I just have a copy of this article from my friend and as i read it i realized that Arnel is really one of it's kind and despite what he had accomplished so far , he really had a " SIMPLE STRAIGHT APPROACHED IN LIFE" w/c is very rare and unique in his own way.
NOTE:Since there's no links attached on this article, i have to re-type it and skip those we keep on hearing over and over again.
.........................................................................................................................................
THE JOURNEYMAN REMAINS THE SAME
By: CHER S. JIMENEZ
He may have recently rocked the entire music industry and been featured in international media including CBS NEWS, CNN and ROLLING STONES but ARNEL PINEDA still shops for toys in Divisoria. The 41 yrs. old frontman of legendary band Journey has kept a simple lifestlyle even after completing 72 sucessful shows in CHILE,THE US AND EUROPE. His unprecedented entrance to the world stage created a global hysteria over the band's resurrection and gave a new meaning to the music of the popular American group.
Pineda who rose from picking up scrap on the street of Manila into performing live on a recent world tour w/ screaming fans of different colors has evidently come a long way. The band has two more vocalist beforePineda but the filipinos coming to Journey proved to be what they had been waiting for since vocalist Steve Perry's departure..
Aside from media interviews, Pineda also had the priviledge to sing in various TV shows including the Ellen De Generes show where the fiery host praised Filipino artist.De Generes program was the first international exposure of the phenomenon Charice Pempengco , who like Pineda was discovered by western media via video- sharing You Tube.Despite his swift journey to the ladder of success and exposure he's been getting from all over the world, Pineda decides to stick to what matters in life- his family." I'm spending everyday of my break w/ my family.," Pineda told HK news in a brief interview in Lan Kwai Fong where he visited former band mates.
The Sampaloc-borne Journey frontman agreed to perform at least three songs during the visit and turned the curiosity of bar patrons across the street. For 15 yrs. Hongkong was home to this father of three who decided to keep his family in the Philippines as he travels the world w/ the phenomenal rock band.While in the territory, Pineda keep in touch w/ old friends and visited places where he regularly goes including Mang Ambo's restaurants in Central and Wanchai,Pineda admits that while most of his time would be spent outside the Phlippines as he perform w/ the band, he is not considering moving his family in the United States. "Iniisip ko kasi yung kikitain ko mas mataas advantage pag dinala ko sa Pilipinas, mas magiging payak buhay ko sa Pinas, masyado kasing mataas ang standard of living dun baka masyado kaming ma-spoil lalo na ang mga anak ko." said Pineda.Besides, Pineda's observation of some filipino kids raised the western style made him reconsider bringing his three children and wife to the US.." I don't generalize kung paano mapalaki mga bata run pero the way i've observed it, mas magagalang pa rin mga bata sa Pilipinas, yun lang naman ang sa akin, pero i respect yung ibang pinoy gusto nilang i-raise mga anak nila sa America. Pero for me, it's best na dun n lang kami sama -sama sa Pilipinas." he added. Perhaps, the decision to keep a lifestyle of simplicity has it's roots from Pineda's humble background.
***************NOTE: The next paragraph shows his early life when his mother died and how he lives on the street for two yrs. to survived by selling scrap metal and how his mother influenced him to sing.and how he landed to become Journey's frontman*********************************************
Pineda also added that "Kung paniniwalaan ko yung faith na predestined na buhay natin, I'd like to believe na ganun din nagyari, pinagtagpo talaga kami ni Neal Schon, it was the right time, i was thinking of giving up bago tinawag sa audition; Gusto ko ng bumalik sa Hk para magtrabaho".. he said
Pineda's disarming humility helps him shake him off criticisms as some compared him to the original Journey's vocalist. " Hindi ko na lang nilalagay sa ulo ko yan at sa heart ko kasi masisira lang focus ko sa job ko. I take it in a more constructive way na lang, hindi ako nagde-dwell sa negative aspects ng criticism nila". he added.Besides, he got his hands full to direct his attention to his critics. Pineda is starting a foundation to help street children in the Philippines, called the AP Foundation, the non-profit organization is registered in the US and is waitng for a license to operate. Pineda said he choose to set up a foundation in the US since it only required him to shell out a couple of hundred of dollars. In the Philiipines he said, one would need a P1 million bond to establish a charity institution.
His official website has also created a community of fans he called "FRIENDS". Only five months since coming online, the site already had 5 millions hits making it one of the top 20 website in the world. The journey to success has only began for this Filipino talented artist.
****** SORRY GUYS. I COULDN'T UPLOAD SOME PHOTOS W/ THIS ARTICLES I TOOK FROM THE NEWS , AP WAS SO HANDSOME"**********
******************************************************************************************************************************************TRANSLATION: COURTESY OF WENCH
Iniisip ko kasi yung kikitain ko mas mataas advantage pag dinala ko sa Pilipinas, mas magiging payak buhay ko sa Pinas,
masyado kasing mataas ang standard of living dun baka masyado kaming ma-spoil lalo na ang mga anak ko." said Pineda.
I keep thinking that what I make (in $$$) buys more in the Philippines; and that my life'll be simpler in the Philippines.
The standard of living there (in the U.S.) is too high, and we might get spoiled by it, especially my children."
*************************************************************************************************************************************
I don't generalize kung paano mapalaki mga bata run pero the way i've observed it, mas magagalang pa rin mga bata sa Pilipinas,
yun lang naman ang sa akin, pero i respect yung ibang pinoy gusto nilang i-raise mga anak nila sa America. Pero for me,
it's best na dun n lang kami sama -sama sa Pilipinas
I don't (want to) generalize how kids are brought up there (in the U.S.), but the way I've observed it, kids in the Philippines are a bit more respectful.
But that's just me: I do respect other Pinoys who want to raise their children in America, but for me, it's best that we stay, together, in the Philippines.
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Kung paniniwalaan ko yung faith na predestined na buhay natin, I'd like to believe na ganun din nangyari, pinagtagpo talaga kami ni Neal Schon,
it was the right time, i was thinking of giving up bago tinawag sa audition; Gusto ko ng bumalik sa Hk para magtrabaho
If I buy into this faith that our lives are predestined ...well, I just like to believe that things would have turned out the same.
Neal Schon and I were fated to meet. It was the right time: I was thinking of giving up before I got called to audition.
I'd wanted to head back to HongKong to find work.
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Hindi ko na lang nilalagay sa ulo ko yan at sa heart ko kasi masisira lang focus ko sa job ko. I take it in a more constructive way na lang,
hindi ako nagde-dwell sa negative aspects ng criticism nila"
I don't let it dwell in my head and my heart, because it'll just make me lose my focus on my job.
I take it in a more constructive way instead. I don't dwell on the (really) negative aspects of their criticisms
.