Biography

“I’m a rock star! Yeah!” is one of the many things you’ll hear from this 20-year-old rock star wannabe. Born on January 8 (same as Elvis Presley), Imee is living proof that a girl can rock. Having a natural flair for music, she is able to write her own songs and perform them in front of her closest friends. She also dreams of becoming a very famous rock star one day. “A lot of people have recognized my talent and I’m not hoping to be super famous… just the thought of people appreciating your work makes you feel like you’re a rock star.”

Like all other famous singers, she started singing when she was just a little girl. When she was six years old, she accompanied her father to sing “Don’t Cry Daddy” by Elvis Presley on stage at a Max’s Restaurant. “I stood on a stool beside my dad and was surprised to see a lot people watching me, so I went down and hid behind my dad.”

But that experience didn’t stop her musical interest; she soon enrolled at the Center for Pop Music, where she learned how about improving her singing and stage presence. Her musical talents developed over time and she was beginning to soar to new heights. By age 11, she already knew how to play various instruments like the lyre, banduria, flute, piano and guitar. “I was a natural in music and was also a fast learner.”

“In our school, we were required to join clubs, so for my third grade, I tried out the Drum & Lyre Corps (similar to a marching band). That’s where I learned to play the lyre. For my fourth grade, I joined the Rondalla Club where I learned to play the banduria.” During her fifth grade, when she joined the choir, she disagreed with some of its teachings because it was contrary to what the Center had taught her. “That’s where I realized that choir and classical music weren’t for me.”

Like most kids however, Imee became more interested in sports and less interested in music by the time she reached the sixth grade. She grew to love volleyball, and watching basketball, making her interest in music deteriorate to just simply listening to it on her walkman. She’d hang out with her childhood friends to play volleyball and other sports.

In her 3rd year of high school, her musical talents were put to good use when she and Amie Co, a fellow batchmate, formed their own band, “Scythe for no Sneakers.” Their bandmates were Ervin Carreon, a 1st year student, and Winifredo Santos, a 2nd year student. Imee did the vocals and the rhythm guitar while Amie played the lead guitar; Ervin was assigned to bass guitar and Wini on drums. “Amie suggested that name, but it was changed to The Abducted, just when we were about to perform in our school’s jamming activities.” Their band mainly played cover versions for “Alapaap” by the Eraserheads and “Swing, Swing” by the All-American Rejects.

“Our band got disbanded when Amie and I went off to college.”

This 3rd year Journalism-major/rocker, pretty much enjoys her stay in the University of Santo Tomas, because of the free concerts, pep-filled basketball games, the nice ambiance and friendly people. A combination of lots of the things she likes in life, sports and music. Imee is now turning her eyes towards the UAAP games and cheering for her favorite team, who else but the Tigers.

She isn’t leaving her compositions to be stored in her notebook though. She still writes and composes whenever she feels like it. “I write whenever I’m frustrated, sad, angry, or what not,” she confesses. “It’s like therapy for me.”
We’ll just have to wait and see what UST’s very own “rock princess” will come up with in the future.

—Charles Goyenechea
[ revised April 2007 ]