Phil Collins’ Pinay protege releases album
Teach your children well, says a Crosby, Stills and Nash song. Apparently it’s a timeless value that made it possible for the young Filipino-Swiss singer Lica to make a name for herself.
A scholar of British pop legend Phil Collins’ Little Dreams Foundation, 14-year-old Lica has just released her debut album, “All I Want To Be” (MCA Music) which was recorded in Switzerland. The album’s title track also features Pinoy big band singer Richard Poon who flew to Switzerland to add his vocals to the track.
Lica is in the country to promote the album and renew her ties with her parents’ homeland.
Born in Geneva to OFWs Bong and Joy de Guzman, Lica was 4 when she saw a video of “Little Mermaid.” It made her want to learn to sing, so mom and dad sent her to a music school.
In 2005, Lica became the first Filipino to perform in a special program on Television Suisse Romande (TSR), said to be the biggest TV network in Switzerland.
On her return to TSR for another show, Collins and his then-wife Orianne, who are Swiss residents, announced that Lica had been chosen to join the Little Dreams Foundation, which the couple had set up to “realize the dreams of children in the fields of sports and art by providing financial, material, and mentoring support with the help of experts in various fields.”
Before meeting Collins personally, Lica told the Inquirer that she only knew about him from his parents who listened to his songs like “Against All Odds.” She recalled having sang along to it, too.
She was 8 when she started going to Little Dreams. “It’s like a school and now I’m about to graduate… but I still go back and visit to attend special occasions like concerts,” Lica said.
Asked what she learned from Collins, Lica was quick with her reply: “Humility… Never forget where you came from… Keep your feet on the ground and never give up. He’s a very nice guy, humble, too, and very professional.”
Another pop star, Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, recently figured in a memorable moment in Lica’s life. “I met Bryan through Phil during the Little Kids’ anniversary last year. I sang “Everything I Do” with him and Phil during the program. I was just rehearsing the song and I think they heard me,” Lica recalled.
Although her schedule is getting to be quite busy now, she would like to finish her studies and take up banking and finance in college.
“Math gives me a headache … not that I like getting headaches … but I think the course will, in a way, help me find solutions to problems in life,” she pointed out.
Lica is currently in third year high school in Switzerland and speaks French, English and Tagalog. “I know how to speak Tagalog because it’s our language at home,” she proudly said.
Aside from school and singing, Lica finds time for dancing lessons and is active in a Catholic community in Switzerland which sends poor children in the Philippines to school.
Describing her singing style as being adept to ballads, rock, pop and R&B, Lica said she doesn’t know what the future holds for her. “But as long you love what you’re doing, things will get easier,” she surmised.
She knows what she wants and that is to make it big as a singer. “Hopefully my dreams will come true,” she said, smiling.
Lica’s three-day Manila promo tour, which started last Sunday, continues on August 6 at SM Manila and August 7 at SM San Lazaro. Both shows start at 5 p.m. Pocholo Concepcion
