"Flip" side of a Fil-Am Singer

Proud of her heritage, Filipino American singer Yvette Ocampo says you don’t have to be Pinoy to appreciate her music

Nobody can claim they know how much hard work it takes to become a pop sensation better than the San Francisco Bay Area's own Yvette (Ocampo). After years of hard work (most of them focused on becoming something other than a singer) Yvette's highly anticipated debut album, titled simply “Yvette” has earned her recognition as one of the most successful Filipino artists in the San Francisco Bay area.

Yvette was never a stranger to music, having sung all her life since she was a small child. Most of her time in the spotlight back then was singing at political functions for family members running for office. From her family's perspective this was certainly foreshadowing, but not in the way Yvette's many fans might think.

Yvette earned a degree in political science and was destined for a career in Philippine politics, not unusual in the Ocampo family where almost everyone has held a political office at one point or another. But Yvette was still rather rebellious and, having already won numerous awards for her singing prowess, began what she considered a "side gig" in theatre. Most people would consider taking second lead to Lea Solanga in a Broadway production of “Grease” a big deal.

Not Yvette.

Holding true to her reputation for thinking big, Yvette then passed (as in no, thank you”) on the role of Kim in “Miss Saigon”.

Her reasoning was simple in her mind, “I wanted to get a degree in Restaurant and Hotel management”, she says.

But Yvette couldn't earn her degree from just anywhere, she had to earn it from the La Roches Hotel and Restaurant Management School in Switzerland, arguably the most well-respected school in the world. During a trip to Disney World her boyfriend dared her to fill out a general application for employment. Disney World called the youngster back within days, offering her over $60,000 / year to help manage one of their resorts.

She said, “No thank you.”

Yvette's degree did come in handy during a short stint running a family owned restaurant in Daly City, California, which finally brought her to the Bay Area. And what about the singing? Yvette didn't stop, and upon relocating to Northern California, she became more determined than ever.

Yvette quickly gained attention and eventually toured Asia and Western Europe. Ultimately, her success landed her a deal with Say Music Incorporated, a new record label based in Union City, California. This was Yvette's big break and for once in her life she decided to stop toying around with career options and settled on her true passion -- singing.

Her first release was the hit single “Rub A Dub Dub”, a catchy up-tempo pop tune for which she recorded two versions. A short rap section of the song has her rapping in English and on the “Flip” side (pun intended) she raps the same section in Tagalog.

“It just seemed obvious to me to do two versions," she says, certainly very proud of her Filipino background. “It doesn't matter if you speak Tagalog or not, it doesn't matter if you are Filipino or not. My wish is for the song to be enjoyed by everyone.”

With the attention gained from the single, Yvette followed up this summer with her self-titled album, a collection of hot pop tracks, classic ballads, and flashy dance tunes. While many upstart record labels find they must cut corners in order to handle the incredible expense of cutting an album, this was not the case with Say Music Inc. and Yvette. Yvette was spoiled with hit record producers who's cumulative experience has yielded more platinum and gold records than Yvette can count on her fingers and toes.

In fact, the song “Rub A Dub Dub” was originally recorded by the Backstreet Boys and slated to be released as a single.

“Apparently the Backstreet Boys' record label never actually got permission from the writers of the song so they had to take it off their album,” says Yvette. “Their loss, my gain!”.

Yvette has been busy this summer performing live to promote her album.

“It's wonderful!” she exclaims. “It's certainly fun to play in the recording studios and everything, but interacting directly with my fans is really the highlight for me”.

Yvette has become well-known for her stage show which currently is based on the Mission Impossible movie theme. “Well, I was an actress, so I thought it would be more fun for the audience if the whole show was more like a musical”.

“Musical” might be the understatement of the year. The show, which Yvette refers to as “MI:3 - Mission Yvette”, begins with a dance number to a freestyle version of the Mission Impossible theme music. During the music, an announcer on tape gives Yvette her secret mission: save the fans from a terrorist who plans to blow up the concert hall. Just as in the movies the tape blows up and out of the smoke comes Yvette singing the hit single “Rub A Dub Dub”. Oh yes, and let's not forget that the audience gets to see Yvette's mission instructions, complete with graphics and effects, on a video projection screen.

“Sometimes the venue doesn't have any way to project the video so the fans miss out on that part" states a sympathetic Yvette.

Through the rest of Yvette's show, in addition to singing a number of dynamite tracks from her album, the terrorist manages to plant the bomb on the stage, Yvette's “Rub Agents” find and dispose of the bomb, and Yvette ultimately saves the day with her Kung-Fu style skills when the foiled terrorist tries to take someone hostage. Who would have known being a singer could be so dangerous!

With a hit album generating waves of excitement and a stage show that makes other singers fearful of having to go on stage after her, Yvette seems to have learned that her first love, singing, is also going to be her last love.

On the schedule for Yvette are more shows in California followed by a short trip to the Northwest, several performances in the Philippines and a major US tour next spring.

Fans interested in the business side of her career can visit the Say Music Inc. web site at http://www.saymusicinc.com. Fans who want to learn more about Yvette, download photos and videos, and get a chance to win free Yvette merchandise can visit her personal fan site at http://www.yvetteweb.com.

LOUIE REYES: Life of an immigrant star

September 2002

She began her professional career with an all female singing trio called Babsie, Chit and Louie, established herself as an accomplished performer with the popular New Minstrels, recorded and released several albums, and received standing ovations for her stage and theater performances in the Philippines and abroad. As the Philippines' Queen of Jazz, she performed with several mainstream jazz artists such as Joe Sample, Bob James, David Benoit, Noel Pointer and Dianne Reeves. She won international acclaim by bagging the grand prize trophy at the Seoul Song Festival, placing second at the First Asean Song Contest, and the Pacific Song Contest in Canada. Then, in 1992, she bagged the Green Room Theatre Award, Australia's version of the Tony, as Best Female Artist in a Supporting Role for her performance in "The King and I." The award was something she never expected, and never even knew she was nominated for, until the organizers called her from Australia to relay the news. And although she didn't get to receive the gold medallion in person (organizers sent it from Australia), the award cemented her status as one of the Philippines' best performing artists.

As a Filipino musical artist, Louie Reyes had attained the kind of success and respect most of her contemporaries in the entertainment field could only dream of. She also had it all: happily married to Cesar de la Fuente, her co-singer with the New Minstrels who eventually became her manager when she decided to go solo, and two adorable sons who seemed to have inherited their parents' musical genes.

But in the late '90s, and at the peak of their joint career, their two sons, Paolo and Miguel, expressed a desire to study in the the U.S. Paolo, then 16, wanted to study filmmaking and pursue a career in creative arts. On an impulse, Louie went to the U.S. embassy in Manila, lugging along a list of professional accomplishments longer than her arm, and applied for a permanent resident visa as an alien of extraordinary ability. The petition was approved in such a relatively short time, Louie says in hindsight, and she remembers laying awake the whole night with Cesar, pondering their incredulous good fortune but wondering even then what in heaven's name they ought to do now that a whole new future had opened up in front of them.

"It was very difficult to make that decision to leave our life, friends, success... and start all over in another country," Louie says. "But my husband and I were happy and content with what we had done in our lives and now, we thought, it was time to support the children's dreams and give them a chance at a better future."

Louie, Cesar and their two sons migrated to the U.S. in 1997, initially relying on relatives who were already longtime residents in California. "Their homes were of course the landing point and they were, still are, the ever reliable sources of info on everything from where to buy bangus, to how to use the newspapers' discount coupons," Louie says with a grin.

How did the family prepare for, and eventually manage, the transition from privileged lot to maidless household?

"Our kids were trained to help around the house very early on so there wasn't much trouble with the dreaded maidless household. All of us still wish we have the help but we cope...the reality that I was already living in the U.S. struck when I cleaned the banyo for the first time..." Louie reveals. She adds that "division of labor is practiced so it gives each member of the family a sense of responsibility and belonging."

Louie says the kids had an easier time adjusting to their new life, "being young more adventurous. Being older and migrating to the U.S. at this age, my husband and I tend to be more cautious (paranoid is the word our kids use). I can't help it sometimes ; after all, my idea of life in L.A. came from what I saw on t.v. and the movies."

Aside from relatives, Louie says their support system includes their church family: "Our church is a big morale booster and spirit lifter. Cesar and I give a big sigh of relief knowing that our two boys' barkada are church youth and not street thugs who could very well lead them to the path of drugs , alcohol and what have you. In fact, Paolo is our church's youth ministry head while the younger one, Miguel is the secretary. With these designations, they are tasked with organizing youth activities (camps, retreats, sports, parties, open forums etc. aside from regular Friday night Bible studies). Cesar and I, on the other hand, have been assigned to minister to the needs of the married couples in the church."

Within the karaoke-crazed Filipino-American community, Louie has found a steady stream of students eager to learn the rudiments of singing, either professionally or simply as a hobby. Also known as "voice teacher to the stars," Louie holds the distinction of being vocal coach to popular entertainers Joey Albert, Gino Padilla, Janice de Belen, Angelou de Leon, Donita Rose, Gelli de Belen, Dawn Zulueta, Nora Aunor, among others. As soon as she set foot in California, Louie shed her own star image and donned her teacher's cap, a profession she now lives by as she conducts voice classes for aspiring Fil-Am entertainers.

"I still manage to do a couple of shows a year -- a privilege I must say, since some of my colleagues have already retired. I am thankful for every chance to connect with an audience because it is always a pleasure to meet people from all walks of life. And of course, applause does warm the heart..." she admits with candor.

"The Fil-Am audience is the same with the homeland audience in one thing: both of them want to get their money's worth. Eighty percent of the Filipino populace can manage to sing so it is just natural for the karaoke-addicted Pinoy to expect that the performer he is paying to see is better than he. They want to see your guts on the floor as you reach your high notes. Definitely, they are more demanding than other foreign audiences who are easier to please. Maybe it's because foreigners never expect world class performances from third world singers. But the Fil-Am audience here is a little different -- they are somewhat kinder. They are just eager to see artists from 'Pinas whom they miss; and they will savor every moment. It must be like being able to eat manggang hilaw with bagoong, unrestricted," she muses.

Life as a "part-time" performer in America keeps Louie on her toes. Last month alone, she gave three performances : at the De la Salle University ( Manila ) Choir Concert in South San Fransisco last July 14, the former Bank of P.I. Employees Grand Reunion at the Pasadena Hilton on July 20, and during the Fil-Am Community Church Concert in Palm Beach, Florida on July 27. She says the whole month of August has been devoted to voice students she could not attend to because of the out-of-town engagements.

On September 7, she will perform in a full length concert in Houston, Texas to benefit the People Helping People Organization, fly back to Burbank, California the following day, allowing for a whole day to pack her bags and catch a flight to Manila on September 10 for the Dream Band Concert at the Music Museum in Greenhills on September 20 and 21. The concert will put together for the first time three members of the Circus Band ( Pat Castillo, Tillie Moreno and Hajji Alejandro ), and three members of the New Minstrels ( Ding Mercado, Eugene Villaluz and herself).

"I go home to the Philippines every year. The first time I went home was only a few months after migrating, to do a repeat at the Cultural Center of the Phil. of Nick Joaquin's Portrait of the Pilipino which Ryan Cayabyab turned into a musical," Louie says. She says she also gets together with other Filipino American artists and "occasionally hold gigs with them."

When she's not busy with gigs, Louie says she spends her time in Manila trying "to clean and organize the stuff I had left behind in my house there ... will I keep ? sell ? recycle ? throw? give away all that stuff?"

Putting her whole "house in order" includes fulfilling a dream of establishing a performing arts school here in America. "I'm praying to be given the resources to put up such a school. When this will happen, I leave to the Lord," Louie says.

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