"This hobby of mine could be so much more."
These were the words of Aisleen Kate Villamiel after winning the championship for the Grade 11 Song Interpretation Competition. Rendering Monarchs speechless with her amazing rendition of "Go the Distance" by Michael Bolton, Aisleen bagged yet another award for the class of 11-Efficiency (HUMSS).
The competition, held last January 23 for English Fortnight 2023, was tough; each and every competitor sang their hearts out, the eleventh grader being one of them. Her ultimate performance was surreal to watch; the audience found it so mesmerizing to see someone from the SISC community sing with such passion and joy. Students and teachers alike recognized her talent, with some even offering her to perform in future school events.
Aisleen Villamiel is no stranger to the world of music. If there is one thing in her life that is constant, it is singing. At the early age of seven, Aisleen discovered her talent for vocal performance. However, it was in the fifth grade when she truly started entering singing competitions. At first, she joined not to win but to test herself and for enjoyment.
"I joined just to see how far I could take this passion of mine, not expecting to win anything," she remembered.
Aisleen won her very first competition at 10 years old, and that was when she realized that singing not only boosted her confidence but potentially played a vital role in the near future. Talent is a natural ability, but to truly persevere requires effort and hard work; this is exactly what Aisleen believed in and what she has striving to do. In every singing competition, she challenged herself by going out of her comfort zone and journeying into the unknown.
When it was announced that the SHS classes needed representatives to join the Song Interpretation Competition, without hesitation, Aisleen bravely dove right into the challenge. "Go the Distance" was a song she held dear to her heart, and coincidentally enough, this song was the chosen one for the eleventh graders. That was all the more reason for her to sign up for it.
"I haven’t performed this song in a singing competition yet, so I wanted to challenge myself," Aisleen expressed.
For all aspiring singers or those who are simply waiting to shine, Aisleen became an inspiration and role model. She says to all aspirants, "If I can do it, so can you!"
Once an unknown new student, Aisleen has now become the face of her section, Efficiency, in the vocal performance scene. Her fellow classmates gave her a warm reception, remarking that she brought pride and joy to the junior HUMSS class.
As one of her dear peers said, "She really made our class proud. I felt that moment when our class put up our phones with flashlights while she was singing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I look forward to her future endeavors."
For those who want to hear more from her, the Fortnight competition was only the beginning. Aisleen plans to grace us more with her voice in the upcoming Junior-Senior Promenade and other schoolwide competitions. Stay tuned for this rising monarch, as she can definitely go the distance like a shooting star.
About the authors:
Yoeiza Garcia is an 11th grade student in HUMSS. She loves listening to music and collecting crystals. She enjoys sleeping a lot.
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