Messages of Support and Congratulations Pour In As Wishful 5 Successfully Unveils ‘Wishful Journey’ Debut Album
In a spectacular display of the power of wishing and working hard, five promising belters etched an unforgettable moment in Philippine music history last June 19, Tuesday.
The Wishful 5, composed of Princess Sevillena, Kimberly Baluzo, Louie Anne Culala, Carmela Ariola and Ace Bartolome, successfully launched their Star Music-released debut album titled “Wishful Journey” through a sold-out show at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. On the same night, they received gold and platinum awards for the said record after surpassing the 7,500- and 15,000-unit mark in album sales in just a span of one day.
The rookie quintet proved their worth in the music industry with this achievement -- which is a rare feat even for known local singers. And as they reap the rewards of their perseverance (from their pre-Wishcovery stint until they emerged as the top 5 finalists of the well-followed online singing competition), OPM stars and industry executives alike have expressed their own messages of support and congratulations for the Wishful 5.
R&B Prince Kris Lawrence, who served as the concert’s host, said: “Just keep on going. It’s so exciting, it’s so fulfilling to see all of you chase after your dreams.”
“Keep practicing because you are all getting better and better, and I love to watch you all the time. Your Kuya Kris will always be here for all of you,” Lawrence, who witnessed the transformation of the five rising singers as he hosted the pilot season of Wishcovery, further remarked.
Asia’s Phoenix Morissette, one of the concert’s special guests, voiced out the same thought, “Keep the faith and keep going. Never let any negative thing or obstacle stop you from reaching your dreams. Never give up.”
On the other hand, Pop Rock Royalty Yeng Constantino gave her labelmates an important piece of advice she learned from her over-ten-decade career: “Enjoy and love what you do. Never lose your passion. God blessed you with music, so use it to create positive impact on your listeners. Always give your 100% every time you perform. It’s not about the number of audience members in attendance -- it’s about your love for your craft.”
Both Morissette and Constantino shared the stage with the Wishful 5 and delivered some of the most memorable performances of the night.
“Wishful Journey,” both referring to the Wishful 5’s album and concert, is a joint effort between Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (BMPI) and Star Music.
According to Jonathan Manalo, Star Music’s Head for Audio Content, “this is the first time that a new artist signed our label received this much support. Their fans are very loyal...On the first day alone, their album already became gold and platinum records.”
Mr. Gerry Panghulan, Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (BMPI) Vice President for Administration and External Affairs, noted that this landmark project is only the beginning of more collaborative endeavors between the two entities.
“The Wishful 5's journey has been a very successful one since they started. This time they had launched their own album. We can see that because of this concert, I think there will be more and broader partnerships between BMPI and Star Music,” he enthused.
Meanwhile, on behalf of the Wishfuls, Wishcovery grand winner Sevillena acknowledged that the album launch concert is a “very humbling experience” for the up-and-coming singers.
“We started with nothing. This was a very humbling experience. The Lord indeed teaches us to wait patiently and pray fervently for our wishes. We are exceedingly thankful to [Him] for all His blessings. He is the One Who gives us the strength to keep going.”
On an inspirational note, BMPI’s CEO and President and Wishcovery progenitor Kuya Daniel Razon emphasized that last evening’s event wouldn’t be triumphant without the help of God.
“We give many thanks unto the Lord for His kindness. Thanks be to God for the things that He grants us though we never expect them. We will not be able to do all these things if not for the help and mercy of the Lord. This night is your night. Congratulations to the Wishful 5 and good luck on your Wishful Journey!,” he said as he handed out the gold and platinum awards to the Wishfuls.
Apart from the messages sent in by industry heavyweights, fans of the Wishful 5 were also unfaltering in showing their support for their musical idols. Besides filling the Big Dome to the brim, they also conquered Twitterverse as the hashtag #WishfulJourneyAlbumLaunch and the topic “Wishful 5” both made it to Twitter Philippines’ trends list.
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