"We play in this world full of perspectives. Until you've seen the nooks and crannies, and visited the corners and the sides— always, always choose to be kind." — PABLO
The earth is surrounded by a vast universe. An abyss decorated with rocks that looks like shining lightbulbs from afar. For humans looking up, they look so beautiful that they give us a reason to believe in things that cannot be explained by science. They help us dream of something better than the dark clouds that have been looming over us for as long as we could remember. Life is the same as the universe. It is full of uncertainty and the unknown. As we go through life, we would discover many things that we didn't even think exist.
Along the way, we will be hit by a meteorite that would destroy everything we hold dear. When we get to this point, it would feel like there is no getting back up again. Once every generation, there would be someone who would light up a torch that could give hope to humanity like the brightest star in the night sky. Mahatma Gandhi led India to independence without violence. For over 200 years, the country was under the British colonialism and he helped his people. He was known for his high intelligence, non-violent and reformist ideologies. There are many people all over the world in different generations that helped shape the world or inspire people in their own way.
In this generation here in the Philippines, there is one person who has inspired people so much. It was not just because of his talent or fame, but the way he live his life and his wisdom. This person's name is John Paulo Nase also known as PABLO. He started his career in 2018 after a few years of training. At first, he thought he would become a solo artist but then he was placed in a group. Since then, he embraced the role of being a leader to four individuals with unique personalities and stories. They've been through metaphorical and literal hell along the way but look at them now, still together.
He is not just a pretty face who can sing and dance. There is something in his voice and the way he sings that touches the heart of anyone who would have the honor of watching him. Out of the million voices out there, it takes rare breed to have a voice that seeps into a person's soul. PABLO is one of those rare breeds. His voice coupled with his profound ability to write can give birth to the most beautiful songs of this generation, yet what makes him standout from all the rest is his entire personality.
PABLO walks the talk in all ways. As their group advocates for PPOP Rise, we often see him cheer for any PPOP group out there. Watsons Playlist concert was one of the best example. As VJ Ai called the names of the groups that performed in the concert, everyone saw how he clapped and cheered for all of them. His mindset has never been about himself but for his group and how he could help others. The way he talks to the media, to the fans, and the public in general inspires goodness and kindness that this world badly needs.
I became an A'tin this year and I've already witnessed a few issues that involved or within the fandom. One of those was when a Hatdog got involved in an issue with the volleyball community. It didn't take long for PABLO to jump in and remind everyone of humility and kindness. It was the first time I ever saw a celebrity remind fans like that and it made me so proud. As the year progressed, we witnessed his growth as an artist and it was a wonderful sight. This was a fruitful year for him and I am certain that we could expect so much more. For now, the year would end with his Hatdogs massively proud of him and his achievements.
Here is to more years of wisdom, artistry, and good health for you, Pinuno.
Haters, trolls, bashers, and even some OT1s and P-phobics casted doubts on PABLO's ability to be a The Voice Generations Kids' Coach. Many laughed when most kids didn't pick him during the blind auditions. Still considered a rookie in the industry, he surely had so much to prove, and he did. All of PABLO's kids were all young, mostly inexperienced, and unpolished. They were the underdogs compared to the other contenders who all had powerful voices and experiences. But PABLO being PABLO, he turned his disadvantage to a massive advantage.
Even with adults, it is easy to teach the inexperienced ones as long as they are willing to learn and grow. He saw something in those children that made him determined to bring out their potentials, and he definitely did. With the viral sing offs performance of Shamchienel, Keith, and Hannah that melted the hearts of many, PABLO's ability to teach had already been evident. He grouped his kids based on not just the timbre or range of their voices, but their personality as well. The comments from casuals who watched their performance through the livestream or from those uploaded online, were all praises and shock. Many couldn't believe that kids who didn't get four-chair turns could manage to pull off such an amazingly emotional performance.
His choice of contestants was questioned even by his own fans, which was understandable because The Voice Kids was a competition after all. Eventually, it became clear that PABLO is truly never conventional. His choices were well thought off and are intellectually calculated. His kids may be inexperienced and without powerful impact to most in the beginning, but he saw, or rather heard their hearts and soul. He witnessed their passion and determination. From the moment he took them under his wing, his mind was set that he will hone those kids into something nobody thought they could be. Sounds impossible if you ask me, but if you look at his group and the way his brothers' careers are going, you would realize that nothing is impossible for someone like John Paulo Nase.
MacMac, Jelo, and Nevin moved everyone to tears with their rendition of A Million Dreams. Their innocent and sweet voices touched many people's hearts, showing us that dreams are precious and they can turn into reality. They gave us hope, which is something that we badly need nowadays. These three boys showed us that even in the midst of a competition, three contenders can sing as one and give a magnificent performance, just like the three girls. With SB19, they all have distinct voices and characteristics, but when they sing or dance together, they become one. He applied that same technique to his kids, and it didn't just work. The result was magnificent.
Even Seren, Samantha, and Christina left a mark with their performance of The Climb. Every song his team used was rearranged to fit the kids and maximize their singing ability. PABLO is not someone who would rely solely on power vocals. As a storyteller and emotional performer himself, he always ensures that his performances will leave a lasting impression on his viewers. He always aim to tell a story and deliver a message, which he does every single time. The improvements of the kids on his team was palpable as the competition progressed.
There was one kid who broke his heart during the blind auditions. Ziha Gabio was a child songwriter and singer. She has a wonderful voice, and PABLO wanted her in his team, but she chose Coach Julie. In the end, Ziha still ended in Tropa Ni Pablo. As the competition went on, PABLO proved himself as a capable artist with the ability to teach others how to reach their full potential. One stood out the most from Tropa ni Pablo and his name was Nevin Garceniego. A kid with a bright smile, humble attitude, and a massive talent. He left a mark in each and every performance he had after the blind audition. With each performance, people could see how much he'd improved and praised him for it.
During the sing offs, Nevin sang Shine, a song originally sang by Regine Velasquez. It was a remarkable performance, not only because of the kid's impeccable talent, but because of what he did. While singing the chorus, he walked towards PABLO, as if dedicating the song to him. How beautiful it is to watch a child, fighting for his dream, sing a song to honor a person who's been helping him reach his full potential? But if people would watch closely, they would realize that what PABLO built during this year's season was not just a team. It was a family, and the kids in his team learned to love one another. It wasn't surprising that Nevin was the one he chose to move on to the finals, but it was still evidently a hard decision. Christina fought a good fight, and she has a bright future ahead of her.
PABLO said Nevin would give a great performance, and he wasn't lying. On one of Nevin's Facebook posts, he said that he will make his coach proud, and he wasn't kidding. This talented kid gave May Bukas Pa a whole different flavor and made it his own. A skill that not many singers could do. He poured his heart and soul into his performance, and the people resonated with him. It was truly one for the books, and an unforgettable one at that. Nevin gave everything he's got to show people why he deserved to win, and in the end, the people's hearts all whispered his name.
PABLO taught him that emotion is just as important as hitting the high notes. You can sing a simple song and still get the people's attention if you sing from the heart, and Nevin listened. His eyes spoke the words his mouth uttered and delivered it to the viewers straight to their hearts. They were the perfect duo with PABLO's undeniable talent in music and Nevin's dedication and willingness to learn. This kid proved himself worthy of the title, and he got it.
Look at how proud PABLO was of Nevin. His eyes beaming with pride for the artist that Nevin has become. This duo will surely have many projects together.
