Billy Crawford considers everything that has happened in his life as a singer-performer as the highlight of his showbiz career.
From being the child star in the defunct daily variety show That's Entertainment, to being an international R&B sensation, the music celebrity said everything helped him become what he is today.
So, on his 25th anniversary concert this September, dubbed as 25 B.C., Billy said that these would probably be part of the production numbers they're preparing.
"Kasi, na-highlight 'yong sa That's Entertainment. 'Yong eight years kong nasa That's Entertainment, lahat ng training ko, doon naganap," he recalled in interview during the press conference for his concert, which was held yesterday, August 24, at Evissa Superclub, Timog Avenue in Quezon City.
"'Tapos noong gumawa ako ng pelikula, highlight din 'yon. 'Tapos noong nag-branch out ako, natuto akong magsulat ng kanta, mag-produce ng kanta, 'yon highlight ko rin 'yon. 'Yong nasa France na ako, sa Europe na ako, concert touring, nanalo ako ng awards... Iba-iba, e. Parang every five years may nagaganap. It's a blessing naman din."
Billy may seem to have already reached far in local and international showbiz, but the R&B singer says he still has a lot of dreams to fulfill.
At 28, Billy said, "Lahat naman tayo, may mga ongoing dreams pa rin, no matter how young or how old you are. Meron pa ako."
GOING BACK TO INTERNATIONAL SCENE. Speaking of his dreams, one of these could be his return to the international scene, which he decided to temporarily leave in 2007.
He stayed in the Philippines to host GMA-7's reality dance show called M.O.V.E. After that, he transferred to ABS-CBN, where he hosted the second season of Pinoy Dream Academy and became a regular on its Sunday variety show ASAP.
The singer-composer said he's already working on a project that's intended for international release. "Kasi we're recording an album now, seven na 'yong tapos na kanta, may seven pa akong kailangang gawin. So, I have to fly by next year, sa France na ako," he related.
Billy clarified that when he returned to the country, it didn't mean that he wanted to forget the career he had established abroad.
"Wala naman sa pag-give up 'yon, e," he said. "Never naman ako nag-throw down ng tuwalya ko at nagsabi na wala na, dito na ako [sa Pilipinas]. I'm just saying, nandito na ako, I'm under contract with ABS-CBN. Tatlong shows ang ginagawa ko, may Panahon Ko 'To, Pilipinas Got Talent, 'tapos may bago pa. So, kailangan, i-establish ko muna lahat 'yon."
Does Billy envy other Pinoy music artists who are currently making a name abroad?
Billy said he's happy for the achievements of fellow music artists. At the same time, "Ang habol ko naman actually is not fame, it's actually the accomplishment, e. You know, when you try something and it works, you go with it. And when you're at the top, you can only go down. When you're number one, wala ka nang ibang pupuntahan, e, so it's a start program again. Pero never ako nagsabi na I stopped my international career.
"There's always the right time and the right moment to, actually, do something outside of the Philippines. Napansin ko minsan, when I was in France, 'yong support ng Pilipinas nandoon. When I came back the first time, sobrang grabe. 'Tapos one time na bumalik ako sa Pilipinas, sabi nila, 'Alam mo bumalik ka na roon, ipakita mo sa kanila...' So, by next year, promise ko, I will do something outside the Philippines again."
Billy is not worried about putting his local showbiz career aside for a while as he gets busy with this project. The singer-dancer says he knows how loyal Pinoys can be with local artists.
He also stressed, "As I said, hindi naman popularity ang habol ko. It's more of the achievement."