Competing in last year’s World Championship of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles, Panky Trinidad made her mark by bringing home awards in four different song genres. The 23-year-old singer, who first became popular via her stint in PinoyDreamAcademy Season 1 has definitely come a long way from being a punk rocker from Cebu.

But Panky has also had to deal with some issues. “Sabi nga nila, with great power comes great responsibility. And sometimes, ako, I know for sure na ang daming mga nasusulat sa akin na hindi magaganda. Pero yung masakit kasi, karamihan hindi totoo. Alam mo yun, ang sakit eh, siyempre I have to put on a brave front kasi yun yung nakita ng tao. Ayokong makita nila akong mag-breakdown. At saka nasasaktan ako kasi dahil ba matapang ako, because I look strong or because I’m brave, they think it’s okay to hurt me,” she shares. That’s why Panky considers her friends as blessings in times like these. “Natutuwa na lang ako kasi yung mga kaibigan ko na nakakakilala talaga sa akin, ‘pag may nagsasalita na kunwari, ‘Hindi ba masama ugali ni Panky? ‘Di ba mayabang yun?’Nagagalit sila. Dun na lang ako natutuwa kasi, I don’t want to speak for myself, pero you’ll know me ‘pag naging close tayo. I think na lang to myself na they can continue hating me, but I assure you, once they get to know me, they’ll change they’re mind,” she says.

Currently being managed by Kitchie Benedicto and Star Magic, Panky was able to perform in shows in the US last year. For 2009, she looks forward to hitting the road once again with her new band, Version 4.0. “Gustong-gusto ko yung mga out of the country stints. Kagagaling ko langsa States so sobrang lumaki ako kasi ang sarap kumain dun. Sa Version 4.0, apat kami pero bawat isa sa amin pinag-so-solo. I can do rock, so ‘pag gusto nila ng rock, puwede ako magsolo. Tapos yung isa naming band member, part siya ng Miss Saigon siya sa LondonWest End, so puwede rin siya. According to my manager, show band kami pero ‘pag pakakantahin kami isa-isa, puwede. So parang über-show band. Sobrang excited ako about it. Balita ko, sa Europe ‘ata kami this year so sana matuloy. I’ve never been there unlike my bandmates. Kasi bago lang ako kay Tita Kitchie. Yung mga kasama ko, ilang beses na nakapunta to Italy, France, Monacoat kung saan saan. Tapos pinapainggit nila ako kasi. Inggit ako sobra,” she says excitedly.

On her strong onstage persona, Panky offers no apologies except that she is not as bad as people make her seem. “It happens to everyone. Sobrang nama-magnify lang sa akin kasi showbiz personality. I mean, I’m sure there are people who will dislike you din. It happens to everybody pero I don’t want to dwell sa mga may ayaw sa akin kasi I want to focus my time sa mga taong gusto sa akin or gusto ako. Kasi parang nakakatanda yun eh, leave them be. Sila na lang yung sasakit ang ulo ‘pag pinapanuod ka nila, sasakit yung ulo nila kasi naaasar sila sa ‘yo. Ako na ito eh. As much as I hate to say this, hindi ako nagkaroon ng freedom dati. Kasi people perceive you to be something tapos ito yung gusto nila gawin. Siyempre gusto nila ako pabaitin. Paano ako papabaitin, hindi naman ako masamang tao? Minsan, na-fru-frustrate kasi ako, parang dapat mag-smile ka palagi, eh bakit ganun eh hindi naman ako nakasimangot palagi? Anyway, yun lang, ngayon sobrang confident ako sa ginagawa koparang, I put my heart and soul sa bawat decision na ginagawa ko at saka yung manager ko sobrang bait niya,” she relates.

When she’s not singing, Panky enjoys doing other hobbies like painting and playing billiards. “Kahit ano basta nag-re-revolve sa arts. I like playing billiards. Masaya kasi. Kinareer ko yun dati nung high school. I guess I can say I became very good at billiards. Naghihintay nga akong celebrity tournament. Sasali talaga ako,” she admits.

The self-confessed avid shoe collector also looks up to artists like Jimi Hendrix, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Sampaguita, Juan de la Cruz band, Razorback, and P.O.T. The rocker also thanks her fans for appreciating her work. “Natututuwa ako pag may mga nagsasabi sa akin ng ganyan. Sobrang nakakataba ng puso. It’s really different kapag lalapitan ka tapos sasabihin sa ‘yo na alam mo, ‘Kumanta ka ng Proud Mary. galing mo nun, yung ganun,” she admits.

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