Allyzza Kay Trinidad

From 'wildcard' to icon: Erik Santos reflects on his “ASAP” journey

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

In 2003, Erik Santos joined &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ASAP</a>&quot; after winning &quot;Star In A Million.&quot; That was two decades ago, and yet, Sunday after Sunday, the stage still feels like home.Before he officially became part of the &quot;ASAP&quot; family, Erik first performed on that stage back when he was still a contestant on the first season of &quot;Star In A Million&quot; (2003), which aired as an &quot;ASAP &quot; segment before eventually turning into a stand-alone program. And the rest, as they say, is history. Time flew by so fast that Erik barely noticed that out of “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ASAP</a>”’s 30-year run, he’s been present for 22 of them. “Hindi ko pinlano na mag-stay ako nang ganito katagal with my ‘ASAP’ family,” he said. He never expected it, but it has always felt like both a blessing and a source of pride to be part of the long-running Sunday musical variety show.In many ways, &quot;ASAP&quot; feels like a true family—one built on teamwork. If people assume that artists compete with one another on the show, Erik says that’s far from the truth. &quot;ASAP&quot; wouldn’t have lasted this long if not for the strong sense of collaboration, especially when the production numbers are complex and demanding. Everyone shares the same goal of delivering an excellent show, and that kind of commitment also means each performer must show up fully prepared.&quot;Hindi pwedeng hindi magaling kapag nasa ‘ASAP’ ka. So ikaw mismo, you need to keep up kasi ang gagaling ng performers. Nakakahiya &#x27;pag hindi mo alam &#x27;yung parte mo. Nakakahiya lalo na sa mga icons natin,&quot; Erik shared. It’s a matter of respect, he added, not just for the craft, but for the people you’re working with. When you take time to learn your part in a production number, it shows your professionalism and regard for your teammates. Beyond that, &quot;ASAP&quot; has also taught him the value of camaraderie among fellow celebrity performers and the production crew. One of the privileges of being part of &quot;ASAP&quot; is getting to work with icons he&#x27;s long admired. At the same time, it’s just as rewarding to witness the rise of the younger generation; to watch fresh talents bloom right before his eyes. Erik is living proof that the &quot;ASAP&quot; stage continues to give birth to new and gifted singers, generation after generation. This also reflects the evolving music industry, which now more alive than ever, thanks to the rise of social media and digital platforms. Back then, Erik recalled, his only way to practice was through karaoke machines, multiplex and minus-one tracks, or listening to songs on the radio and TV. Today, OPM has become more accessible on countless platforms, making it stronger and more present. OPM is everywhere. And he gives much credit to the artists themselves who continue to uplift and elevate the Filipino music scene.“Dati, may season na laging sinasabi, ‘OPM is dead.’ Pero kaming mga OPM artists, we never give up and we will never give up kasi alam namin na napakaganda ng original Pilipino music,” Erik mused. “Dahil walang nag-give up sa OPM before, ngayon mas tumitindi at mas lumalakas ang impact ng OPM lalo na sa new generation.”With all the new flavors and trends emerging, the more senior singers like him know the importance of reinvention, of finding ways to grow without losing the heart of who they are. He has always been known as a balladeer, and he remains proud of that identity. But at the same time, he sees the need to explore beyond what’s familiar. And for that, collaboration is the key. He finds ways to merge his sound with that of the new generation. This way, he&#x27;s able to keep his music alive for younger listeners, as well as learn from the fresh ideas that rising artists bring to the table.Speaking of the new breed of singers, there are still so many artists Erik hopes to collaborate with. Just from “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/itsshowtime" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">It&#x27;s Showtime</a>”&#x27;s &quot;Tawag Ng Tanghalan&quot; alone—where he sits as one of the judges—there has already been an impressive lineup of new talents, including recent champions Marko Rudio, Carmelle Collado, and Lyka Estrella.Erik finds genuine happiness in mentoring fresh voices through his role as a &quot;TNT&quot; hurado. Having come from a singing competition himself, it’s easy for him to share not just technical tips, but also real lessons from his own journey. For instance, he felt especially connected to the stories of the “resbakers,&quot; or returning contenders from previous seasons who were given another shot at their dream during the recent &quot;TNT Grand Resbak&quot; season. It felt familiar because he, too, was a product of the wildcard round in &quot;Star In A Million,&quot; which ultimately led to his big win in 2003.&quot;Sobra akong invested sa season na &#x27;yun kasi nararamdaman ko kung paano ka maging resbaker. Naka-relate ako sa bawat kuwento ng mga resbaker. In that way, malapit lalo &#x27;yung puso ko sa kanila. Naiintindihan ko kung saan sila galing when they become emotional sa kailang performances. Kasi mahirap talaga na ipaglaban mo &#x27;yung pangarap mo, not only once, but many times over,&quot; he shared. &quot;Nakakatuwa lang na hindi sila napapagod na ipaglaban ang pangarap nila.&quot; That relentless passion is something Erik deeply admires, and something he knows all too well.Two decades ago, Erik was the one performing in competitions, singing iconic pieces from legends like Basil Valdez and Martin Nievera. Now, the tables have turned as his own original songs have become among the go-to choices in singing contests. And he&#x27;s proud of how this part of his career narrative has evolved. Knowing that many are inspired by his music makes him feel like he’s truly living out his purpose as an artist.“Parang ito siguro &#x27;yung magandang legacy na pwede kong i-share sa makabagong artists ngayon,” he said. “Napa-proud ako. At the same time, ang sarap pa mag-create ng bagong music kasi alam ko na malaki &#x27;yung nagiging impact ng music ko at ng music in general.”Beyond reaching the younger generation, Erik is also grateful that OPM continues to connect with Filipinos abroad, thanks in large part to &quot;ASAP,&quot; which regularly stages shows in different parts of the world. He’s always moved by the warm welcome they receive from OFWs, who never fail to show their excitement and love.&quot;Palagi, makikita mo na sabik silang marinig kami, maybe because matagal silang nawala sa Pilipinas at kahit kaunti lang nadadala namin sa kanila &#x27;yung piraso ng Pilipinas through our music and performances. Kahit paano ay napapaligaya namin sila through our music,&quot; he shared. For Erik, moments like these remind him why he continues to do what he does. At the end of the day, his ultimate dream has always been longevity; not just to last, but to continue growing as an artist. It’s going to be a year-long “ASAP Homecoming” celebration! Catch “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ASAP</a>” every Sunday at 12 noon on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), TV5, and A2Z.

Erik Santos looks back on his two-decade journey with "ASAP," the lessons he’s learned, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

Erik Santos looks back on his two-decade journey with "ASAP," the lessons he’s learned, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.