Singer Edward Benosa finally gets his breaks

Edward Benosa soars to new heights with his eponymously titled debut album and new single, “Di Man Lang Nagpaalam.” CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

A lot of good things have been happening to young, up-and-coming singer Edward Benosa.

Since officially launching his eponymous debut album and single under Star Music early this year, the song “Di Man Lang Nagpaalam” (with words and music by theater-film-TV actor Arnold Reyes, who is also his manager), Edward has seen his popularity grow by leaps and bounds.

The song “Di Man Lang Nagpaalam”—a light pop ballad about losing a loved one that disappears without even saying goodbye—has consistently been charting on MOR and other Metro Manila radio stations. It has also been making a mark on radio countdowns and in sales charts in major cities all over the country, including Davao, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro, Cotobato, Dagupan.

“Di Man Lang Nagpaalam” spent 11 weeks in the Pinas FM weekly countdown and was ranked number 24 in the Pinoy Top 100 official 2015 mid-year tally by the Philippine Music Charts.

The song’s official music video, uploaded to YouTube, has earned more than 500,000 views so far, and is climbing. It has attracted numerous comments from fans, including some who describe it as “a nice song for the broken-hearted” and one that they can relate to.

Prior to this, two of Edward’s songs “Paglisan” and “Ikaw Lang,” were used in ABS-CBN’s teleserye “Moon of Desire“.

This year, Edward was also nominated as Best New Artist in the second MOR Pinoy Music awards. Although he lost out to Morissette Amon, he considers it a big honor, especially for a newbie like him who‘s just beginning to get noticed in the music biz.

When Edward was nominated, he had only been in the business for less than six months. “That time, actually, four months pa lang, ma-nominate na agad, ‘yun pa lang, sobrang blessing na,” says Edward, who took it as a sign to keep going. “For me, sign na ‘yon na huwag tumigil, at mag-record pa ng mga nakaka-inspire na songs.”

Now, because of that, Edward Benosa fan groups have sprung up. Edward is thrilled by the idea of having people who support his music. They’ve become his inspiration to go on recording and performing.

Once before, in his career, Edward tried putting music out but didn’t get the response he expected (during this time, he auditioned for a spot on The Voice of the Philippines but didn’t make it) and he became so discouraged that he decided to lie low for a while and think about what his next move was going to be.

Now that a second chance has come, and things seem to be going well, he couldn’t be happier.

He wants to thank his supporters—which includes the people at Star Music, Dannon Clothing and some friends in the business—for not only welcoming him back, but for giving him a second chance.

“Gusto kong sabihin sa kanila, salamat sa trust, at sa pagbigay sa akin ng chance na ma-affect ko sila through my songs,” says Edward. “Kung na-iinspire sila sa music ko, I want them to know na na-iinspire din ako, and that this time, I’m really serious about making it.”

Edward Benosa could be the next big thing in the local music industry. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Edward is thankful that “Di Man Lang Nagpaalam” has touched so many people, even becoming a Most Requested Song on MOR. He wasn’t expecting the response that he got, but he intends to use it as a springboard to bigger things.

For him, this is just the start of something better—and this time, he says, he’s really serious. “It’s now or never. Ito na ‘yung second chance ko, kaya kailangan talaga, ibigay ko na lahat for the people na nagtitiwala sa akin.”

Music is his passion, and he would do it for that, but Edward says that for as long as there are people out there who appreciate his music, he will keep going. The fans have become his reason to do all of this. “Siyempre, habang na-a-appreciate ng fans ‘yung ginagawa ko, lalo akong ginaganahan. Nawawala ang pagod mo, at saka sobrang saya,” says the good-looking balladeer.

Edward is looking forward to what he knows will still be coming. There will be shows, and guestings, and all those other things—and he’s very excited. Who knows, there could even be a solo concert in the offing. At the rate things are going, that might just well be in the bag for him. (For bookings and inquiries, please call Ranjo Isip at 0917-882-2773).