vegas, Oct. 13; The Historic Bal Center, San Leandro, CA, Oct. 14; Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Oxnard City, CA, Nov. 3; and Celebrity Center, Hollywood, CA, Nov. 4.