Hello there, Marinel! What’s up?

Marinel Santos

You go where your heart desires. That for me is one of the cardinal rules in life. In the case of Marinel Santos, her desire to keep on singing has taken her to far away countries.

Marinel Santos is just one of so many Filipino singers and artists who are currently making a living outside of their homeland. No one can blame them if they choose to seek “greener pastures”, better working conditions, and career opportunities. After all, it is everyone’s right to do so because in the end, you look out for Number 1 and that is yourself.

As the old adage goes, “When one door closes, another door opens.” Indeed, that holds true for Marinel Santos.

When I first got to interview Marinel Santos nearly two years ago, I knew that this was one artist that I would want to keep tab on, to check up on her every now and then, of course, to conduct a follow-up piece on her when the time arose. That time is now.

Below is my follow-up piece with Marinel Santos.

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1) You have performed in many countries. Where was it that you had the largest Filipino audience who are familiar with the songs you had popularized when you were still based in the Philippines?

Marinel Santos: Macao.

2) What are the kind of songs or genres that you get to perform more overseas on a more regular basis that you either would not do back home or rarely did but now have become a staple of songs in your set list?

Marinel Santos: It’s the classics… like “Hotel California” from the Eagles, songs from The Beatles. It’s more on what would the crowd appreciate more. Like here in Macao, I sing Mandarin and Cantonese songs.

3) Which country do you look forward going to only because you particularly enjoy the food there? Any favorite dishes from that country?

Marinel Santos: I would love to go back to Thailand and Japan. I love Thai food so much and Japanese food.

4) How do you relax and unwind during your downtime and rest days?

Marinel Santos: I just stay in my room. Watch movies. Or if my friends are free, we go out and hang out. Most of the time I just would like to stay in my room.

5) What are a few of your favorite songs that you love performing now?

Marinel Santos: I like Bruno Mars’ songs. Especially his song “24K Magic.” I like Ballads and RN’B, too. “Unbreak My Heart” from Toni Braxton comes to mind. Stuff like that.

6) Are you into sports? If so, do you still get to play this sport overseas?

Marinel Santos: I like volleyball but I don’t get to do it here.
7) If you could bring one fictional character to life, who would that be? Why?

Marinel Santos: I would love to see Superman so he could bring me to places I have never been to before.

8) To your recollection, what was the heaviest rock song you have performed ?

Marinel Santos: I am doing “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns N’ Roses here at my latest gig. I have done AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” and “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi.

9) Do you know how to play any musical instrument?

Marinel Santos

Marinel Santos: I don’t play any. I wish I could.

10) If you could live as a character in a book, TV show, or movie, what would it be?

Marinel Santos: Maybe I would like to live like Cinderella. hehe..

11) What animal best represents you, and why?

Marinel Santos: Maybe a bird so I could fly.

12) If you could have one superpower, what would it be and on who would you use it?

Marinel Santos: I want to have the power of teleportation. That would be so cool if I could go anywhere I wanted to be just by thinking of it.

13) If you could bring one musician back from the dead, who would it be and why

Marinel Santos: Definitely, Michael Jackson. He’s the best.

14) How have you been able to preserve your voice and take care of it so well after years of singing?

Marinel Santos: I see to it that I am not shouting when I sing every night. I make sure I’m not damaging my voice from too much singing hard songs every night. I also see to it I don’t get sick, like with cough, because it will affect my singing.

15) Other dreams you wish to fulfill in our lifetime?

Marinel Santos: I would actually want to join ‘X Factor’ or ‘The Voice’ in another country. UK or US. It would be a fun experience. I just don’t know how that would be possible because my schedule won’t permit it. And if I wanted to, my priority now is always going overseas to work under contract.