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'Star in a Million' 2003 finalist DK Tijam moved to Canada in 2006.

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DK Tijam 08152024

Leah C. Salterio

MANILA -- Two decades after DK (Dean Kristofer) Tijam competed on <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">“Star in a Million” in 2003, he never left the music scene. Even after he migrated to Canada, he still continued performing.Tijam’s “Star in a Million” experience apparently changed his life. “Star in a Million’ has a special place in my heart,” Tijam said. “It has impacted my life in so many ways.“One being that I was introduced to Philippine TV and that’s why up to now, I find it heartwarming that some people who watched the show still recognize me [on social media].“Secondly, I’ve gotten a chance to do what I love and earn something because of it. I wasn’t always doing music in Canada and around 2010, I almost gave up on it, but I found out after much thought that my love and passion for music are synonymous to my existence.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1723701745568IMG_6675.JPG" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="&#x27;Star in a Million&#x27; alum DK Tijam returns to PH for concert"/></div>It was in 2006 when Tijam moved to Canada. “That has got to be one of the most pivotal decisions I’ve ever made in my life in my early 20s,” he admitted. “A few years after the move, that was only when it really hit me hard.“I missed my family, I missed my friends and the life I thought I wouldn’t miss. When you’re young, your perspective hasn’t grown yet and your decision-making isn’t the most reliable.“I’ve always believed in kindness, but I was a rebel during those younger years. I wanted to try something new. But yes, I had some regrets back then. Having said that, I’ve accepted and embraced the life I chose. Now I’m happy, truly.”Tijam worked as a vocal coach in Toronto teaching children and teenagers about singing. The job was really fulfilling for him“In 2016, I had the chance to teach in a class and it was emotionally fulfilling,” Tijam said. “The smiles on their [my students] faces during and after their performance moved me.“They’ve made me realize that one of my purposes in life is to guide and mentor them, the younger generation of Filipino-Canadians to become not just great artists or performers, but also two more things.“One is for them to be authentic storytellers of songs through their emotions, style and technique mainly with Original Pilipino Music [OPM]. While the other is for them to become a good role model that promotes kindness, humility and excellence through their music, actions and words.“Until now, I find it highly intoxicating when I hear compliments from the audience to my students.”Aside from music, Tijam delves into cinematography and color grading in Toronto. “I’ve also been working with my friend who’s a music producer from L.A. and we’re in the process of making more projects together,” Tijam said.He did his first homecoming concert in Manila in 2017. “Restart” was the title of the concert held at Teatrino in Greenhills, with Kyla and Tim Pavino joining him onstage.“Erik Santos, who was our grand winner of ‘Star in a Million,’ along with three other batchmates shared the stage with me during a mini-reunion segment. It was very heartwarming.“Froilan Canlas, who happens to be a very close friend of mine, sang with me as well, he was the second runner-up of ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’s’ first season. I also brought with me four of my young students from Canada and we had a blast experiencing the concert together.“Earlier this year, I had an epiphany. I thought to myself if I don’t focus on my music this year, when would I? As we get older, we realize how fleeting life is hence it’s best if we seize the day and do the things we love the most and make the most of it while we still can.” Tijam opted for August to return to Manila and stage another concert. “I originally intended to have a recital type of a show at Teatrino Promenade,” he said. “When Cris Mananquil mentioned to me that Music Museum was also available, I instantaneously wanted to book it there instead.“Back in high school, every time I’d pass by Greenhills, I’d be in awe whilst I daydreamed of having my own show there. San Juan City is my hometown and personally I’d argue that Music Museum is synonymous to our city.“I could’ve chosen a later date, but August seemed to be the most fitting as both in the Philippines and Canada, the ‘ber’ months are way packed with events.”Tijam will be joined onstage by Dessa and Troy Laureta in the Music Museum concert. Laureta will be their musical director.“I’ve known Ms. Dessa as an artist since I was in grade school and I’m mentioning this now because I want to emphasize how much love and respect I have for her craft. I look up to her.“Her Metropop entry in 1998, ‘Bring Back the Times,’ was so iconic to me that until now, I still remember her signature short hair and her impeccable vocal prowess.&quot;One time at a bar I used to perform at, she did a mini-show and she hit those high notes flawlessly – mind you, she had colds and flu then.”One of the blessings Tijam received during the pandemic was meeting Dessa virtually. “We eventually gotten closer and we performed together on the live-streaming app, Kumu, numerous times and for us, we did a successful run together.“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Dessa and I becoming really close friends, like a brother and sister kind of close. And being close friends comes with its perks, one of them is that I’d get an invite to perform with her live on stage and the other is I get to invite her, as well.“Dessa agreed to do the show with me in a heartbeat and less than a week after our first conversation about the show, she mentioned the possibility of getting Troy [Laureta] on board with us.“You see, I’m a fan of Troy, too. I know of his success story and his countless achievements because of his greatness, talent and hard work.“Troy would sometimes drop by my live stream on Kumu and I never told him this, but I was always in disbelief that someone as good as him would watch me. In short, I was in awe.&quot;I don’t know if you’d call it being intimidated or feeling unworthy, but I really felt that way while he watched my streams not because Troy was rude or acting negatively, quite the opposite because actually, the guy is genuinely humble and kind. So when Ms. Dessa told me that Troy is joining us, it took hours before it finally sunk in mentally.”Aside from “Till Your Heartaches End,” a reimagined Ella May Saison original, Tijam recorded other songs as a solo artist.“For years I’ve been writing my own original songs,” he granted. “Let’s see what happens once we get a chance to share them to the world. Exciting indeed!”“By Request” on August 16 at the Music Museum also features Kayleigh Cerezo, Keena Cerezo, Antoinette Targa, Chelsea Star and Bella Magabag.<div> </div><div> </div>

'Star in a Million' alum DK Tijam returns to PH for concert

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'Star in a Million' alum DK Tijam returns to PH for concert

Leah C. Salterio

Published Aug 15, 2024 02:34 PM PHT

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Star in a Million

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DK (Dean Kristofer) Tijam

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