Dulce (Filipino singer)
Dulce | |
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![]() Dulce in December 2021 performing at the 90th anniversary of the Manila Metropolitan Theater | |
Background information | |
Birth name | María Teresa Magdalena Abellare Llamedo |
Also known as | Asia's Timeless Diva |
Born | [1] Cebu City, Philippines | July 22, 1961
Genres | Pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
Years active | 1975–present |
Maria Teresa Magdalena Abellare Llamedo-Cruzata (born July 22, 1961), professionally known as Dulce (Tagalog pronunciation:
Dubbed as one of the Philippines’ natural treasures,[2] Dulce is noted for her distinct vocal power and delivery.[3] Among many of her international accolades includes the grand prize trophies at the 4th Asian Singing Competition in 1979 and the Asia-Pacific Singing Contest in 1988 in Hong Kong. She also finished first runner-up at the 3rd ABU Popular Song Festival in Malaysia and first runner-up at the Australia Open Entertainment Competition in 2002.[4] She has already recorded 30 albums (including 12 solo albums) throughout her career and has sung in over thirty movie theme songs, thus earning her the moniker "Movie Theme Song Queen".[2]
Early life
Llamedo was born to a poor[5] family of musicians on July 22, 1961, in Villa Bulsita, a sitio of Barangay Bulacao in Pardo, Cebu City.[6] Her father, Leoncio, was a carpenter who played the double bass in the village band while her mother, Andrea, was a dress-maker who sang in their local chapel.[6][7][5] She is the sixth[5] of eight siblings having four sisters and three brothers.[6]
Among her first five siblings, Llamedo is the only one who completed her
Career
In the early 1970s, she auditioned for Tawag ng Tanghalan but was initially rejected in her first attempt as she was still underaged.[9] When she finally got to enter the competition, she became a weekly and then monthly champion but failed to make it to the grand championship. After the competition, she stayed in Manila for five months, performing covers of songs by Shirley Bassey, among others, and had occasional stints in bars and restaurants around downtown Manila, Quezon City and Laguna.[6] She returned to Cebu with her mother but left and came back to Manila[7] at age 16[9] where she worked as a singer at a club-restaurant owned by a "controversial public official" who had abused her.[5] It was in this club-restaurant, however, where Llamedo was discovered by the composer George Canseco who was searching for a singer to sing his theme for the 1978 film Miss Dulce Amor, Ina starring Lorna Tolentino.[7] Considered to be her big break, from then on, Llamedo became known by her famous stage name Dulce.[1][7]
In 1979, Dulce recorded her most famous song Ako Ang Nasawi, Ako ang Nagwagi ("I Had Been Defeated, I Had Won").
In the 1980s, there was an unofficial ban imposed on Dulce by several recording executives. During this time, she had joined the Philippine government's "Balik Saya" musical caravan singing theme songs of local movies in the United States and Canada. Recording executives, however, would block other deals she would make calling her "too rebellious".[5]
In 1987, Dulce placed first runner-up with Nonoy Tan’s entry "Langit - Kung Kaya Ko Kaya Mo Rin" at the ABU Popular Song Contest in
From 1991 to 2004, Dulce's rendition of Constancio de Guzman’s Maalaala Mo Kaya served as the theme song of the television drama anthology of the same name.
In 2003, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the
Her other monikers include "Asia's Diva", "Theme Song Queen", and "Timeless Diva".[15] She has since sung around 30 movie theme songs.[8]
Personal life
Dulce first lived with singer / actor Danny Cruz, with whom she had three children.[16] She is now married to Bernard Beltran Cruzata II, with whom she has two daughters, Jem and Abby.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Film Company |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Emir | Ester | Film Development Council of the Philippines |
2017 | Ang Larawan | Donya Upeng | Culturtain Musicat Productions |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Network |
---|---|---|---|
2010–2011 | Juanita Banana | Donya Digna Buenaventura | ABS-CBN |
2018–2021 | Tawag ng Tanghalan sa It's Showtime | Judge |
References
- ^ a b c d "Dulce". Everything Cebu. August 6, 2011. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
- ^ a b "Costanilla: Dulce to receive a new award". www.sunstar.com.ph. August 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "Dulce has finally found her 'voice'". www.philstar.com. September 23, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "Dulce to mark 40th year in showbiz with concert". ABS-CBN News. August 9, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Azarcon-dela Cruz, Pennie (February 5, 2008). "After a life like a gritty telenovela, things just got sweeter of Dulce". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ a b c d e f g Red, Isagani (March 27, 1994). "The Have The Power". Manila Standard.
- ^ a b c d e Corporal, Lynette (November 3, 1995). "Dulce with the PPO? And why not?". Manila Standard.
- ^ a b c Newman, Jenara Regis (October 1, 2020). "Dulce: Diva with a Cebuano soul". Sunstar. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ^ a b ABS-CBN Entertainment (October 25, 2018). "The Bottomline: Dulce recalls the time she competed in "Tawag ng Tanghalan"". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019.
- ^ "La Dulce vita". The Philippine Star.
- ^ a b ABS-CBN (October 25, 2018). "The Bottomline: Dulce recounts the time she represented the country in the Asian Singing Competition". YouTube. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020.
- ^ Lam, Lulubelle (December 25, 1990). "Bravo, Dulce!". Manila Standard.
- ^ Torre, Nestor (November 21, 2003). "Viewfinder". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ "Dulce is cast in local version of "Hair Spray"". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ "Dulce: Timeless Diva". The Philippine Star.
- ^ "La Dulce Vita (Or, The Soundtrack of Dulce's Life)". The Philippine Star.