JANINE TEÑOSO IS HAVING A 'PINCH ME' MOMENT AHEAD OF 1ST SOLO SHOW

For Janine Teñoso, all it took was just one person to believe in her talent in songwriting.

- By JANELLE LORZANO

In the third episode of The Philippine STAR's "On The Rise" on YouTube, Janine opened up about how she almost gave up in 2020.

"Nagkaroon ako sa journey ko na medyo nahirapan akong makuha 'yung sound na gusto ko kasi I got really used to singing other people's songs and doing covers. So, medyo 'yung songwriting ko for a while, maybe around two years, it was hindered for a while. So, that was my trial. I guess, (it was) finding my way back into how I am as a songwriter," said the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) singer.

Things changed when Umibig Muli came to life, originally written by Janine and her friend, Pauline Lauron, in 2020.

"Si Pauline Lauron, siya talaga 'yung nag-inspire sa akin na bumalik sa songwriting. Kasi nga, for a while, nag-stop siya. Binigyan niya ako ng chorus nung Umibig Muli. And I was like, 'Oh, ganda nito. Pero hindi ko na sure, Ate Pauline, kung babalik pa ako, eh.' Sabi niya, 'Try mo lang. Ano ba naman 'yung i-try mo lang?' So, binigyan ko siya ng first verse, ng second verse, and then, pinasa ko sa kanya. Sabi niya, 'ganda! Ano? I-release na natin!' Sabi ko, 'Talaga ba?'" she narrated.

But Janine was hesitant at that time to release another original song. She was filled with worries and uncertainties about her musical career.

"Parang ang dami ko pang kailangan matutunan before ako ulit bumalik sa songwriting. Sabi niya, 'If not now, when?' So, I released it 2020, 'yung Umibig Muli, and little did I know, that was the song that would get me back into writing songs," she noted.