Mitoy Yonting
After winning the reality singing competition “The Voice of the Philippines,” Mitoy Yonting landed a role in the sitcom “Home Sweetie Home,” started booking more shows and gigs, and, more recently, launched his first album, “Hanggang Wakas”—something he has been raring to have for the last 30 years.
The 45-year-old singer often gets asked what else he wants to achieve. But right now, Mitoy said, he couldn’t ask for anything more. “I’m content with what I have—even before I joined ‘The Voice.’ My only wish is to live longer so I can continue sharing my talent and making people happy,” he said at his album launch.
But of course, Mitoy said, he wouldn’t dare turn down a good offer, adding that he’s open to trying other fields apart from music.
Aside from giving his best and continuously honing his craft, Mitoy said he believes that staying grounded is just as important to maintain a music career. “I don’t allow my achievements to go to my head,” he said. “My friends keep me humble.”
Mitoy, who also fronts his own band Draybers, added that success couldn’t have come at a better time in his life. “If I won as a teenager, I would probably end up wasting it,” Mitoy said
Meanwhile, Mitoy said that finally having an album was an “overwhelming experience.” “I never knew that my dreams could still come true. You just have to be patient.”
“Hanggang Wakas” (MCA Records) contains 12 songs including his carrier single “Pinaikot-Ikot” and a duet with his “The Voice PH” mentor Lea Salonga on the classic song “Somewhere.”
Asked what it was like working with a music icon, Mitoy said: “Coach Lea was so good. She barely stayed an hour in the studio because it took her only one try to sing her part… And it was perfect! I, on the other hand, had to tweak my recording a couple of times,” related Mitoy, adding that they originally had 10 songs to choose from for their duet.
Although he had a hand in assembling his album’s content—mostly mid-tempo, Tagalog rock love songs—Mitoy said that he ultimately let his label take the lead. “They know these things better than I do,” he said. “The album is definitely a product of teamwork.”
Originals included
He was also thankful that he was given a chance to include in the album three of his original compositions: “Kaibigan,” “Magulang” and “Ikaw Hanggang Wakas.”
COMPILATION features 12 songs
“These songs are very personal to me because they’re based on my experiences.”
Did he grow impatient over the fact that his other “The Voice PH” colleagues like Myk Perez and Klarisse de Guzman had launched their respective albums ahead of him? “No, it’s just that, right after winning the contest, I had to do a lot of shows,” Mitoy said. “But it also worked in our favor because we got to work on it carefully.”
As champion of “The Voice PH,” the singer said he inked a four-year contract with MCA, and hopes to release at least one album a year. But Mitoy, who’s also quite the comedian, jested: “But if the album doesn’t sell well, MCA could just ditch me.”
Mitoy then turned to the crowd at his album launch, and told them, “O, bili na kayo. Kaliwaan na lang para walang problema! (Buy my album. Pay in cash so that there will be no problem!)”
(E-mail apolicarpio@inquirer.com.ph)