"I think the title of this show is ‘Survivor!’”

This was the witty remark of 19-year old Camille Cortez, who is among the few hopefuls remaining in GMA-7’s “Are You The Next Big Star?” contest. She is also one of the more talented ones who has also survived being in the “bottom three.” In fact she was named as one of the three female singers to face in the show’s finals. Her competitors are Francheska Farr and Zyrene Parsad.

So why is she surviving? And what does she think is working for her in “Are You The Next Big Star?”

“I’m unique. I have my own signature. I can do my own style sa isang song on the spot. I can also do on the spot choreography,” she replied with confidence.

Camille also attributed her talent to the four years she has worked as a singer and even as a stand-up comic. According to her when her family had financial problems, she had to stop high school to work. She was only 15 years old then and she sang in lounges, bars, weddings, elections and in comedy bars too.

Her decision to become a performer was in line with her mom’s work as a booking agent. So she was allowed by her mom to pursue a singing career.

“Singing became our source of income,” she quipped. “I think she saw that I could hone my talent even more by performing. Before kasi I was crying whenever I lose in my school’s singing competitions. Plus when I stopped my high school, I enjoyed working. Then this contest happened so I had to stop again.”

She recalls that she started joining singing contests when she was only 10 years old. She first joined a singing contest in a subdivision but only placed as a runner-up. Rather than enjoying the money she won or sulking in her loss, she said that she went back to school.

“I wasn’t a belter then because I was shy. And I was holding back a lot of times when I was performing. That’s when I realized I had to give my all,” she shared.

She added that performing in comedy bars helped build her confidence because she learned how to face “hecklers” during her performances.

“Siguro kumapal ang mukha ko simula nang nag-comedy bar ako…from Class A to D people nakaharap ko na and I learned how to relate to people better,” she related.

When asked where she got her talent, Camille pointed out to her mom who used to be a performer in Japan. Her mother used to sing solo and has her own band too. And it was her mother too who taught her how to sing.

“But my mom simply guided me to the basics of singing. She told me that my natural voice would really come from me,” she said.

A trivia in Camille’s life is that first, her mom had to stop working in Japan when she was pregnant with Camille. Second, almost in her mom’s full term of pregnancy, a hospital in Japan told her that the baby in her womb was already dead. She flew to Manila and a consultation with a physician from St. Luke’s hospital said that she needed an emergency operation otherwise she would die. Not believing their words, her mom, according to her went to Pampanga and gave birth to a healthy baby.

“That’s my story and I could say it was a miraculous one,” Camille who is an only child said.

Unfortunately, she never met her biological father who is a Japanese.

“I never met my dad kasi they’ve been separated for a long time already. Ayaw ko na rin malaman kung sino siya. Kung darating, darating. Destiny na lang. I’ve always wished to meet him but I won’t make any effort kasi kapag gagawa ka ng paraan nandun yung expectations baka ma-down ka ng konti… I just pray for what would be good for me or what is the best for me,” she said.

Going back to singing, Camille said that what prompted her to join “Are You The Next Big Star?” was her love and passion for singing. She also felt that her experience wasn’t only her driving force but also the main ingredient for her will to always do better.

Doesn’t she fear becoming over confident?

“I don’t think it will ever come to that,” she answered. “If it reaches the point that I’m not nervous anymore then I wouldn’t notice my mistakes. Kailangang may kaba, once nawala yung kaba mo mapapansin mo lahat may butas kailangang walang butas!”

One of the flaws she wants corrected and do better with, she stressed, was how she relates to the TV cameras during her performances.

“I really need to love the camera when I’m singing. I get distracted with the studio audience and the camera. Everytime I watch my act hindi ko pa ganun ka love yung camera. I should think that the camera I’m facing is the people watching me and I should talk to the camera as well as perform for the camera,” she smiled.

With regards to the contest, whatever happens, her dream is to finish high school through home schooling and pursue her professional singing career.

“One of my dreams is to have my own jazz band and lots of regular shows with good pay,” she beamed. “I can do solo but I think it’s more enjoyable to perform with a bancd. My other dream too is to perform in Las Vegas like Lani Misalucha!”

At stake in “Are You The Next Big Star?,” is R1-million cash prize from SM Supermalls, a condominium unit from Avida, a management contract from GMA Artist Center and a recording contract from GMA Records.

(“Are You The Next Big Star?” airs Saturday night after “Pinoy Records” and viewers will finally know who will be eliminated Alex – Castro or Greggy Santos from the male group.)

Whether Camille Cortez is hailed the winner is still a few more episodes away. But what she has showcased in the past episodes is that she is in her own league as a singer and she is ON THE RISE!

(Email: ontheriseonline@yahoo.com and twitter: waldensadiri)