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KZ Tandingan reveals how Himig Handog saved her career: ‘I thought it was over for me’

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Rhea Manila Santos

<p>After winning Best Song in this year’s Himig 11th Edition competition for the song “Marupok,” KZ Tandingan said it was easier to relate to her new song versus the more heartbreaking compositions she has performed in the past.</p><p>“Itong ‘Marupok’ naman kasi parang wala akong kilala na hindi nakaka-relate dito sa kanta na ‘to. They can deny, they will deny, people have denied na marupok sila. But I am pretty sure na lahat tayo marupok. Most of the time sa tao, but some of us marupok sa mga bagay na alam nating makakasama sa atin like ako may mga pagkain na bawal sa akin because my body rejects them. But dahil masarap, hindi ko pinapakinggan yung katawan ko (laughs).</p><p>“So parang yun yung inisip ko, ano ba yung mga bagay na mag-ti-trigger ng aking pagiging marupok? So it was so easy to tell this story and ang ganda kasi nung pagkasulat nung song. She turned it into something positive eh. Na pagka in-acknowledge mo na marupok ka, so now that you know it, alam mo na kung ano ang iiwasan mo,” she shared.</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/3/3/fresh-scoops/kz-tandingan-to-sing-first-ever-filipino-disney-tr-192045"><u><strong>READ:</strong></u></a><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/3/3/fresh-scoops/kz-tandingan-to-sing-first-ever-filipino-disney-tr-192045"><u><strong>KZ Tandingan to sing first-ever Filipino Disney track</strong></u></a></div><p>Before winning in 2014, KZ revealed what she considered a low point in her life in showbiz.</p><p>“May point kasi sa career ko dati na I thought it was over for me sa industry na ‘to. Na wala ng nangyayari, I was already planning to just uproot my life dito sa Manila and go back to Mindanao. And biglang dumating yung Himig Handog and I go to interpret ‘Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako’ and that catapulted me to where I am today. I will forever be thankful to Himig Handog dahil sa opportunity na yun and I am thankful na after Himig Handog, after nung ‘Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako’, I still got to interpret naman now ‘Marupok,’” she said.</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2014/9/30/fresh-scoops/kz-tandingan-on-winning-himig-handog-ppop-love-son-81768"><u><strong>READ:</strong></u></a><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2014/9/30/fresh-scoops/kz-tandingan-on-winning-himig-handog-ppop-love-son-81768"><u><strong>KZ Tandingan on winning Himig Handog P-Pop Love Song: ‘Sobrang blessed’</strong></u></a></div><p>Now that she is older and wiser about love and life, the 29-year-old singer is proud to have weathered the many challenges these past few years. “Actually, dahil sa mga pinagdaanan ko na yun, now I know myself better. Now I know what triggers my pagiging marupok. So ngayon kaya ko na siyang iwasan. Pag may mga tao may mga sinasabi sa akin, i-do-double check ko what this means. Baka iba yung isipin ko, baka ito yung mangyari, baka ganyan. So ngayon mas naaalagaan ko yung sarili ko dahil sa mga pinagdaanan ko. I had to go through those things para makilala ko yung sarili ko. Ngayon I know better. I hope I know better (laughs),” she added.</p><p>As one of the country’s most in demand performers, KZ saod she will always be open to collaborating with new songwriters and singers. “I think it’s also my responsibility na as a singer, as a musician, especially na may ganitong platform na more people get to hear what I sing and get to hear the music na nilalabas ko, it’s my responsibility na sumuporta sa mga new breed of songwriters and singers. So I think interpreting Daniella’s (Balagtas, the composer) song was the least I could do, parang ganun. Hindi naman namimili ng tao ang pag-learn ng lesson. I can learn from somebody in elementary and I can learn from a person who’s in his 60s or 70s. Ang dami mong matututunan sa mga taong na-mi-meet mo everyday and ako, even sa mga tao na wala sa music industry, ang dami mong matututunan sa kanila na na-a-apply mo sa kung ano yung bagay na ginagawa mo.</p><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="444" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wfkpSMFPsew" title="YouTube video player" width="789"></iframe></div><p>“And I am very thankful that I worked with Danielle kasi nanggagaling siya sa ibang anggulo sa pagsulat ng isang kanta and that’s something that we need lalong lalo na sa OPM ngayon. We need to be open to everything kasi music is constantly evolving and hindi tayo kailangan mag-stick lang sa kung ano yung mga formula na mag-wo-work sa music industry in the past. It’s time to revolutionize everything and ang isang step para gawin yun is to listen to the people who know what is current, who know kung ano yung mga bagong technology para makagawa ng mga ganitong tunog. So be open minded. Kahit saang anggulo tingnan mo kasi ang dami dami mong bagay na matututunan,” she explained.</p><p>After Himig 11th Edition, KZ shared her plans to release solo songs within the year as well as working on collaborations with other local artists. With the recent announcement of GCQ in Metro Manila, KZ said her travel plans with husband TJ Monterde are put on hold. “I actually wanted to go back to Mindanao and visit my family pero medyo mahirap siya ngayon so I might just stay dito lang sa bahay kasama ang aking husband. Baka yun na lang muna and siyempre be with my family online na lang,” she said.</p>

Himig 11th Edition winning interpreter KZ Tandingan reveals the lowest point in her singing career. 