GOLDEN BALANGAY AWARDS HOST A MAN OF SUBSTANCE

DK TIJAM photo by Li ERON

The first time I hosted a travelling singing priests in Durham Region was from the Archdiocese of Cebu City, Philippines to help them raised funds for their projects. Being a Host/Organizer, I prepared the venue, the best Dj and I always tap our local talents for the Front Act in 2014.

One of them was Keeana Cerezo from my own region of Durham. She was about 14 or 15 and I could see her potential as a singer. And yes, she rocks and showed her immense talent that night. After this particular concert, I was tasked and asked to organize the first Simbang Gabi in my own community in Courtice, Ontario within Durham Region. It was supported by the nuns at the Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca at St. Therese Church located in Courtice Road in Courtice. At the culmination of the mass, the Cerezo family accepted my invitation for Keeana and her sisters to sing Holy Night. It was powerful.

As the season turns, I lost track of Keeana Cerezo. I did have her on my thread occasionally following the footsteps of her dreams to become a singer. Keeana was in a pop group in Toronto and was doing her thing while incidentally, a new aspiring singer was thrust into my life to mentor and support. Fienn Mendoza then became my artist and ally in the community. Fienn and Keeana are actually friends during their times with JDL.

I was doing my own endeavours in the community and then I got invited for a music competition where Keeana was one of the contestants. She floats on my thread during the online voting process. During the Championship and actual competition, I was seated with the Cerezo family to lend support to Keeana Cerezo.

DK TIJAM's name was floating in the air as Keeana's vocal coach and was coaching her in preparation of this competition. I haven't seen or heard Keeana sing for a while and when she does her number, I was completely blown away. Keeana's precise and powerful rendition wasn't there the last time she sang for me. What a difference Keeana was on stage during that competition of which I captured on my camera. If DK Tijam was her coach, this gentleman is good.

Although Keeana wasn't the Champion at this competition, her powerful delivery was hard to ignore. When I posted the video and ran a short narrative, DK Tijam was quick to comment on the thread expressing his gratitude for the post. When someone acknowledges even a smallest effort, it proves the person is properly raised and breed by the parents. We don't normally hear 'thank yous' from younger people but DK Tijam does.

I was formally introduced to him at Fienn Mendoza's concert at Regent Theatre UOIT Oshawa last May 5, 2017. Keeana was also a guest artist at this event.

DK Tijam is very courteous and polite, soft- spoken and calm. To know him to be developing talents in music and coaching them to squeeze their full potential the way he does with Keeana Cerezo, we have a good one parents can trust for their kids.

DK Tijam is not just a Champion himself in singing. He is way more than that....DK Talents is something to watch as this Golden Balangay Awards Host proves his charm and gentleness to his talents.

Watch this video I captured during Keeana Cerezo's competition in Toronto.