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Pinoy Bell's palsy survivor making waves in UAE music scene
AL AIN, United Arab Emirates—Bibo Mendoza will not let anything get in the way of his singing career. Not even Bell's palsy.
WebMD.com defines Bell's palsy as the paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of the face, causing that side to droop.
Although the 23-year-old Mendoza was able to recover, he began having difficulty in pronouncing several words.
“Um-okay naman ako after a few months. Kaso words with B, V, P, F, at TH [ay] mahirap pa rin sa akin lalo na I was working as a call center agent in Aramex that time,” he said.
With the support of his loved ones and social media contacts, Mendoza slowly regained his confidence.
“I gained back my confidence because of my friends and family na sinusuportahan ako all the way. Saka mga followers ko on different sites uplifting me and telling me na it will get better and kahit daw may Bell’s palsy ako, maganda pa rin naman daw yung napro-produce kong music,” he said.
“Bell's palsy cannot keep me from doing my passion. Kasi, music for me is life. Pag tinigil ko ‘to, para na rin akong nag-suicide.”
Roots
Born in Pasig, Mendoza started singing when he was just 3 years old.
“When I was 3 years old, my parents flew to work in Lebanon. So my grandmother—I call her Nanay Lilia—would send [them] voice tapes and she would always make me sing at the end part,” he narrated.
When he was in grade three, Mendoza represented his school, the Liberato Damian Elementary School, in a singing competition where he won third place. A bad experience and a competitor when he was in grade 5, however, derailed his momentum.
“I stopped when I turned Grade 5. Meron kasing transferee nun sa school na magaling talaga kumanta. Napahiya din ako nung nagkamali ako sa pagkanta ng ‘Lupang Hinirang.’ I had taken the key for a female voice kaya I was catching my breath all throughout the song,” he said.
Fortunately, he was able to bounce back. In high school, he tried to join “Search for a Star,” a GMA Network program hosted by Asia's songbird Regine Velasquez. Unfortunately, he did not pass the audition, although he believes it was more because of his appearance than lack of talent.
“I can't forget what the baldy guy told me: ‘Alam mo may boses ka kaso tiyan mo lang ang nakikita ko sa stage’,” he said.
But Mendoza persevered, and even considered a career shift.
“I also joined in ‘Pinoy Idol’ in MOA pero wala talaga. Sabi ko lang, ayoko mag-give up. I stopped singing and focused on dancing when I turned third year high school.”
And then he migrated to the United Arab Emirates.
In the UAE
From 2009 to 2012, Mendoza worked as a fruits and vegetable staff at the Lulu Hypermarket in Abu Dhabi. Encouraged by his sister, he once again tried his luck in singing contests.
“Yung Ate ko, si Ronalie Mandani, siya ang nag-push sa akin na sumali dun sa kauna-unahan kong contest dito sa Dubai nung 2010. Pinahiram din lang ako ng damit ng mga katrabaho niya,” he said.
It was then that his luck began to turn for the better.
“Nag-boom talaga ko when I was discovered by Direk Jing Patrick. Nanalo kasi ako sa pa-contest niya nun, yung 'Sessionista Night.' Siya rin yung mastermind ng trio namin ni RJ Francisco and Renzo Saforteza—R.N.B.,” he said.
Mendoza's most recent performance was during “The Original Hitmakers” concert with Top Suzara, Jinky Vidal, and Gloc 9.
He had also sung together with Jay-R, and had been the front act in the concerts of Juris Fernandez, Jimmy Bondoc, Princess Velasco, Luke Mijares, True Faith, Wency Cornejo, Sarah Geronimo, and Mark Bautista here.
“Singing is my cigarette, my vodka, my escape from all the anger and the pain,” Mendoza said. “Singing is my way of communicating through people’s minds to their heart and soul. Singing is a part of me that completes every piece of me. It is my passion. My love. My life.” — KBK, GMA News
