No champions: Vilmark Viray and Julie Anne San Jose share ‘similar’ career paths

Vilmark Viray and Julie Anne San Jose

All along, “The Clash” Season 4 runner-up Vilmark Viray thought he was all set for a career in engineering. But with a single snap, he said, God changed the course of his life.

While he didn’t end up with the top prize, (Mariane Osabel did), the Kapuso network still took him under its wing. “I’m overwhelmed. Nakakaiyak … This wasn’t part of the plan. It was all unexpected,” the singer said in a recent virtual conference, after signing a recording contract with GMA Music.

Vilmark, who works full-time as an instrumentation engineer, said that it was his parents’ dream to have a licensed professional for a child. And he worked hard to make them proud. But now it’s time to fulfill his own dream.

“My parents wanted to have a child who’s a licensed professional; I managed to achieve that. But when I was auditioning for ‘The Clash,’ I thought it was about time I go for my personal goal,” said Vilmark, who joined his first singing contest when he was 6. “I thought I would be in engineering for the rest of my life. But with one snap, God can change lives.”

God’s will

“I have always believed that if it’s God’s will, then it will happen,” he added. “I’m thankful to GMA 7 for believing in me, trusting me to be part of the family. I’m so thankful for this big opportunity.”

From doing office work, Vilmark now gets recognized by fans and “The Clash” viewers in public. “I don’t have a fanbase prior to the contest, but now I have a solid one who messages me and expresses support for me. Sometimes they send me food. Wherever I end up, I can say that what I’m doing is for them. They’re my inspiration as I reach for my dreams.” Vilmark said he looks up to Julie Anne San Jose, because, like him, she didn’t win the competition she joined (She was a finalist in ‘Popstar Kids’ 2006). But still, she ended up being one of the GMA 7’s biggest music artists.

“I feel like we have a similar path. Despite not being the champion, she still made it in the industry and she’s still here. Aside from her talents, I saw how she genuinely cared for us contestants while she was hosting ‘The Clash,’” he related. “I look up to her and I hope that we can collaborate.”

Vilmark has a cool soothing baritone. And while he doesn’t consider himself a belter, he does have the ability to ramp up the power if needed. Going against female singers with soaring vocals, Vilmark knew he had to do things differently to stand out.

“I make up for it with emotions or vocal styling. But these days, a lot of people are also more receptive toward songs that have chill vibes. And I want to prove that I can offer something to the listeners,” said Vilmark, whose grand final piece, “Umuwi Ka Na”—an entry to the contest’s songwriting component—also served as his first single. His next goal is to come up with original songs and be able to do shows around the Philippines. “I hope I can release singles that I wrote and produced myself,” he said. “I hope things start to open up so we can start touring the country,” he said.

Asked what his dream concert would be, Vilmark joked that he might as well dream big. “I hope I get to experience singing at the Philippine Arena … Maybe we can do a production number with my fellow finalists, Julie Anne and Christian Bautista. And if it’s possible to make Sam Smith fly over here, why not? Mangangarap na ako nang mataas!” he said.