Her name was immortalized in the entertainment business, most especially in the music scene when she interpreted the song ‘Kung Ako Na Lang Sana’ at the Himig Handog Love Songs songwriting competition in ABS-CBN. But do you wonder how Bituin Escalante was discovered? You’ll be surprised it was accidental.
Nagka-sakit ako, dinare ako mag-audition sa isang play for Celeste Legaspi and Nestor Torre, and that was my first. Nestor Torre directed it, Celeste Legaspi produced it and then after that, sunod-sunod na,” she started.
Then jokes about how she continued on doing theater, “Ayoko nang umalis, hindi na ako bumalik ng paaralan, ‘wag kayong sumundo sa akin. Pero marami naman iba’t ibang daan. So, maski undergrad ka, you can have the life you want.”
But fast forward to 2003, Bituin joined the songwriting competition Himig Handog Love Songs in ABS-CBN to interpret the song ‘Kung Ako Na Lang Sana,’ which won the grand prize and forever will be one of the go-to songs for videoke fans and those who wants to emote whenever they want.
And now, twenty years later, Bituin is judging as a hurado in the popular singing competition in It’s Showtime, ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan.’
“Now, swerte ko na may pelikula (Cinemalaya’s Ang Duyan ng Magiting) tapos biglang nasa public eye naghu-hurado sa Tawag ng Tanghalan. Napaka-good vibes, napaka-saya, kasi ‘yung packed lunch ng It’s Showtime, isa sa pinaka-masarap na packed lunch sa industriya. That’s how you love your production, you feed your people well. And seeing my co-singers and co-actors every afternoon, bonding with them, and learning from the contestants,” Bituin shares as she enthusiastically talk about being part of Tawag ng Tanghalan.
But what type of hurado is Bituin Escalante?
“I’m not a kontesera, isa akong artista. Background ko ‘yan bilang theater person. So, when I see a contestant at masaya ako sa pagkwento niya ng kanta at meron naman siyang boses and it doesn’t have to be a voice that, ‘yung parang blown away tayong lahat kasi iilan lang naman ang ganung boses. Tsaka ‘yung magagaling sa aitn, boses ba talaga or ‘yung ability magkwento? So kapag narinig ko ‘yun sa isang contestant, I tend to favor them. Also, as a performer, I’m not a perfect singer. I do notice I have my flats, I have my sharps, so kung kaming mga professional nagkakaroon ng ganung mali, mas forgiving ako sa contestant.”
Upcoming Christmas Song
“This Christmas, I’m releasing a Christmas song na magpapaiyak sa inyo. I mean, I’m sure a lot of us nangungulila tuwing pasko and may bago na namang paraan para ikwento ‘yung ganung experience. It’s actually part of an entire concept na unit-unting lalabas.
Watch our interviews of Bituin Escalante below:
HYPE MANIA 