Tippy dos Santos: Young Filipino sings her way to the top
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008By: Ricky T. Gallardo
REEDLEY International School Upper School Freshman Tippy dos Santos participated in five categories at the recently concluded World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles, California, where the Philippine delegation came home victorious.
Like every aspirant in the junior vocals division, 14-year-old Tippy sang her heart out during the initial round for each category she joined– Broadway, Pop, Country, Rock and Jazz. “There were so many delegates from different countries so first impression is very important. It’s either you make a mark immediately or you’ll be forgotten,” Tippy shares, adding that if a contestant hurdles the first round, he or she moves on to the semi-finals where the previous scores are discarded and everyone starts on the same level.
There has been a misinformation in the very first few years of the international competition where Filipino contestants bragged about the medals they bring home. So Tippy clarifies instantly, “Medals are given at every phase of the competition but the more valuable ones are the ones that are hotly contested during the final round.”
Singing has always been a great part of Tipp’s young life and she feels so happy that she was given this opportunity to compete abroad. Of course, she credits her mom Happy for the all-out support she gave her young daughter from the start.
“My mom understands me perfectly. She shares my dreams and carries all the load that a young performer like me cannot bear. Of course, I have faced a couple of challenges and has experienced frustrations, but mom is always there to guide me through every step of the way, making sure that I eat well and rest well at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel where we were all billeted.”
Tippy admits that she was aiming for the Grand Champion title (which Catherin Loria, another Filipino contestant edged Tippy for the plum), but she is simply grateful for the big haul that she made.
Tippy sane “Astonishing” (from Little Women) and took home the gold in the Broadway category. She also capped gold in the Broadway category. She also gold in Pop, with her rendition of Fantasia Barrino’s “I Believe.” A third gold came right after she sang Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take The Wheel.” She was adjudged the best in the above categories which made her the favorite going into the finals.
“The Lord knows and I know I did my very best. The WCOPA competition game me so much confidence. Now, I know I want to keep on singing and following my dreams!”
Tippy also took home a silver for her brave interpretation of Heart’s signature song Alone in the Rock division and her version of Natalie Cole’s “Orange Colored Sky” was good for a bronze.
“The experience is priceless. The competition is so much like life. You win some, you lose some. But the important thing is that one can come out a winner if one knows that he has done his best. You just never stop reaching for your dreams,”
Tippy ends, adding that it was the most important lesson that her mom taught her.
This girl will certainly a long, long way.
Last February 23-27, 2008 were very memorable days to 87 Upper School students, 10 parents, 5 Faculty members and the school owners. Reedley ventured into its first official Educational Tour to the Lion City, Singapore.
The third day was a very important visit to the Singapore Management University where the students learned not only the different scholarship opportunities in the university but also studying and being independent away from home, straight from other Filipinos studying there. During that afternoon, the group visited the National Museum of Singapore that showcased a thorough explanation of the history of Singapore prior to the arrival and discovery of Singapore by the prince until the current ways hey celebrate the National Day of Singapore.