“Hello, I´m Bella. My dream is to be a professional singer and artist”
PORT BARTON, PALAWAN: The time of miracles is not yet over – a point when unexpected moment happens. Ask the music producer who went for dinner, and returned home stunned and amazed what he just spotted. The voice was nothing less than a singing sensational – songs performed by a new kid on the block. Her name was Bella, by then just 10 years old. When she did songs by Whitney Houston, all guests took a break from food on table. And the kid netted more tips than her mother earned by working all day at this restaurant. Bella is the new Soul Princess of Palawan, in the Philippines.
A sensational voice
“For me Bella’s singing and voice was sensational, almost a miracle. Bear in mind, she was just 10 and her voice still so “grown-up” that I had the feeling the real Whitney Houston was moving between the tables. That´s three years ago, now she is 13 and happily her voice is still great”.
Geir Tosaunet, also known as “Smiley” the artist, will for certain never forget the evening he discovered Bella. Geir cannot remember what food he ordered, but for sure he didn´t forget her voice. This music sensation took place in the seaside town Port Barton, almost in no-where-land on Palawan in the Philippines.
The new Soul Princess
For almost three years, Covid restrictions made it impossible to work with Bella. But now Geir Tosaunet and his team of musicians, song teachers and production-staff work to launch Bella the artist. Her first show will be songs well-known by Whitney Houston, and she will be launched as “Soul princess of Palawan”
“Hello, I´m Bella”
“Hello, I´m Bella!” On the white sandy beach of Port Barton, a promotion video is under way. Not far from the video-team, family and friends of Bella are gathered. Here are mother Lina and father Reinaldo, he is a fisher. Plus, Bella´s sister Mary, brother Venz, a couple of cousins and some other. They all know their rather poor life will change if Bella become a star.
They are all excited, you can see it in their eyes, absolutely logical to understand. Everything will change, hopefully for the better, even if this business is hard to predict. In the spotlight, Bella deliver her job quite professionally. Even when producer Geir tired her with the same text to be declared for the tenth time or even more.
“Out of a devastation typhoon came a new Whitney Houston”
Poor People
Mid December 2021, this idyllic seaside town surrounded by islands, was hit by typhoon Odette. One of this year´s strongest storms effecting 7 million people with heavy rain and flooding – including Port Bardon. The tourist industry was hit – poor people took another heavy punch following the Covid pandemic.
Bella’s poor family house took a punch and nearly destroyed by the storm. Like many other places, such weather is practically regular in some parts of the Philippines – and normally once a year.
GLORY ISLANDS AT THE EDGE OF THE WOLD
One moment in time
Out of the many wrecked houses and devastations, young Bella and her incredible voice are up as a bright light in a dark tunnel. Activities on the beach of Port Barton comes to a moment of standstill when Bella starts singing “One Moment In Time”, even the dogs shut up.
“The Soul Princess of Palawan” starts her pro career singing Whitney Houston-songs on five-stars resorts throughout the Philippines. Bella will also include her first recorded song, called “Turtle Island”.
Philipinas Got Talent
This is Bella´s second try on her way to the big fame. Just eight years old, she went to Manila and TV-show Philipinas Got Talent. She made it to the semi-final of this reality competition, with a song in Tagalo ethnic language.
“My dream is to be a professional singer and artist. I´m still young and think it´s possible”, Bella said realising her journey headed for fame has just started. From now, real name Villa Angela Serna Doce will only appear on the passport and her very first bank-account.
