Napaluha si Karl Zarate nang i-announce niya noong Hulyo 22 sa kanyang eponymous YouTube channel (216K subscribers) na pasok siya sa singing competition na Asian Dream.
“Today is the best day of my life. Oh, my gosh. Today has come! Today has come! Dumating na po ang pinakamalaking announcement sa buhay ko!” masayang bulalas ni Karl.
“This will be my first-ever international show!
“Hindi na po ito prank! Hindi na po ito joke! Hindi na po ito biro! Karl Zarate… first-ever international show! Oh, my gosh!”
Hindi napigilan ni Karl na umiyak nang mapanood for the first time ang teaser ng reality competition, kung saan kabilang siya sa anim na singers na ime-mentor nina Michael Bolton at Morissette Amon.
Nag-world premiere ang reality singing competition noong Agosto 6, Huwebes ng 7:25 PM sa AXN.
Katunggali rito ni Karl sina Becky Yeung (Hong Kong), Linh Tran (Vietnam), Sasha Ka (Thailand), Poova Sri Rama (Malaysia), at Tyen Rasif (Singapore).
Ang winner ay magpe-perform sa Asian Dream concert tour with Michael Bolton next year, at magiging Subaru Ambassador.
Pitong episodes ang Subaru Original Series na Asian Dream, na ginanap sa Singapore.
Iba’t ibang physical and mental challenges ang pinagdaanan ng contenders upang umabot sa final showdown.
So far, kumusta ang journey ni Karl sa Asian Dream?
“Sobrang nakakatuwa and nakaka-excite because this is my first ever international singing reality TV show and never pa po ako nakalabas ng Pilipinas,” lahad ni Karl nitong Agosto 28, Biyernes, via email.
“First time ko mag-travel at nakakatuwa na na-overcome ko yung fear ko na mag-travel mag-isa, pero may halong kaba pa rin.
“Kasi, dati, parang barangay and city ko lang yung nire-represent ko. ‘Tapos, ngayon, buong Pilipinas na at isang malaking karangalan na nakatrabaho ko ang living legend na si Michael Bolton at ang isa pa sa pride ng Pilipinas na si Morissette Amon.
“Masaya rin, kasi, very welcoming yung buong crew and production team at sobrang inalalayan po nila kami sa lahat from head to toe na para kaming isang pamilya for the entire month na magkakasama sa show.
“Kaya noong umuwi na ako ng Pilipinas, sobrang sepanx po talaga ako at nami-miss ko pa rin sila until now, at sigurado akong babalik-balikan ko ang Singapore.”
LEARNING FROM MUSIC ICONS
Masaya si Michael Bolton na maging mentor sa Asian Dream.
Ang sabi ng 67-anyos na multi-Grammy award winner sa media release, “I am thrilled to be partnering with Subaru Asia to find some of the best and brightest stars in the region and helping them rise to their full potential.
“Although I was signed at the age of 16, it took me eighteen years to break through, so I feel I can relate to these young artists’ aspirations.
“It takes more than just a great voice or an x-factor to make it in the music business; it also takes commitment and drive, values…”
Maliban kay Michael, resident judge din ng Asian Dream ang Asia’s Phoenix na si Morissette.
“Hindi ako makapaniwala noong first time ko sila na-meet,” kuwento ni Karl.
“Even si Morissette, sa Singapore ko po siya unang na-meet. Nung mine-mentor na nila kami, para pa rin akong nananaginip.
“Kasi, dalawang music icon na sobrang tinitingala ng buong mundo ay nagkaroon kami ng chance na marinig yung stories and tips nila at kung anu-ano pa yung mga napagdaanan nila during na nagsisimula pa lang sila hanggang sa naging successful na sila.
“Eto na po siguro ang best experience ko sa buong singing career ko.”
Anu-ano ang natutunan niya sa Asian Dream?
“Natutunan ko po na dapat hindi lang sa strengths mo ikaw mag-focus. Dapat, pati rin sa weaknesses mo,” pahayag ni Karl.
“Natutunan ko rin mag-English nang diretso sa show na ito. Ha-ha-ha! At natutunan ko rin kung paano ma-adopt yung iba’t ibang culture at way ng pakikisama sa iba, since kaming anim na contestant ay galing sa iba’t ibang parts ng Asia.
“At yung pinakanatutunan ko emotionally is kung paano mag-handle ng stress na mag-isa at maging independent since malayo ako po sa pamilya at kaibigan ko at that time.
“Para bang naging OFW ako for a month. Hindi pala biro yung mga ganun.”
GETTING CLOSE WITH OTHER CONTESTANTS
Paano ang dynamics o interaction niya sa kapwa challengers?
“Noong una, medyo nahihiya pa po ako mag-approach pero nung tumagal, naging close kami sa isa’t isa to the point na para kaming magkakapatid.
“Hiraman ng gamit, bigay ng advices, sabay-sabay pa kami mag-breakfast every day.
“Minsan, pag maaga natatapos yung shoot, nagdi-dinner kami sa labas. Ganun kami ka-clingy sa isa’t isa at sobrang bait nila.
“Until now, kahit magkakalayo kami, palagi pa rin kami nagkakamustahan at nag-uusap. Especially Becky, Linh, and Sasha.”
Ano ang expectations niya sa paligsahang ito?
“My expectation is maraming taong makakadinig at makakita ng talent namin internationally, and for sure, maraming makaka-appreciate at may iilan din siguro na hindi kami magugustuhan.
“Pero ine-expect ko rin na sana, marami pang trabaho ang dumating sa amin after the show, and more international viewers on my YouTube channel.”
GUEST CELEBRITIES
Kabilang sa guest celebrities ng Asian Dream sina:
Fashion Photographer Yu Tsai (United States of America), actress Tan Kheng Hua (Singapore), singer Sara Wee (Singapore), choreographer Alif Archo (Singapore),
Singer and Subaru Ambassador Mild Nawin (Thailand), singer and actress Janine Weigel (Thailand), musician Thanh Bui (Vietnam), singer and actress Ho Ngoc Ha (Vietnam),
Asia’s Next Top Model Season 6 winner and Subaru Ambassador Dana Slosar (Thailand), and Asia’s Next Top Model Season 6 runner-up Mia Sabathy (Taiwan).
The contestants are mentored by the guest celebrities to hone their skills as performers and thereafter compete head-to-head.
These give the contestants an opportunity to understand what is needed on the journey to becoming a professional singer.
Asian Dream is produced by Refinery Media in association with Passion Films.
Maliban sa AXN, napapanood ang Asian Dream sa official website at YouTube channel ng Subaru Asia.
AXN is available in the Philippines on Cignal Channel 121, GSat Channel 21 and SKY cable Channel 49.
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Originally published on PEP.
