OPM icon Yeng Constantino expressed her gratitude, reflecting on her remarkable 19-year journey in the entertainment industry. She feels incredibly blessed to have navigated the showbiz world, cherishing the milestones and memories that have shaped her career over the years.

During an exclusive interview in Quezon City, Yeng recently reflected on her longevity in show business. Looking back, Yeng believed she had found what she wanted in life: to compose and sing songs. She was grateful for her parents, who introduced her to music at a young age.

'It's a privilege to have been in the industry for 19 years. More than anything, I'm in the part where I want to enjoy with my fans,' said Yeng, as she launched her new single 'Lumulutang, Nahuhulog.'

She added: 'Ito lang talaga ang gusto kong gawin. Kapag tinanggal nyo sa akin ang music para akong tulalang bata. Wala akong ibang gawin kundi magsulat at mag perform. I was trained to be in a band, to perform, and to sing. I'm incredibly blessed to have been taught by my parents to love music.'

As she launched a new song, Yeng, she celebrated a transformative milestone in her career, proudly embracing her evolution into a fully independent artist. This bold step reflects not only her creative journey but also her commitment to authenticity and self-expression in every note and lyric.

“Lumulutang Nahuhulog” (which translates to “Floating Falling” in English) is a song that captures the conflicting feelings of being high on infatuation while also being afraid of falling for someone who may ultimately reject them.

'One could also say that the song verbalizes the internally contradictory feeling of wanting to fall while holding back from doing so simultaneously,' she said.

The cover art, which depicts Yeng floating in space, embodies that contradiction and confusion in a more literal yet “out-of-this-world” sense, likening the sensation to floating in space, where there is no clear sense of direction.

Yeng, 36, rose to fame in 2006 when she won the title Grand Star Dreamer in the inaugural season of Pinoy Dream Academy, the Philippine edition of Endemol's reality TV show Star Academy. Music lovers were excited when she released her debut single 'Hawak Kamay,' which became a monster hit.

'There was pressure when I was starting. Grabe yun. You have to prove yourself. Thank you, Yen, for allowing me to do this now. I get to enjoy this now because of the pressure she went through when she was starting. I'm just reaping it now. I promised my younger self that I would enjoy whatever it is I worked hard for,' she said.

Yeng thinks she leads a colorful journey in showbiz. At first, her emotions were high. But it reached a point where she realized it was not all fun and games.

'May season ng career ko, where I questioned myself. I thought it was all fun? When you're a beginner, you have to prove yourself and work hard. It was a difficult adjustment.

'And then it bloomed! So I kept writing, praying, and investing. I surround myself with people who will help me grow personally. I am happy with my Cornerstone family, who are very supportive of my career,' said Yeng, who has been a loyal member of Cornerstone Entertainment for 17 years. 'Maliit pa lang ang office nila noon.'

Yeng cited Jason Dy, KZ Tandingan, Erik Santos, and Angeline Quinto as some of her close friends in showbiz. Just recently, she ventured into producing for the first time. Yeng and KZ co-produced Jason's recent concert.

'Naging close kami ni Jason Dy noong nagkaroon kami ng project for a Cornerstone in Canada and US. Sa ASAP ang naging close ko talaga sila KZ, Angeline Quinto, and other female singers, kasi we have the same dressing room.

'I'm an introvert, and in ASAP, we typically say 'hi' and 'hello'. But we're neighbors. If we have the same gigs, I'll fetch him with my car from his house. That's how close we are.

'I don't produce concerts for other people. I usually make my projects. But KZ and I love Jason so much. So we shelled out something for Jason's concert, Yeng also said.

She added, 'Once, KZ and I discussed Jason's 10th anniversary in show business. So, we said, let's produce his concert. We had a personal relationship with him, a deep relationship with Jason, the same with Angge, Erik Santos, and other artists.'

Yeng conveyed with passion that her collaborations with other artists go beyond mere formality; each partnership is a thoughtfully crafted connection that enriches her artistic journey.

'I don't do collaborations with other artists just because we're relevant. It must begin with a relationship.

'There was a band that texted me and wanted to collaborate. I said yes because during the pandemic, I sang their song every day — so hindi lang personal relationship kundi relationship with the music. Sinamahan ako ng music na ito during the pandemic,' she remarked.

'If I were to produce for another artist, it would have to start with a genuine connection to the person,' Yeng said. 'Introvert talaga ako. Bihira ako lumabas ng bahay. Nakakapag-mingle lang ako with fellow artists if we have shows here or abroad.'

Now happily married to Victor Asuncion, Yeng shares her journey of finding tranquility and contentment in their relationship. She describes the profound sense of peace that envelops her, highlighting how Victor's support and understanding have transformed her life.

'Just being at peace. I'm no longer a lost sheep, because I know where I'm going home. After a long day, we would watch Netflix and discover new restaurants. We have that rhythm,' she said.

Yeng continues to find pure joy in music. The melodies still resonate within her, filling her heart with a sense of wonder and delight that feels almost magical.

'I remember, sumusulat lang ako ng mga kanta. Then naglalakad sa may tulay and just humming. Sobra-sobra ba yung ginagawa ni God sa akin. Whatever I have now, bonus na lang that I get to enjoy music until now. I'm amazed. Sometimes I would check Spotify and be surprised to see that people were still listening to my music. I said, 'What did I do?' I am still overwhelmed,' she also said.

Yeng expressed her love for TikTok and enjoys the platform. Fans find her videos funny, with some suggesting she could be a comedienne.

'I love funny and fascinating videos on TikTok. Sometimes, netizens wonder if I have changed because I repost funny videos. They told me I should be a comedienne. I enjoy creating lip-sync videos on TikTok. I want sound bites because it involves so much emotion,' she said.

Yeng mentioned that she makes an effort to post videos on TikTok. She dedicates time to ensure the videos are perfect and funny, at least in her opinion.

'Shooting a video for TikTok is not easy. In my case, I will shoot an ordinary video 10 times before posting it. I want perfect kahit breathing. I need to laugh at my video before posting. If I didn't find it amusing, I wouldn't post it. I've just added it to my draft.'