Before being widely recognized as the “Nation’s Mom,” Klarisse de Guzman had learned to embrace being a “second option.”
The singer, who rose to prominence after her runner-up finish at The Voice Philippines, admitted this during her recent guest appearance on Karen Davila’s vlog.
“Sabi ko nga po bago sumali ng PBB (Pinoy Big Brother), sanay po talaga ako na second option. Kunwari hindi pwede ‘yung ganitong artist, ako nalang muna. Steady na ‘yung career ko, so sabi ko ‘sige okay na to, basta may work,’” she said.
This is why Klarisse was in disbelief over the enormous love and support that she has been receiving following her stint at PBB's Celebrity Collab Edition.
“[Twelve] years na po ako sa showbiz pero never ko na-experience ‘yung ganyang kahit sino nakikilala ka. Hindi ko po inexpect,” she said.
“Tinitingnan ko nalang ‘yung brighter side na hindi naman lahat nakakakanta sa ASAP. Lahat pangarap ‘to but ako nakakasama ko ‘yung mga idols ko. So as long as sabi ko may work, okay na ako dun. At ‘di naman po talaga ako pinapabayaan ng ABS-CBN,” she shared of how her career in the industry was going prior to being a PBB housemate.
READ: Klarisse de Guzman reflects on career journey following 'PBB': 'Lahat is may timing talaga'
What mattered to her before was to sustain her music career and make her parents happy, which remains true today.
“Dati kuntento na po ako, na sabi ko ‘kahit di ko na ma-reach ‘yung ganyang fame, basta longevity,” she said. “Basta nandiyan ako kahit papano. Kasi nag-e-enjoy din po ako, ito po talaga ang gusto ko: kumanta, mag-perform. Sabi ko kahit ano bigay ko na, tanggap ko na kahit hanggang diyan lang ako, basta alam kong kikita ako, may work ako, at napapasaya ko ang magulang ko, ‘yung mama ko.”
READ: Klarisse de Guzman on ‘OA moment’ with Dustin Yu: ‘Sana mas na-handle ko siya nang maayos’
In the same vlog, Klarisse, who started competing in singing contests at the age of five, admitted that there were times that she envied her former competitors who got their shot in showbiz earlier, leadning her to doubt her own abilities.
READ: Klarisse de Guzman and Trina Rey open up about how their love story began
“May mga times po dati na sa bahay habang kumakain ako, nakikita ko na sila sa TV, ‘wow nakakainggit naman.’ Sabi ko siguro hindi ako para sa singing kasi lahat ng kasabayan ko, halos lahat sila bongga na 'yung career, ako ito pa rin,” she said.
Yet Klarisse, who considers Sarah as her mentor in the industry, keeps in mind a promise she received from the Asia’s Pop Royalty: “Nauna ako sa panahon ko, pero tutulungan kitang dalhin sa panahon mo.”