‘Sing Galing!’ judges, hosts on ‘tugtog-pera,’ ‘aarteng sikat,’ other no-nos for biz wannabes

From left: Donita Nose, K Brosas, Randy Santiago, Rey Valera, Dingdong Avanzado, Ethel Booba and Allan K

In show biz, having the right attitude can be just as important as skill and talent in achieving longevity. This is one of the things the judges and hosts of the videoke game show “Sing Galing!” have learned in their enduring careers.

“This is something Joey de Leon told me: ‘Huwag kang aarteng sikat.’ Because there are many out there who are nag-iinarte or nagpi-feeling—some of them newbies, even. Don’t give production crews a headache; don’t make things hard for them… They don’t owe you anything,” Allan K said in a recent virtual conference for the TV5 show’s new “Sing-lebrity Edition.”

Allan K, one of the original hosts of the show back in the late 1990s, joins this season’s panel of judges or “jukebosses” together with Rey Valera, Dingdong Avanzado and Ethel Booba.

“We’re just like doing office work here in show biz,” he added. “We don’t know if or when we will get fired. So don’t let the clamor and applause get into your head. Just appreciate your work.”

K Brosas echoed Allan K’s thoughts, adding that “no one’s indispensable in this business.” “You may be famous and doing well today, and then lose everything the following day. We have to make the most out of the talent God has given us. You have to stay humble,” said the singer-comedian, who hosts “Sing Galing!’ with Randy Santiago and Donita Nose.

Motivating factor

Passion, she said, should always be the motivating factor. “Don’t lose your passion. We have this thing we call tugtog-pera where you just do your job for the money—the love for the craft is no longer there. That’s why my colleagues here are still amazing at what they do, after decades in the industry.”

“Always keep your feet on the ground,” Randy said. “It doesn’t matter if you have contributed a lot to the industry, or if things are going well in your career—your feet should be planted on the ground. You have to remember that despite all the awards or admiration you get.”

Airing Saturdays at 6 p.m., the celebrity edition will feature the likes of Alex Medina, Kris Bernal, Hero Angeles, Jayson Gainza, Paolo Pangilinan, Pooh and Madam Inutz.

What piece of advice can Rey give the contestants, especially those who don’t really sing for a living? “Don’t let the judges and the audience intimidate you,” he said.

Confidence

“I once saw Willie Nepomuceno perform at the Manila Press Club, and he was so confident when performing—no nerves. So I asked him how he does that, and he told me, ‘Just imagine the people in front of you are your family and relatives—pantay-pantay lang kayo. That stuck with me,” he related. “It didn’t work for me immediately, but it was something I eventually adopted.”

Besides, Ethel pointed out, contestants are not judged on their vocals per se, but on how well they sing karaoke. “It’s not like a typical singing contest where you prepare a piece and compete with other singers. Here, the opponents are the songs themselves. You have to know a lot of songs, or be able to ride the melody if you don’t,” she said.

While they’re judging fellow celebrities, there’s no pressure, Dingdong said, because everything is just for fun. “I just say what I feel. There’s no pressure. I thought it was going to be hard, but it’s not, because you don’t need to be overly critical. We look at personality, too,” he said.