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Counting off the days into summer in a newly opened cafe on Aguirre Avenue in BF Parañaque, we grabbed the chance to sit down and talk about life’s ever-demanding obligations with Angelina Cruz.
The 17-year-old has 651,000 followers on Instagram, 118,000 followers on Twitter, and more than 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
This inspiring, hardworking, multitalented Benchsetter and De La Salle Zobel student (who also happens to be the daughter of actors Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz) has been pursuing a promising music career while mindfully keeping up with academics.
What’s been taking up most of your time—career or school?
My schoolwork, honestly, because that’s what I’m trying to prioritize. That’s what my mom’s going to prioritize as well. I understand it’s because that will benefit me more in the long run.
What grade are you in? Are you finished with your midterms?
Grade 11, and yes, we just finished our midterms. We’re working on our projects for two more weeks, and then it’ll be summer.
How do you manage balancing your career and school?
I always prioritize my studies, so if there’s a guesting or something work-related on a weekday, I have to decline or ask to move it to a weekend so that it wouldn’t interrupt my studies.
They agree to move the date?
Most of the time, or sometimes I just don’t go na lang.
Secret talent
Do you have extracurricular activities or hobbies?
I like singing, but then that turned into a career, so that was really cool. I also like to draw, it’s a secret talent. I’ve really loved drawing since I was a kid.
What’s your strand in senior high school? Why didn’t you try an art-related strand? (Strand refers to a student’s chosen field. —Ed)
I’m in ABM (Accounting Business Management). I was actually supposed to go to Arts and Design, but I thought that I don’t really want my hobby to turn into just my career or something that I do just for work. I just really want to enjoy my drawing.
Try acting, too
What’s your dream career?
I think it’s what I’m pursuing, which is singing, but maybe I want to try acting as well. But I have to work on my Filipino more. That’s what my mom always tells me, so I have to always speak in Filipino.
So you were raised in an English-speaking environment?
Yes, especially because in my school, most of the people there speak English, so I always have to speak English.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to try?
I haven’t acted at all, so that’s what I want to try. I want to take acting workshops to improve and maybe practice really on my Filipino, that’s what I want to prioritize this year.
What are your short-term and long-term goals? How do you plan to accomplish them?
My short-term goal is to graduate from high school, and maybe with honors as well. My long-term goal is to graduate from college, so I’ll have a fallback, because it’s really inevitable, because I can always quit my career as well. That’s why I’m taking up ABM—it’s a really good fallback, and I enjoy Math more than Science.
What do you plan to take up in college?
Marketing.
Expressing an opinion
How can you motivate people your age to become proactive, participate in discussions and set goals to improve a situation?
I see a lot of people, especially on Twitter, voicing their thoughts, and I think that’s good for them.
But for people who are still a bit hesitant, I feel like they should believe in themselves. I think they should go for it, because if they think it’s right and they’re not doing anything wrong, I think expressing their opinion or point of view to make others aware is really good.
What about you, how do you share your thoughts online?
Maybe just not be too harsh, like more respectful and low-key. —CONTRIBUTED
Photography Jerick Sanchez
Styling Luis Carlo San Juan
Makeup and Hairstyle Theresa Padin
Editorial Assistants Heaven Dwayne Francisco and Allen Adriano
Videography Shoun Nicholas David and EJ Bonagua
Shot on location Caffeina’s Brew 367 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque, Metro Manila