Less than a month after her big win in Pinoy Dream Academy, Yeng Constantino is slowly getting her life in order.
The aspiring singer-composer says she has been writing songs even before entering PDA. She eventually became the vocalist of an amateur rock band. Her talent for singing and songwriting was honed.
The 18-year-old has also had her share of trials. Yeng chose to quit school to help ease the family's money obligations, and help her siblings continue their education.
"Di ko masyadong sinasabi sa loob [ng PDA]... Ayoko ng parang kaawaan ako," says Yeng.
The girl did rely on her talent, not on her sob story, to get the viewers to vote for her. Inside PDA, the young talent sang "Hawak Kamay," a song she wrote a few years back about her deep friendship with her cousin. The song topped the radio charts within a few weeks, and was chosen as the best theme song (Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo) in the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
On thePDA Grand Dream Night, Yeng emerged as Grand Star Dreamer, getting all of 697,648 votes. As the winner, she received a brand-new car, a condo unit, a Sony Bravia TV, a Touch Music Video unit, a Belgian Waffle franchise, a recording contract, and one million pesos!
Yeng is set to move into her condominium unit today with her parents and cousin.
"Tatlong bedroom po," describes Yeng. "Maliit lang po siya pero ang cute-cute... Sobrang blessing in disguise talaga ‘tong PDA..."
The move from their house in Rizal to her new home couldn't be more timely.
"Made-demolish na ‘yon this March," she says about the house her family just left. "Squatters kasi kami... Hindi namin sariling lupa ‘yon, pag-aari ng bangko. ‘Yon, kaya gigibain na ‘yong bahay namin. Walang titulo. Kasama kami doon."
She adds, "Gumagawa talaga ng paraan ang Diyos... ng ganito, ng ganyan. Siya ‘yong gagawa ng paraan. Ang laking blessing talaga. Biglang may lilipatan na kami, ‘tapos ‘yong perang nakuha namin binili ng lupa ng Papa ko. ‘Yon, para alam mo kung saan napupunta ‘yong pera. Nakikita nila kung anong nangyayari. Doon kami magpapatayo ng bahay."
Recently, the Grand Star Dreamer received yet another blessing. She will be moving in to a fully furnished unit.
She shares, "Binigay ng may-ari ng G.A. Towers [Mr. Delfin Lee] kasi nga sinabi niya sa 'kin noong nag-Christmas party sila... ‘Nakabili ka na ba ng gamit, ng furniture?' Sabi ko, ‘Wala pa po ata. May binabayaran pa po kasi kaming utang.' Sabi niya, ‘O sige, ibibigay ko na sa iyo fully furnished na.' Binigay niya! Ginawa talaga ang loob ng bahay kaya wala na po talagang problema."
Yeng will soon release her first solo album, Yeng Constantino: Salamat. The 10-track album will feature five original compositions, one revival, two songs composed by fellow PDA scholar Davey Langit, a duet with co-dreamer RJ Jimenez, and the Dream Songwriting Contest winner "Pangarap Lang."