By Julian B. Mauricio, ABS-CBN Publishing
Singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino needs to find a new man—but not for the reason you might think.
The winner of Pinoy Dream Academy season one will soon shoot a music video for “Jeepney Love Story,” her latest single off her third Star Records album titled Lapit, but is having trouble finding a suitable leading man. “Iniisip ko pa kung sino ang pwede,” she said. “Kailangan kasi namin ng mukhang high school or college boy, yung tipong pag nakita mo siya, love at first sight ang mararamdaman mo kasi sobrang cute niya. Ganun kasi yung nangyari sa characters sa kanta.”
When asked if she thought young actor Robi Domingo would be perfect for the role, she said that while Domingo fits the bill—he’s good-looking and a college junior at the Ateneo de Manila University—he wouldn’t be her first choice. Constantino explained it would be awkward for her to play a girl with a crush on Domingo because they might be related to each other.
“Nalaman namin ni Robi recently na baka mag-pinsan pala kami. Parehong Eusebio ang middle name namin and pareho rin ang province namin so we assumed na magkamag-anak kami. Mabuti nang wag na kasi baka maging leading man ko pinsan ko. Parang hindi maganda,” she laughed.
In between filming a cameo appearance in the music video for up-and-coming R&B artist Quest, Constantino shared how thrilled she is that her latest album and single are doing well on the charts. “Miraculously number two ang ‘Jeepney Love Story’ sa radyo ngayon. Nag-start siya sa ten, tapos umakyat sa seven bago naging two. Bilang songwriter, ang sarap ng pakiramdam. May ngiti sa aking mga mata kapag naiisip ko na marami akong na-achieve at this age.” (Constantino is 20.)
Constantino is happy people like “Jeepney Love Story” as much as some of her earlier hits, like “Hawak-Kamay,” the song that propelled her to a first-place finish on Pinoy Dream Academy in 2006. “Usually kasi yung mga kanta ko na nagugustuhan ng tao yung inspirational at yung medyo mellow, kaya masaya ako at nagustuhan din nila itong bago kong kanta kahit iba ang timpla.”
She said people have been tweeting her to say how much they love the song. “May mga ibang nagsasabing pinapakinggan nila yung kanta tapos nakakita sila ng cute na babae o lalaki sa sinakyan nilang jeep. Natutuwa ako kasi ako mismo hindi ko pa naranasan yung ganun. Nag-imagine lang ako nung sinulat ko yung kanta.”
She will shoot the music video for the song on August 3. She may not have a leading man yet, but one man who had a big impact on her career will return for the shoot. Avid Liongoren, who helmed the music videos for some of her earlier hits—including “Lapit,” the lead single off her third album of the same name—will direct the one for “Jeepney Love Story.” “Idol ko siya,” Constantino said of Liongoren. “Hindi ko akalain na magiging magkaibigan kami.”
But the question remains—who will be Constantino’s leading man in the music video? Her fans will just have to wait and see.