Words by Joseph Cesar
Photos by Trisha Diaz de Rivera and Maxine Lim
The spotlight is on Angelina Cruz as she launches her very first EP titled, “Angelina”. Coming from a family of singers and showbiz personalities, the pressure is ramped up even more as she tries to meet expectations in both her singing career and student life.
Despite the fame from her trending singles, “Sumilong Ka” and her lovely rendition of an Orange and Lemons classic “Hanggang Kailan (Umuwi Ka Na Baby)” which reached 1.6 and 2.3 million hits respectively, she is still a teenager at heart.
Angelina with her mom, actress Sunshine Cruz
At a young age of 16, it is no doubt that Angelina has already achieved more than many teens. However, she did not do it alone. Making it into the industry was made possible with the help of her ever-supportive mom, Sunshine Cruz, who is also known to be a great singer. During the press conference, she constantly mentioned the great influence her mom had on her throughout her journey.
Although blessed with proper guidance and mentorship, Angelina still faces challenges. One of which is balancing her growing singing career and responsibilities as a student. As a senior high school student of La Salle Zobel, much like any high school teenager, she tends to get swamped with projects and requirements. She admits that juggling those two roles is very difficult, especially because both demand a lot of her time. During these times, however, she shared her trick to proper balance:Â prioritizing.
In this case, she prioritizes her studies over her career, showing maturity. At a young age, she understands the importance of schooling. According to Angelina, “Of course, school comes first. Sometimes, I won’t perform during the weekends when I have exams or school projects.”
Learning her difficulties as a young singer, we asked her what advice she can give to those aspiring to be singers as well, to which she responded, “Practice, practice, practice.” Angelina is a firm believer that there are no shortcuts to success and shows it in her work ethic. Despite the heavy workload in school, she manages her time properly in order to also hone her skills in singing and continuously improve.
Finally, Angelina wants to impart to people that she is her own person, “I don’t want to be known just as the daughter of celebrities…” she says. Needless to say, she wants to make a name for herself and she believes that her music is an avenue to do just that.
With all that being said, you can listen to Angelina’s angelic voice in her new EP titled, “Angelina”. Of course, also stay tuned for her upcoming songs and collaborations with other singers and celebrities!
Angelina Cruz
Facebook: @angelinacruzmontano
Instagram: @angelinaisabele
Twitter: @angelinaisabele
Spotify: @angelinacruz
