Celeste Legaspi finds white hair liberating
To most women, silver – ok, white hair – is embarrassing. They dye it dark brown, auburn, or what have you, to hide the white tresses.
Singer-actress Celeste Legaspi is a proud exception. Yes, she cares a lot about her looks (“I’m very vain”). But she doesn’t mind if people her age (e.g. a concerned neighbor who advised her to go the salon and have those locks darkened) frown on her silver hair.
“I don’t care. It’s very liberating sa akin. I don’t conform to people’s expectations,” she said in an interview for her pre-Valentine concert.
Health reasons
It’s the older set, adds Celeste, who is upset. The younger ones don’t mind.
Besides, how can you argue with health? Celeste says freeing her hair from those hair dye chemicals is a nod to health.
“I felt a tightness in my scalp when I dyed my hair. Feeling ko, may allergy.”
Another thing is, more white hair shows up. So Celeste gave up battling the onslaught of white hair.
“After a couple of days, nandyan na naman. What’s the point? Nakakainis. When I started (showing my white hair) it was the wedding of my youngest. I said I’m gonna do this. Bahala na si Batman.”
Celeste has done it before. And she’ll do it again. She’ll go on stage at the PICC Plenary Hall sporting those glorious silver locks on Friday, February 13, 2015. Joining her in “Reunited in Love, The Greatest Hits Concert “are Celeste’s colleagues Hajji Alejandro (Rachel Alejandro’s dad), Pat Castillo, Jacqui Magno, Tillie Moreno, Basil Valdez and Chad Borja (Circus Band), Ray-An Fuentes, Ding Mercado, Louie Reyes and Eugene Villaluz (New Minstrels).
At the concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2009.
Having fun
“I will just have fun! If it (the songs, like her take on National Artist for Music Ernani Cuenco’s "Gaano Kita Kamahal’) will reach the younger ones, fine. If not, what can I do? I’m just one person,” states Celeste.
She has kept her voice concert-worthy by taking lessons under Krina Cayabyab, award-winning songwriter and the daugter of musical director Ryan Cayabyab.
“It’s a must. The vocal cord is a muscle. Like any other muscle, it has to be (kept in top form). I take voice lessons once a week for 30 minutes, especially when I have to sing somewhere. Very hard! You get so hungry afterwards! It’s a real workout.”
Meantime, Celeste will never tire observing the music scene – local and foreign. She praises Lea Salonga and Sarah Geronimo's excellent singing.
Originality
But the same can’t be said of some singers today. Gone is the intense training that characterized singers like Celeste and colleagues.
“Ang bilis bilis! Kaya suddenly hindi na sila (some of today’s singers) flavor of the month,” she laments.
Yes, talented singers are everywhere. But Celeste says few of them have the originality that sets them apart.
“Originality is few and far between. Ang new artist kailangan may konting influence. But one shouldn’t get stuck there. Why be a clone when you can watch the influence of someone doing the cloning?”
Bunch of notes
And of course, soul is all important.
Celeste cites the case of a young singer who performed Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” “Walang ebullience. It’s just a bunch of notes to show off. Hindi naiintindihan what the song and the season is all about.”
Let’s hope today’s young singers take note and do something about this sad situation.
