WILBERT ROSS, HAS A BOLD REVELATION — WHY DOES HE NOT WANT TO BE “SAYING HOW”?
You had a depression attack that day. Mm. Alone. I want everyone to know that I don’t want to be greeted. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me, that everything you do seems wrong. Yes. In his eyes, this is one of the things that caused you to have a mental health issue. Yes, because they know what I went through and how everything happened.
It’s really hard, my mom just keeps calling. You’ll just go home crying. You’ll just go home so you have to endure being treated like that. They’re mean to you. So let’s not do this. Yes. What’s the reason why you fought? Maybe ma’am, I’m the only one who’s vocal here. If you’re like that, you don’t have any projects.
It’s like the management’s fault. That’s why I’m getting takedowns because Wow sold out. First day 15 minutes. Second day of the concert. Oh, you’re only 1 hour away, Wilbert Ross. Yes. Where are you looking? Singer songwriter. Oh my god, it seems like when was it? It seems like when was Mama ODS our last interview or. Yes. ‘ Do you remember, I really felt for you because you really want to push your career.
Who will give me a break? Who will trust me? You feel like you have no hope. Yeah. But I don’t feel hopeless but I’m not planning to stop and change career. It’s possible. Yes. Yes. That’s why. Look at it now. Oh my God.
I saw that your 2-day concert at the New Frontier Theater was sold out. When is it? July 25 and 26. Okay. Imagine it’s sold out. That’s why you’re not worried about the promo now. Nothing. You don’t have anything, what are you going to promote? There are no tickets left to buy. There are no tickets left to buy. There are no tickets left to buy and all you have to do is remind them to come.
That reminder is like thank you for buying tickets. Just grateful for the people who supported. Yes. But prior to this, you also had two night concerts that sold out. Or gig gig sold out at Viva Cafe. At Viva Cafe. So that’s what I guess triggered it. Yeah. Yes. Because after Gsot after Gsot, the show is called Maybe Beya Golden Scenery of Tomorrow. Okay.
So after noon, I don’t really have a gauge yet if anyone bought from me when I did a gig. I don’t have that kind of thing yet. Because not all the people on social media who like you, who watch you, will actually spend money. Dadi for you. That’s what we’re just trying to do. I’m actually hesitant.
I’m still nervous, maybe if you’re full because 170 people is 170 people. He’s not like that either, he’s really a lot for me. Then when I did that gig, I was 1 minute away from the slots, and opened day two, the same thing, 1 minute again. So it’s like maybe there are people who are really watching me and listening to my music, like I have that kind of thing, like maybe there are already some.
Then after those clips, there were songs that were trending. People seemed excited that you were going to a concert. And Viva gave me the opportunity to go to a concert. I was anxious for the past few weeks before the ticket sales. Oh. Because the next 2,200 is 170. The 170 at Viva Cafe is so far away versus the 2,200 at the new Frontier. Oh.
Yeah. So I’m nervous. Mm. Because it’s bad because I don’t always get rid of my nervousness. Mom about things like that. Because I always believe that we have our own markets. Not everyone really knows you. Not every market is so nervous. So when it came out, I expected 15 minutes or so.
It’s like I just wished I could sell him out no matter how long it took. As long as I could sell out because I might never do it again. Maybe this is my only chance to perform. Oh. Yes. Yes. So what’s this, you’re not so nervous because it’s already sold out while others are nervous about whether their tickets will sell out or you know will they sell out because life is so hard these days.
Is that another one? Too much. Oh. So my question to you now, are you wondering where they come from? Where do they come from? Why do they like it so much? Too much ma’am because I’m active on X, which is like a social media for Twitter. Of course, there are only a few who repost, comment on me there. So I feel like they’re the ones who will really buy.
Without me knowing that there were silent fans who were just waiting for me to perform from other provinces, mothers, there were adults up to 6 years old who were still waiting in line at the ticket sales. So I said, “You really can’t miss it.” Like you know, I thought it was just a few.
There are still those who are silently supporting you from afar. Not loud on social media, not loud in their support but they listen to your music, watch your videos. And then finally, they see that you have a concert and they want to be a part of that history of your life. Yes. So finally, your suffering that you couldn’t, your struggles that day when you couldn’t imagine that it could happen, has paid off.
Admit it, you’re hopeless. It’s like what am I going to do, I want to continue this. For sure, if you remember that interview, the vibe was so far away, right? It was the beginning of what we did with “Yes” and “You”. Ah, I’m really happy with that because not everyone, mam, seems to have mass appeal when people first see it, they immediately get attention, so not everyone in showbiz is lucky and is only given one year, two years, people also really do know that it takes time
so much that you really need to push yourself just to improve yourself and so that you can offer something new, but that’s a good testament, ma’am, that doesn’t mean that you’ve been seen and that’s your only chance to become famous or that you’re like, oh, getting to know someone is there and there could be a chance to open doors for you. Yes. Yes.
Yes. It’s good that you didn’t give up that day. My God. Not anymore. Almost. Almost. Almost. Yes. And how happy I was that at that time, all I thought about was my mom, as long as I had money to pay for the condo, I had money to pay for my bills and I was alive here in Manila so I wouldn’t be tempted to give up my dream, because as long as I’m alive, I have something to eat. Okay, let’s give them small things.
Rocket is small there. I will accept everything. As long as I just survive because I know it seems okay for now, I’m just surviving. So how do you feel that it helped you fight? Because the day I interviewed you, you even sent me away from your interview. It seems like you should just turn that down, okay, the interview.
So I, of course, just follow because I don’t want to add to your problem. So let’s not do this. Yes. So what’s the reason why you fought? Maybe ma’am, I’m vocal here, I can really imagine myself not doing this thing. And I always say that this is just a lifetime.
At least do the thing you want to do. Besides, this is the face of my life, my age. Of course, it’s not forever. You’re on the show. The same dream, straight because I’m a mama from the start. This is what I want, this is what I want, this happened. This happened. This happened. Yes, I still want it. If something happens to me, all I do is cry.
I’m just going to lock myself up for a while. Then after crying, get up again. Think about the content again. Think about something that can give you a stomachache. That’s it. Just rest. He’s not the one who seems to be hurt, you don’t want me to be hurt. I’m just going to rest. I’m just going to cry. Then it’s game time again. So how’s your mental health? It’s okay.
I’ve been through a lot before, sir. I feel like I know how to handle him because honestly, if this had happened before, I probably wouldn’t have been able to handle it. Because of course, the more you get to know someone, the more bashers and issues you can’t guess where they come from, like people just want to issue things. So he can’t be avoided.
So now I don’t read anymore. When I read, it’s just like that. M. Yes, right. Right. When I talked to you before, you said that there were some people in the industry who seemed to be holding you back, who seemed to not want you to be recognized, and that everything you do seemed wrong. Yes, in his eyes, and this is one of the things that caused you to have mental health issues. Yes.
Or do you still think of him as that person now or do you just use him as a stepping stone to fight harder? No, ma’am, because I’m blessed right now. I’m blessed. I’m happy. So I shouldn’t think about the past anymore, because because of the heavy and difficult things I’ve been through, my character has been built to be grateful for every blessing I’ve been given.
Always giving 100% to any job, acting, singing, everything. Never relaxed and never put my mind to what I am. Because I really know that at any time I can get it back. Because if I hadn’t gone through what my mother went through, maybe my thinking about my career wouldn’t be like this. I’m not that late. So she’s part of the very thing that shaped me today.
Of course, to other people, it’s not Who is Wilbert Ross? Others already know you as one of the members of hashtag ‘ba. So it seems like now they’ll say because you’re a bit loud now. So yes, he’s overtaken by other hashtags. No, it’s not. It’s just timing. or right time because uh let’s say that was their time, that time, I didn’t really have time to get to know them at that time.
Mm and they also have their own time, those members don’t become famous at the same time, there are months, there are years when one is more famous, then the other one drops off and becomes famous again. It just took a little longer for me. They say that when they become famous, it’s because the members of the group are past their prime.
So I thought, well, if you look at me at that time when I was still on hashtags, it’s like, no, you’re not like that. Okay, look at that skinny girl who doesn’t know how to fix herself. Before, I wasn’t really noticeable and I admit it. So at that time, it’s really understandable that I wasn’t noticed and my voice wasn’t there yet, there wasn’t anything special about my sound and I hadn’t written many songs yet.
M so if I wasn’t noticed then I really wasn’t noticeable and now I took the time when now to give me the opportunity I have 20 songs that have been released for the people to listen to discover wow so right timing ma tar you ha so what are the group members saying in the hashtag especially since you had a sold out concert we actually met last night at Nico’s condo, Zeus, Kid, Luke and Kuya June. They are happy.
They are so proud of me. Of course, as a member of the group itself, they have been like brothers for 4 years. We are together in the dressing room every day. They are proud because they know what I have been through. They know my dedication to doing almost everything just to be noticed.
Look like a fool in the contents to get noticed. Mm all. Will Wilbert still be able to promote on It Showtime where you originally came from? I hope so. I haven’t really gotten close yet. Because Mama Vice and I are always messaging each other. I tell her about sold outs. So proud of you that she’s doing that. She’s really doing that because we’re really constant and we miss those things.
And I never use that. Guess what, I’m already here. I never used that with vi, I know my friend. Yes. So it seems like there’s hope I can promote there. Especially since Bea and I have an upcoming movie. Mm. Which is PMAC. PMAC. Yes. PMAC. Thailand Highest Grossing Film.
Ah Mario More po ung ah okay. So adaptation adaptation hopefully can promote in the future. Of course I miss my Showtime family too. The vibe of Showtime itself where I grew up. If you stayed with It’s Showtime or the hashtag you can meet this. No, we can’t say that, mom. But all I know is that we are all being removed because of the pandemic.
I had a reason, maybe a reason for everything. And that’s why my contract with my former manager was cut. I was released because of the pandemic, so Viva hired me. So there’s a reason for everything, right? Yes. Can you imagine that there’s really a pattern? There is a pattern. But before, you felt like you had no chance.
When I was on the hashtag, I felt like I had no chance. I was like, what chance do I have? People see me on TV every day, but I still don’t have the appeal that they want me. So that’s one of the reasons why I felt weak before, because you’re so exposed, why are you still so famous?
You’re so exposed every day on the time show when you were still shining brightly. So it’s like there’s a part of me that’s accepting that maybe I don’t really have a connection with people or the masses like that. These days, what do you hear from other people about your career, about your existence in showbase? What? That’s awesome.
Well, there’s also a port of Showtime. It was just said that I would be really surprised by the popularity of that person. Then there’s also him saying that I’m the only one different from hashtags because they’re all celebrities. Ah, those are the ones that really exist as in there really exist, there really exist, they really come to me because they say that t’s is also next to the hashtag.
So, how did you take it that time? It’s really sad because of course ah well it’s true that my handler used to be straight because that’s straight forward and he also said like Bert you know we’re losing in terms of looks don’t be anything ah don’t be petty you’re always good we’ll just make up for it there because what are we going to leave us in groups yes just make up for it there in being a professional professional in my talent because you don’t have a face because you’re losing like I was left in my group he said that time in terms of looks.
I looked good before. I’m so skinny, I’m sideways. So yeah yeah. Everytime you Everytime you hear that, do you lower your morale? That’s too much. Yeah, your morale? Too much. Too much. Yeah. Because I told you I was trying to report that person to the top. The top just told me that I only saw you for five seconds on TV when I noticed you.
Pay attention to yourself. Don’t use that as a reason for not including me in the segments. So that’s it. So I feel like I’m going to get married and maybe I won’t really pay attention. So that’s just how I think. I accept it but I don’t stop. Mm that time I was trying, the pandemic really gave me a chance, ma’am.
Because it seems like we know that what happened during the pandemic is not really okay but I’ve been at home for a year, all I thought about was improving myself. That’s all I thought about as I have a routine for my body because I always sing and use the guitar. So it seems like the Lord has reset the world now.
So this is my time so I can also call someone for a second coming. So that’s what I used. So now you think that person is the reason why I’m here today? There are many of them. Ah, there are many. Mm. That’s not all he went through. He’s really been through a lot but we’re okay, we talked and all. I know.
Oh really? Yes. He’s sorry. Yes at least it’s okay. It’s okay. Then I realized that he’s a ma’am. I’m too blessed to think about a negative past. Just be thankful for what’s happening to you now. So what does your family say now about the progress of your career? Of course they’re so proud.
Mom cried too. My sister cried too because they also know what I went through and how everything happened. They know how hard it was for my mom to just call. Just go home while crying. Just go home. They’ll be with you. Just go home here. Do you want to study instead? Just put up with it while you’re being treated like that.
I’ll just tell my mom, “You’re crying, it’s okay ma’am. I can handle it. I can handle it. I don’t want to regret my life. Whatever I want to do, I really want to do it.” Mm. Because if you end your life, there will be no sold-out concerts. Nothing, nothing, nothing. Right? Because I remember the story.
It seems like you were attacked by depression that day but you fought it off. Mm. Alone. Alone. That’s my problem, mom. But when I have a problem, I really don’t want to, so I ask for takeovers because I want to. I know that everyone says hello to me. Are you okay? I’ve been used to it for the longest time not saying that I don’t want to be greeted.
I don’t want anyone to pity me. That’s why I took it down last time. Because there are so many people asking how are you doing, are you okay with your life? Well, it doesn’t help that it’s just annoying because it seems like it’s better for me to be alone. So is that the reason you took it down there? Because people always ask how are you after so many that they seem to feel sorry for you after watching the interview.
They pity me like that. You don’t like that? I don’t like being greeted. Do you not like being greeted or don’t like being pitied? Boss ma’am. Ah so now has your brain changed direction in that greeting? It’s not that you don’t like it, ma’am, but like I don’t need him. For the past 10 years I’ve been here alone in Manila, ma’am.
I’ve gotten used to it as if I’m checking on myself, I’m the only one checking on myself. I don’t need other people anymore. I don’t want you to think about me. I don’t want to be a burden on your mind like a clueless mother. Then sometimes I just report to the nurse but she doesn’t know that there’s so much going on, you know, I tried to do that, I just told her that.
So they don’t really know because I don’t want to disturb other people. If I have a problem, I can handle it on my own. I’ll get over it. So have you changed anything about your previous behavior now that you’re a well-known
Being sensitive, I try to have the stoic system in my system, at least not completely, to be stoic. When something bad happens, think first about what you can do about it? Is there anything you can do? Because if it has happened and there is nothing you can do, you need to move on. Yes.
Even if you still have some left, you do that. You do your best. You do your options to fix whatever happened. But think about it and ask yourself, can you still make changes or is there nothing left? Mm. Mm. Mm. If there is nothing left, you need to move on. It is inevitable to get hurt somehow but you need to move on. He can’t stay where he is and affect your way of living for a long time just because something bad happened.
So now that you’re on Viva, that’s a big reason why you’re there, why you’re so alive and well-known. Only God knows why you’re known and famous. I’m really thankful, sir. They were the first to believe in me. From the first time we met, we met through Zoom, I was in Davao.
They said there was something in my music. Boss Verb, boss Vic’s grandson, believed it. They believed in me. Then they also told me without me realizing that I have a talent in comedy. At that time, the usual artist wanted to be a leading man, right? It’s like a school.
So they saw me and said their boss Vincent we will see you as a young comedian. He said so that was in my first mind hmm do I want that right away ma’am what happened Andre’s support me in a movie this is I unlocked him that I have somehow timing ad lives as time goes by growing because when I was given the opportunity because mama told me we want you to be a comedian I immediately aimed I wanted to be the best comedian yes like that immediately yes then after that I tried the sexy comedies too so
It’s like okay if that’s the path they see me in because I trust I’ll be a sexy comedian. I should be the best sexy comedian. That’s what happens in my interviews even though this is my truth, ma’am, really proper. It’s good, deep. So before, I used to build a persona that my mouth was rude like that, oh no, the words I use were rude too.
Ah, you’re talking a bit of a double meaning. Yes. Because if I’m gonna be a sexy comedian, I’m gonna be the best sexy comedian. That’s all. So I’m always aiming for one of the ahs until we’re given a chance. Because I’ve been given a chance again today to be the one that I’ve lost in being a sexy comedian. Mm leading man material.
I was given a chance with uh Golden Scenery of Tomorrow. I prepared. I really prepared because I said I calculated what the chances are of having a big impact on my life and career. To what adaptation. Many viewers. And then they requested me for the specific role. They requested me because I’m a singer songwriter, artist, and that’s it.
So it’s like they requested me. So it’s like I’m thinking about the factors, what factors made a series stronger. So I was hands-on when choosing a director. Dirk Victor is really the one I said, I’m really pushing him. So I’m really organizing things to happen. And then I workout a lot.
As in for one year I haven’t had anything to do with my regular work but I’m still alive but I’m working out. So it seems to be on my mind because that time is lacking. Not lacking, not looking like a leading man. It’s like that. Let’s workout. I workout. I’m not talking about my body right now because I’m going to keep it for 1 and a/ year because I’m going to release my topless photoshoot right after it’s in the book because that’s where all the attention is.
Because if you release it now, that’s the timing, the right timing to release those things. My songs are just written, they’re all there. They’re all ready recorded. The moment the series starts, I release them all wherever the attention is. It really happened, ma’am. So, all that’s missing is hard work and dedication.
Sometimes you really need to use planning. He really has a brain. He’s not the one who just acts blindly like I’m going to do this. I’ll work hard, I’ll shine. You really need to think about how. So that’s the direction of your brain, right? How is it really like that? What? So how’s your love life? You don’t have a love life? It’s okay, mom.
Happy when you say okay there is. Happy. I’m happy, mom. Those who are like that. Stop it, mom, or else you’ll be happy. Okay, so happy, so is Wilbert now saving? At least, I’ll buy some land, there are four plots of land in the province, there’s a rice field. There’s a farmhouse. My farmhouse has a cow and some goats.
There are a lot of chickens with a fish pond. I made it look like a rest house there. Wow. Then I also have two investments in land in Davao that I’m just increasing the value of just buying and selling. So your family is the one who takes care of it. My family. Yes. And then besides that, I always invest in myself. I don’t save myself on clothes, skin care products, classes, voice classes, guitar classes.
Oh, I don’t save myself because of course that’s the best investment because once it’s there for you, it won’t go away. Right. So that’s what I’m doing to the point where when I was preparing for GSOT, I scheduled what I was doing every day when I woke up in the morning, I would stretch because that’s what I was doing, I did split stretch split because I wanted to be able to split so that when I got an action role, my kick would be good.
After non-guitar it’s on a timer. So I’ll learn chords like that. After that, workout. After workout back to guitar again. After guitar at night I need to write something in the script or in my book or in my novel. So I really make it a routine. If you do it little by little, it’s just minutes but if you do it every day you don’t realize that you’re getting better at something or your talent.
Yes. That’s good what you’re doing. It’s routine. Mm. Routine. Like, it’s hard because it seems like you’re already bored. You want to be good right away. It doesn’t help. So it’s like, like, 5 hours of playing guitar but once a week, 30 minutes a day that you do every day is better.
Yes. So there. Ah because you can’t play the guitar? You can’t. It’s just more skills when I write songs with guitar so that the more chords, the more sounds I can make in the songs I write. Or what are you? So singer composer. How many songs have you composed so far? 20 songs already.
For a while. The latest one is, do you have an album too? There’s only one EP called ‘yung parang ano lang siya eh lang siya eh lang siya. Not that many songs. I think it’s six. ‘I just released that one, the title is Avana. That’s the one that’s like the character down in GST Aviana, that’s the name of Bea’s character. So I made her a song.
Ah that’s my latest. And now I’m writing. Preparing for a no? I hope I can write for an album too. And besides songwriting, I’m also finishing my novels right now. So there’s a lot of perfection in your life. So what if you’re alone and just in front of the mirror.
What do you tell yourself? I’m a mom, oh, I’m so used to being alone. So sometimes it’s like when I’m sick, oh my god, it’s really hard. You’re the one who gets up, you’re the one who makes your food, you’re the one who cleans, whatever you bring to the hospital, you can do it. That’s how he is. You literally don’t have a helper in the house? No. No. The driver is just a studio type.
Nothing either. Me too. You too. That’s one of my goals, mams, that’s why I’m also pursuing it because I want to buy a bigger condom for my house, if only for a different reason, not just because I want it, I want a big house. Of course, if I had a big house, I could have a helper who would do normal things for me.
If I don’t wash my own clothes anymore, I won’t clean my own house anymore. I have more time to improve my skills and talents. So I can do more. So more can happen in my career. So now even if it’s laundry, you do it too. Me too. Because I have a washing machine there.
I used to do fundry but it took a few days and I ran out of briefs. Yes. Then it’s like I’m doing laundry. So it’s like when I do laundry I just use a humidifier. So it dries out too. Oh, bragging. What’s that, why? That’s also a skill. When you do it with a machine, that’s all you do, mamo. It’s not all about you alone.
Do you even cook? Ah, there are diet food that is only cooked once in a while but more on that I just order like that. That’s good, you’re really independent, you’re used to it. It’s been a while. Yes. Yes. So what else does Wilbert dream of? Because I love anime, so now I have a character that I really like in One Piece, Luffy.
Now Luffy is always saying, he’s shouting to the whole world that I’ll be like this. He’s always manifesting. Now I remember myself. My first meeting with the Viva Bosses. Boss Vincent, boss Vic, boss VRC on Zoom. It’s after our very last meeting, Ma’am, I don’t know what was going through my mind.
It’s their first time meeting me, ma’am OD. Ah I said bosses, I just want to say something. I just want to say that I’m planning to be the greatest artist of this generation. Thank you so much for that. Ah okay, we’ll support you there. You know, suddenly they said, “Oh, that sounds great,” I don’t know what came into my mind, ma’am. “Oh, I was like, ‘This is what I plan to do,’ well, I don’t know if it can help new artists now, but I hope they always have that desire for the
The passion, the hunger, the desire to make things happen, and I hope they don’t always blame management for why nothing is happening in their career because it should start with you, management is there to support you and give you an opportunity. When you prove yourself, it’s like if you’re like that, you don’t have any projects, it’s like management’s fault, but we’re in the social media era now, there’s TikTok, there’s Facebook, you can get noticed, you can showcase
yourself so that people can recognize you, you have the chance, you are in control of yourself. You are in control of the beat, you are in control of the beat. Now the question is, how much do you want to be recognized, to be famous, to be appreciated? Because if you really want that, you should be complaining, you should be working right away. Yes. Yes. During your idle time, make it productive.
Productive, right? Or so you do. It’s always like that. Every project that is given to me, I am always grateful. I always treasure it, I am always thankful. I always tell my brain that thank you for the new project and I hope there will be more. It’s not like I’m sure there will be more.
There is always that hope and wish that there will be more so that you don’t become complacent because we know in showbiz anytime anytime you can be famous this month next month that’s how fast the pacing is in showbiz so what are you thinking if I had done this before I wouldn’t be like this now if I gave up if I had decided that I don’t want it anymore it hurts too much it’s not okay I don’t want to work I just want to do it if I did I wouldn’t be here now so if nothing is happening in your life right now. What is your work now or
What about Wilbert? Maybe I’d join a band with just a few gigs. I really want to sing. But apart from that, maybe I’d also go into business because business is also my passion. What can you give to the kids now? Especially the struggling newcomers, the aspiring ones. You hold the beat. Mm.
You hold the beat. So use the beat. Don’t let other people dictate your career or what’s right for you. And I hope you’re hungry. Let things really happen. It’s not like this because the difference between wanting to be a showbeast, an artist, and wanting to be an artist. Ma’am coach, you think that an artist and an artist are the same.
Is being an artist different from being an artist? Well, because an artist is a mother, the meaning here is different. An artist is a show artist because someone makes art that is loved by their art because that’s the difference. If you want to be an artist, you just want to be famous in any way even if you don’t have talent. You just want to be famous. When you’re an artist, you want to be recognized for the art, not for you directly. It’s just a bonus that you’re recognized because your art is what people appreciate. That’s the difference, not the artist yourself.
What you want to know is the person, the artist, your art, what you want to know is that it’s fancy, that’s new, that’s right, that’s right. In fairness. Yes. So what do you say to yourself now? Of course I’m so proud of you. You didn’t give up. It’s good that you didn’t die. It’s good that you didn’t die. Or you didn’t give up. For a long time.
Like it’s not that easy. It’s not that fast. It takes time. It’s happening so slowly but that slow thing is the reason you can improve yourself for specific timing like Wilbert with the amount of songs you’ve composed and the course of your life now and the story of your life, what is the appropriate song you’ve composed that you want to dedicate to yourself myself what is it, really the one song I have is the title is journey of life in the spinning of the wheel Long, are you looking for someone to go with?
On the journey of life? Then don’t worry. You will no longer be alone, my love. I will take care of it, sleep and lean back.
