SUNTOK sa buwan ang pangarap ni Iñigo Pascual noong bata pa siya na makapag-perform sa Staples Center (Downtown LA) na may 20,000 seating capacity ang hindi niya inaasahang matutupad.
Nitong Lunes, Nobyembre 18 ay nagtanghal ang binata sa halftime show ng NBA game ng Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder para sa Filipino Heritage Night.
Base sa post ng handler ni Iñigo na si Caress Caballero ng Cornerstone Entertainment, “Being able to sing your original compositions on an international stage is one of your sweet dreams that was just granted! SUPER PROUD OF YOU INIGO PASCUAL!
Mark Andrew Yulo, naniniwalang babalik sa kanila ang anak na si Carlos
NBA! #FilipinoHeritageNight #HalftimePerformer Thank you @roslynnc for making this happen! Thank you @tarsierrecords.”
May pinost din na video clip ng performance ng singer/actor na naririnig ang nakakabinging palakpakan lalo’t pamilyar sa kanila ang awiting Dahil Sa ‘Yo na umabot ng nine weeks sa Billboard Philippines Top 20. Kinanta rin ni Iñigo ang Catching Feelings.
Ikinuwento ni Iñigo sa kanyang Instagram account kung paano nagsimula ang pangarap niyang makapagtanghal sa Staples Center.
“I was 7 years old when I first saw the Staples Center in person. From that night I would literally say “I will perform in there One Day” Every time I passed by it.
“I knew it was near impossible but I repeatedly declared it a thousand times.
After 10 years I moved back to the Philippines, and
I passed by it again on the way to the airport leaving for Manila. I said, “Imma be back for you”
“I’ve grown to love and appreciate my homeland, language, and heritage deeply after moving back.
“I’m 22 now, and one of my personal goals as an artist is to be able to be part of that Generation that is able to bring OPM to the World Stage.
“I knew that I would forever be singing Tagalog songs still anywhere I go.7 to 22. I did not think this whole thing would happen.
I dreamt of performing at Staples Center and being able to share the music from my homeland. It was a dream. Performed at Staples Center in celebration of Filipino Heritage
Night for the Halftime of an NBA Game.
“I wanna thank the @laclippers and everyone who was part of making this night happen. TIWALA lang talaga. #Filipino HeritageNight @sthanlee.”
Kaliwa’t kanan naman ang pagbati kay Iñigo ng mga kasamahan niya sa music industry at mga kaibigan sa showbiz.
Hindi natuloy ang singing career ni Iñigo noon sa Amerika kung saan napasama siya sa bagong boyband na binuo noon ni Simon Cowell dahil umuwi siya ng Pilipinas ay mas naging maganda ang kapalit dahil nakilala siya bilang award winning solo artist.
Totoo nga ang sabi ng manager niyang si Erickson Raymundo noong bago palang si Inigo, “malayo mararating nitong batang ‘to, malalampasan niya kasikatan ng tatay niya (Piolo Pascual).”
Si Piolo naman ay kilala sa larangan ng pelikula na nakarating na sa iba’t ibang film festival.
-REGGEE BONOAN
