Jan Angelo Batongbakal

Remember Chad Peralta from ‘Pinoy Dream Academy’? Here’s what he’s doing now

Article (news)

Push Team

If you were a regular viewer of Pinoy Dream Academy back then, Chad Peralta is definitely a name you’ll remember.He may have stepped away from the spotlight for some time, but that silence should never be mistaken for surrender. He never truly stopped; he simply chose a different path.When news of the Pinoy Dream Academy: 20th Anniversary Reunion Concert came out, Chad admitted he wasn’t instantly excited about it. &quot;At first, naisip ko talaga, &#x27;Kailangan pa ba &#x27;to? Twenty years na ang lumipas,&#x27;&quot; he said.But as he reflected on it more, the event began to take on a deeper meaning.&quot;It&#x27;s more than just a concert. Hindi lang siya tungkol sa music, kundi chance din to reconnect, to catch up with fellow scholars, at maramdaman ulit yung bond na nabuo noon.&quot;One of the things that stands out about Chad is that he doesn’t force emotions that aren’t real. That honesty is part of what makes his story resonate with others.  Over the last two decades, his life has moved him away from center stage. Still, music was never completely left behind. This year, he released two albums, Duality and Vibe Check, both now available on Spotify. Another project is already on the horizon. &quot;Ngayon, bihira na akong kumanta compared sa dati,&quot; he admitted. &quot;Pero bumabalik pa rin ako sa music in my own way.&quot; His return wasn’t driven by hype or attention. It came from something more personal. The long pause also wasn’t something that caught him by surprise. &quot;My first album was released around 2007, akala ko yun na yung huli. For 20 years, lagi kong iniisip kung paano makakabalik sa music and entertainment, pero life had other plans.” From that long period of uncertainty comes the advice he now shares with young singers. &quot;Kahit 10, 20, or 30 years pa yan, you will reach your destination. Don&#x27;t give up, kasi darating din yung tamang timing.” It’s not a lesson borrowed from somewhere else; it’s one he earned through experience. What Chad carried with him from PDA wasn’t the glamor or excitement of being on television. It was the difficult but lasting lessons that stayed with him.&quot;PDA made me see the reality of being an entertainer. Hindi siya madali. Kailangan mong i-hone yung craft mo, maging dedicated, at mag-sacrifice,” he shared.He now sees the experience as a blessing, especially because it taught him the discipline and resilience he still relies on today. One of the biggest lessons he learned from that chapter was how to connect with people beyond a niche audience. &quot;Na-realize ko na dapat lahat ng tao ang target audience mo. Kasi kahit sino pwedeng makinig sa kanta mo, and you have to make it relatable to everyone,” he said. He’s also candid about the fact that he and his fellow scholars didn’t stay closely connected over the years. &quot;Honestly, wala na akong regular contact with PDA alumni. Lahat kasi may kanya-kanyang path na tinahak. Iba nagpatuloy sa singing, iba naman lumihis ng career.”Even so, the bond was never completely lost. &quot;Kahit wala kaming constant communication, nandun pa rin yung respeto at shared memories.” Sometimes, shared history is enough to keep a connection alive. The reunion concert will also mark his first major performance since around 2011, which naturally makes the night feel significant on a personal level.&quot;Mixed emotions ako. Excited and nervous,&quot; he said. Still, more than the performance itself, he’s most excited about seeing his former batchmates again. &quot;Iba ‘yung feeling na magkakasama ulit kami,” he stated.And for the fans who will be there, he isn’t simply offering a nostalgic replay of the past. There’s fresh music now, along with a group of artists who have gone on to live full and meaningful lives since they last shared the same stage. &quot;It&#x27;s like reliving a part of our youth, pero with the wisdom of today,&quot; he said. And perhaps that’s the best kind of reunion. The one that doesn’t try to return to the past, but instead brings its best parts into the present. Chad Peralta seems to have done exactly that.Pinoy Dream Academy: The Reunion Concert will take place on September 19, 2026, at the Music Museum.

Chad Peralta has been especially busy lately, releasing two albums this year alone.

Chad Peralta has been especially busy lately, releasing two albums this year alone.