WHEN he
was in Davao, not a single entertainment bar wanted to hire him. Even local TV
stations avoided to tap him in shows.
Now, the
ugly-duckling Dodong Pasagad is making wave in Manila anew.
Not only
he is performing in various first-class venues as opening act for Bossa Nova
Queen Sitti, Dodong is starting to appear anew on national TV.
Last Monday,
he made his ABS-CBN debut performing with singing icon Rey Valera serenading
host Bernadette Sembrano, who was celebrating her birthday in the early morning
magazine show, Umagang Kay Ganda.
"Lipay
kaayo ko," Dodong texted TIMES yesterday. "Hinaot ko na
padayon na ni."
He is now
handled by the team that also manages Sitti, the singer who helped him in going
back to Manila.
Dodong, a
first batch finalist of NCCC’s Star of Davao, said his manager, Garrie, is
working to have him appear in other Kapamilya shows.
The
pitete Dodong is now regularly performing at Stone House and Star Tavern Bar, a
place where Sitti and Tony Gonzaga used to perform. Next month, Dodong will be
performing in one of the Casion branches in Manila.
His UKG
performance, where showbiz host Ogie Diaz called him Palos for his
signature cap similar to that of Palos’, was his first national TV performance
since 2005.
Dodong first
broke into the national TV via the singing reality show, MTV Supahstar,
in the music cable network MTV Pilipinas, in 2004. Among the contestants was
the newcomer Sitti who would later became the Queen of Bossa Nova.
The Davao
boy ended as one of the runners-up in that contest. But his life story created
an impact that the Kapuso network signed him for a Magpakailanman episode.
The story, Bernabe Dodong Pasagad Story: Palimos ng Pangarap, was aired
on March 3, 2005 with Eat Bulaga’s Jose Manalo playing his role
and veteran actor Eddie Garcia in support. The show earned a 28 percent rating
compared to the 16% from the rival network.
But after
promoting his Magpakailanman episode in various Kapuso shows, Dodong’s
popularity faded as GMA7 did not give him any more project.
Dodong
returned to Davao where he again championed in joining amateur singing
contests.
He
appeared in the local GMA channel but it did not last long when the variety
show Singgit Davao folded up in 2005. He was no longer invited in the replacement
show.
Dodong
tried his luck in ABS-CBN Davao but got no reply.
His
singing carreer flopped as organizers of local singing contests refused to
accept him as contestant after knowing that he already competed in Manila.
He
applied in various entertainment bars, but was readily turned down even before
he could perform.He cited that his "not-so-appealing" appearance
could have prompted bar owners to reject him.
With
lesser singing contests in line, Dodong continued to roam the city selling
brooms produced by a foundation that helped the blind.people. His father is
blind.
But when
the operation of the foundation folded up, Dodong tried his luck in Manila with
the encouragement of Sitti. He arrived in Manila last January 5, the same day
that another Davaoeño, Ruben Gonzaga, won millions of pesos in the reality
show, Pinoy Big Brother.
Dodong
said he wants to work with Ruben in future, a dream that might not be too far
to reach.
