Nina remembers late father’s ‘bittersweet’ role in her music journey

MANILA, Philippines, September 23 ------ Nina became one of Original Pilipino Music’s (OPM) most recognizable voices, thanks in large part to her father, Filbert Girado, who first taught her how to sing.

Interestingly, he would later dissuade her from pursuing music as a career. The hitmaker, who’s celebrating the 20th anniversary of her career-defining album “Nina Live!,’ recently looked back in an interview on the role her late father played in her music journey.

According to Nina, she inherited her musical genes from her father. Filbert had been a member of the Bayanihan Boys Choir and had also dreamed of becoming a singer himself. But he wanted her to take a more “conventional” career path. Nina, however, would start singing with a band in high school and then would continue doing so while taking up Accountancy in college. “Hindi ako nag-board exam. Basta sinabi lang ng daddy ko, ‘Tapusin mo lang.’ O, sige, para at least merong natapos. Yun ang usapan. Gusto pa nga ng daddy ko, accountant then lawyer. Ano ito, wala nang buhay?” she laughingly recounted.

Asked whether her father was still against her decision to pursue singing professionally after her studies, Nina said, “Yeah, oo. Kasi nakita niya na parang… kasi, frustrated din siya na singer… parang siguro nakita niya, ‘Walang pag-asa diyan!’ Kasi, wala namang nangyari sa kanya.”

His doubts and objections didn’t stop Nina. In fact, she was already recording music without telling him, hoping that one day, she could surprise him with an album. “Before pa ako magka-album, sabi niya, ‘Tumigil ka na, huwag ka nang kumanta.’ Hindi niya alam, gumagawa na ako ng album,” she shared. “So, nagre-record ako tapos hindi ko sinabi sa kanya. Parang gusto ko sana na makita na lang niya na may album na.”

But that moment, however, never came. “Noong naglabas ako ng album, wala na siya. Hindi niya nakita,” Nina said. Filbert passed away in 2000 due to a heart attack. “Heaven,” her debut studio album under Warner Music Philippines, came out in 2002 and became both a commercial and critical hit. It went on to peak at No. 1 on the PH Top 10 Albums Chart and was hailed for popularizing the “acoustic phenomenon” at that time.

Nina admitted that there’s a bittersweet feeling to the memory now. Though her dad was unable to witness what she has achieved since then in the industry, Nina appears to carry him with her through the music she has done.“Siya ang nagturo sa akin kumanta. Siya lahat. Wala… pero feeling ko, siya rin yung nag-guide sa akin,” she said.

Asked which of her songs is dedicated to him, she said, “Lahat yun, para sa kanya.” To date, Nina has been in the OPM scene for 24 years — going on 25, a milestone year, in 2027. The path getting there wasn’t smooth or straightfoward, with expected bumps along the way. For one, she confirmed having to deal with competition and bullying from fellow singers when she was just starting out. “Yes (I experienced it), noong nag-uumpisa ako, noong hindi pa ako (recording) artist,” she said. “Siyempre, co-singer mo, ‘di ba? Gusto niya mas mas magaling siya. Eh, ako, ano lang naman ako talaga ako. Hindi ako masyadong competitive.”

Rather than engage in rivalries, Nina said she preferred to let her singing speak for itself. “Kumbaga, I just sing, yun lang. Let my talent prove it, yun lang ang sa akin. Hindi ako nakikipag-away sa inyo. Kanta na lang tayo, parang ganun.” Nina is doing just that. She returns to the stage for “Nina XX The Anniversary Celebration: The Repeat” on Sept. 24 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, with Christian Bautista, Top Suzara and Thor as special guests.

Source: philstar.com