The Genuine and Artistic Appeal of Glaiza De Castro

She was one of the nonstop trending topics of 2015: The controversial and much-talked about kiss on The Rich Man’s Daughter (with Rhian Ramos), the album Synthesis, her outstanding films, successful shows and gigs here and abroad. Luke Jickain spoke with Glaiza De Castro about the many reasons that make her smile, how she got her tattoos, T.O.P., her album Synthesis, her future plans and more.

Every morning before breakfast…

I check my phone and go to my social media accounts like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook – and then I go to this app. Actually, guilty nga ako, kasi ‘to dapat yung inuuna ko e. It’s a Christian daily devotion app. Parang inspiration lang every morning like setting your mind into something positive. Kasi minsan ‘di ba kapag nasa social media ka, may tendency na medyo alam mo ‘yun… medyo negative vibe.

This Instagram….

Search engine is the best. [ Smiles. ] ‘Yung search engine, bago na kasi s’ya ngayon e. Like if you want to search or i-stalk ‘yung isang tao, lalabas s’ya. Right now, may pina-follow ako na artist. Si T.O.P. of Big Bang. He is a rapper sa group n’ya. They’re a Korean boy band. I just discovered them last year. [And] Hindi ko rin ini-expect na magugustuhan ko sila. Pero I am just fascinated with him kasi sobrang weird n’ya (in a very good way). ‘Yung mga post n’ya parang: “ano yan“? So this Instagram is one of the reasons why I smile every day. [ Laughs. ]

This gig…

Last year, I had this gig. It was for a Korean K-Pop Convention. And I sang my original songs there. Sabi ko nga, “maybe you (all) are wondering why I am here. But I just want to share na isa ako sa mga new fan na na-fascinate sa (Korean pop) culture ng Korean artists – and gusto ko lang i-share kung paano nila ako na-influence when it comes to performing.”

Well, isa ‘yun sa mga memorable experiences ko because Korean fans are one of the warmest and wildest fans “in the world.” [Kasi] Kapag narinig pa lang nila yung songs ng favorite Korean artists nila, usually, whoooaaaaa.. So nung time na ‘yun, wild very ‘yung audience… pero nung ako na ‘yung kumanta, whoa… medyo tahimik. Ganu’n sila kasi maybe first time nila marinig ‘yung music ko. Pero sinabi ko naman sa kanila, I believe na if you guys can support Korean artists, [I hope] you can also support Pinoy artists. So I just want to share these songs to you and I hope you guys will like it.

And the reaction was…

I think they liked it. And ano naman, very positive naman. Kasi tiningnan ko talaga sila isa–isa. In general, feeling ko na-enjoy naman nila. [ Laughs. ]

My favorite quote goes like….

My favorite quote is actually a verse from Proverbs 3:5-6. It’s actually written on my body. It says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Okay, so this tattoo…

This tattoo is very significant to me because it serves as my reminder to just put everything and give everything to Him, to trust Him. I had it since 2010. [ Smiles. ]

While my other two tattoos…

It’s a kanji character – kuru. It’s a sibling tattoo. Kasi ‘yung brother ko meron din s’ya dito (sa right pulse) meaning black. In Japanese, the word kuru means black. Kasi galing siya sa isang anime. Tekkonkinkreet: Black & White. So ‘yung dalawang central characters ang pangalan nila ay Kuru and Shiro – magkapatid sila. So nu’ng pinanood namin ng brother ko. Sabi ko, “Uy, parang tayo ‘yan a.”  [ Laughs. ] Parang ganu’n. Naka-connect kami dun sa characters nila. Tapos parang isang araw. Sabi ko lang na tara: “Pa–tattoo tayo. Ano, sibling tattoo natin. So ‘yung brother ko meron siyang Shiro. Parang yin yang.” [ Smiles. ]

The third tattoo, galing naman s’ya sa kanta ni Damian Marley, ‘yung “Patience“. Nagustuhan ko lang ‘yung song kasi ang ganda ng message. Tapos ‘yung word na “Sabali” na part ng line sa song means patience, ‘yun ‘yung nasa neck ko. [ Smiles. ]

Last Christmas…

I gave you my heart. [ Laughs. ] On a serious note, last Christmas… that was the last Christmas of my lolo. Kasi everytime na nagre-reunion kami, si lolo kasi, meron s’yang speech lagi. So that was the last time na hindi siya nagbigay ng speech kasi gusto namin na masaya lang. Dahil parang nandun na s’ya sa point na talagang medyo napi-feel na namin na baka nga ‘to na ‘yung last Christmas [n’ya]. Pero everytime na mag-speech kasi s’ya, lagi niyang sinasabi sa amin na huwag naming kakalimutan ‘yung magandang simula. So du’n s’ya (‘yun ‘yung) tumatak sa akin.

2016 will be…

A year of more adventure and will be the best time to release a new album. The new album will be comprised of songs na hindi ko pa nare-release. Actually, I want it a little bit different from Synthesis pero andu’n pa rin s’yempre ‘yung personality ko. Ayoko naman ding maging drastic ‘yung change ng album. Kasi kumbaga kung si Justin Bieber pinag hip hop mo agad parang, hindi ba?  Gusto ko gradual ‘yung transition. It would be a continuation of the stories na meron ‘yung Synthesis. Kung merong “Barcelona,” baka magkaroon ng “London”… baka magkaroon ng ibang bansa. Parang ganu’n. [ Smiles. ] Ano s’ya parang… marami kasing songs na nasa laptop ko lang, as in sobrang raw pa lang. And I think magkakaroon sila ng kulay based from my experiences last year and this year.

Also, meron akong U.S. tour. I’ll be having some shows abroad. I plan to continue promoting my Synthesis album and my other new original compositions.

I want to be… 

More open. This year mas magiging open ako sa change hindi lang physically, kundi personally rin, sa personality ko. I’m an introvert type of person, pero sa trabaho ko in a way dapat balance e. And masaya rin naman na maka–connect to different people. Adjustments in terms of character. Basically, I will be more open lang sa lahat. [ Smiles. ]

To know more about Glaiza De Castro, you can reach out to her through Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You may also want to check out the official clip for her debut single “Dusk ‘Til Dawn,” which has earned over 100 thousand YouTube views:

[fvplayer src=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJoI7K1EZ68″]

Photographed by Johann Bona

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