Jake Zyrus: Kung akala ng iba joke lang ang pagiging transman ko, it’s not!

PINANINDIGAN ng singer-composer na si Jake Zyrus ang mga naging pahayag niya laban sa ilang netizens na patuloy na nagkukumpara sa kanila ni Charice Pempengco.

Ayon kay Jake, isang malinaw na pang-iinsulto sa pagkatao niya ngayon bilang isang transman ang malilisyosong komento ng ilang tao na nagpapakilalang fans ni Charice para lang ipamukha sa kanya na nami-miss nila ang boses at itsura ng dati niyang pagkatao.

“I just said whatever it is that’s in my mind and I think my message was very clear. Again, there are some limitations I also know when you sincerely make a mistake and when you’re intentionally trying to insult me.

“Kahit na public figure ako, I’m still human and I know how to read emotions as well and read yung talagang tina-try na sabihin sa akin,” ang diretsong pahayag ni Jake sa virtual mediacon para sa bago niyang single at music video na “Fix Me.”

“‘Oh you sounded like Charice but I appreciate your voice, Jake. Great job!’ and ‘Oh Charice is back, Jake is gone.’ What do you want now? Long hair? Gown? Siyempre I’m a transgender man so that kind of comment is very insensitive,” patuloy pang pahayag ni Jake.

“It’s kinda making me feel na joke lang ‘tong lahat ng ginagawa ko, na joke lang ‘tong deicsion ko, na joke lang na transman ako. It’s not.

“If you enjoy that and you still can’t move on sa akin as Charice, again, my videos as Charice are on YouTube. Feel free to listen to that. I don’t have a problem with that,” diin pa niya.

Samantala, may vocalization training din si Jake ngayon at may mga adjustment din sa kanyang pagkanta, “I love my falsettos, I enjoyed using it a lot. I’m still training, vocalization, adjusting pa my mid-tones.

“I kind of try to challenge my vocals din and sing some Luke James songs. I enjoy using my falsettos because I couldn’t do that when I started transitioning,” sabi ng singer.

Na-realize naman ng singer na may iba pa pala siyang gustong gawin ngayong may pandemic pa rin, “I used to think na ito ‘yung gagawin ko for the rest of my life. During the pandemic, naisip ko I’m more than an artist pala at marami pa akong gustong gawin pang iba.”

Samantala, ni-release na nga ang music video ng kanta niyang “Fix Me” na tumatalakay sa kanyang anxiety issues, now streaming on Apple Music and Star Music YouTube channel.

“‘Fix Me’ is very personal to me, there are times that I would be asking my partner, ‘do I deserve love?’ I still feel that especially when I’m triggered and every time I sing or hear it, nakaka-relate talaga ako,” ani Jake.

“I started as a pop R&B singer so I thought it’d be nice to release something like that, something that people are familiar with,” chika pa niya.

“It was very hard for me vocally siyempre nag-aadjust and all that. Now it’s starting to stablize so I got really excited to showcase some of my vocal techniques,” aniya pa.

The “Fix Me” MV features the Kapamilya artist in an entrancing setting that gives a peek into his choreographed moves amidst a fresh tune. Edrex Clyde Sanchez directed the video under the production of ECS Films.

Isinulat ng Grammy-winning composer na si Kenneth Mackey, Swedish singer-songwriter na si Andreas Moss, at American record producer na si Joshua Bronleewe ang “Fix Me”.

It was produced by Filipino-American musical director Troy Laureta, who Jake recently nominated for Good Morning America’s Inspiration List in celebration of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

ABS-CBN Music International released the “Fix Me” single early this May, which has been featured in Spotify’s New Music Friday Philippines and Apple Music’s Absolute OPM and New in POP playlists.