In November 2010, Angeline Quinto almost lost her adoptive mother to a heart disease.
Her beloved Mama Bob flatlined, she recalled, and landed in the intensive care unit of the Philippine Heart Center. Doctors told her that a pacemaker implantation was imperative. But Angeline didn’t have the money, leaving her with no other choice but to mortgage their house in Sampaloc, Manila.
Angeline, who started out as a professional “kontesera,” was then competing in the talent search “Star Power.” But despite her promising standing, she considered calling it quits, because shuttling to and from the Heart Center and ABS-CBN was proving to be impractical: there was no one to watch over Mama Bob whenever Angeline had tapings.
In that trying period in her life, it was her devotion to the Black Nazarene, Angeline firmly believes, that lifted her up and helped her soldier on.
“I had no one to turn to. The following year, I took part in the annual “traslacion” procession—as I have always done since I was 8 years old—and prayed for my mother’s healing,” Angeline told the Inquirer in a recent pocket interview for “Voices for Love,” a pre-Valentine show she will headline with Jed Madela.
“I also wished for regular work. Never mind if it wasn’t related to singing. It didn’t have to be my dream job. I just wanted to earn money to help my family and provide for their needs,” she added.
Two months later, Angeline’s prayers were answered. She ended up winning “Star Power,” using the prizes to pay for her mother’s medical expenses, and to buy back their house. “I owe my Mama Bob’s second life to the Black Nazarene,” she said. “And if I didn’t win ‘Star Power,’ we would have probably lost our house forever.”
Angeline has since become one of the most visible and active singers in show biz. Her Mama Bob, who just turned 78, is now living a more comfortable life. Her success and all the things she’s enjoying right now, Angeline said, are all the more reasons to keep the faith burning.
For the past five years, Angeline has managed to climb the carriage containing the Black Nazarene. “My Mama Bob is a devotee. She used to take me to the procession when I was a child, and we used to do it barefooted. But we had to stop when she grew old and weak,” she related.
When she can’t take part in the actual procession, she sees to it that she at least gets to hear Mass at Quiapo Church and, if possible, mount the float with the help of her and Mama Bob’s devotee friends from the Black Nazarene Makati Chapter.
“It makes me nervous to this day, especially once you’re up there and you see all the devotees around you,” she related. “But luckily, I haven’t experienced anything untoward, save for some bruises here and there. You can’t do anything about those when you descend and get sucked into the crowd.”
For Angeline, celebrating the feast is always a humbling experience. “When you’re in there, no one cares about what you do in life, whether you’re a celebrity or not. It’s all about the devotion,” the 30-year-old singer said, adding that attending the feast is also a way to reconnect with her childhood friends from Sampaloc.
“After hearing Mass, we would hang out at the nearby Quinta Market. My friends would often tease me, ‘Manlibre ka naman, Angge!” “And so we would just stay there, eating street food while waiting for the Black Nazarene to arrive at the church,” she related.
Meanwhile, Angeline said she’s looking forward to sharing the stage with Jed and serenading the crowd in “Voices for Love”—an intimate dinner concert with Jed on Feb. 12 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom. While the two singers have worked together a number of times in the past, they have yet to hold a proper concert together.
“We got close during our time in ‘ASAP,’ so we’re comfortable working with each other,” said Angeline, who described Jed as a brilliant and generous singer. “If you’re having trouble with a particular part of a song, he won’t hesitate to help you. He will adjust, if needed. Not all singers are willing to do that.”
Mounted by Royale Artists Management, the show will likewise feature special guests, including Mitoy Yonting, Imelda Papin and LA Santos (call 0918 807-3340).