When she was only a kid of five, she was always the star of every family gathering. She was always made to climb up on the table and sing. It was her very first stage, the witness to how her love for singing eventually sprouted. A couple of years later, her love for performing would grow and take root to have her standing before various crowds, singing not only to entertain them but to inspire them to dream and be in love.
Stephanie Patana Mananquil is among the budding song artists in Cebu who make the music industry continue to thrive. With her passion for singing and her dedication to entertain people, Stephanie performs not only for Cebuanos but for audiences in various parts of the country as well. “I started singing here in Cebu around 2011. My first stint gave birth to a series of front act performances for several artists in Manila and Laguna,” Stephanie said. It is a privilege for her to work with great performers in the industry. “They make me want to step up to become one of them someday.”
Aside from the voice lessons and rehearsals she takes from time to time, Stephanie whets her singing prowess through front act performances and taking time to listen to and learn from today’s popular artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Jessie J., and Nicki Minaj. The singer is hugely into Pop and RnB genres. “For the local artists, I adore Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez. I also love Sarah Geronimo because she’s a versatile artist who can both slay singing and dancing,” she said.
Stephanie also composes songs, something that she considers as her hobby. She said she keeps a notebook where she scribbles down her thoughts, experiences, and sentiments until they form into a song that people can identify with. Stephanie currently has five composed songs, of which one (titled “These Empty Words”) made it to her first and self-titled album released last year. “It is easy for me to compose songs when I’m heavy with emotions. ‘These Empty Words’ was born out of a heartbreak I experienced,” Stephanie said with a smile.
Making music is something that Stephanie wants to do for the rest of her life. It was only four years ago that she decided to fix her eyes on becoming a true-blue song artist. “Singing, for me, is not a job but more of a hobby through which you can inspire and entertain people. It is this feeling of fulfillment that I get from seeing people enjoy my performance that made me decide to embark on this for good.”
At present, Stephanie continues to tread the path of entertainment both as a solo artist and a member of the Cebuano-grown singing group Power Trio. As a young, eager, passionate, and committed artist, Stephanie aims to be a full-fledged singer in five years time and make appearances not only on concerts but on national television shows as well. “I want to get into the mainstream entertainment and be known as an organic Cebuana talent,” the 19-year-old singer said. For her long-term goal, Stephanie eyes on venturing into her own business. She’s interested in putting up her own clothing line.
Artists may come and go but artists like Stephanie Mananquil who is passionate about what she does will always keep an industry like music linger on. With the Cebuanos’ indomitable support for local artistry and music, Stephanie will definitely go places and continue to shine bright like a star.
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