Papa EJ TV

He doesn’t have any relative who is into singing or playing instruments. He didn’t know how hard he will pursue music in his childhood. He was born in Kawit, Cavite as a typical kid with low self-esteem. He didn’t know he existed in his childhood. He avoided being bullied at school by showing confidence that he never had. Although they weren’t that close as brothers, EJ idolized his older brother,

Reiner Enriquez. This might have also been the reason they never hung out together. They almost fight every time they come in contact with one another. EJ, with his self-doubt, didn’t know what he could be good at. He played a little bit of baseball but he wasn’t that good to be recognized. He tried baseball because his brother got the “Athlete of the Year” award during his days in elementary and he thought he might actually be good at it too. He also was in drawing because of his brother but he neither excelled in it. EJ didn’t know what he could really be good at. He never dared singing because he never had the confidence in him. He only did this in his first year in high school, alone, in a karaoke bar near their place. These were one of those rooms with karaoke where you have to insert 5-peso coins to reserve your songs. He was OUT OF TUNE. He sang 2 songs and quit. He only started singing again as he became close with Jay-r Jinayon. The guy was into singing every night in karaoke bars. Jay-r loved singing. He went along with him and some other close friends in that bar every night until he got his rhythm into singing. He was able to tune his voice correctly from there on. Friends and acoustic guitars

EJ only fell fully in love with music during his teens. He started playing guitar as his brother (Reiner Enriquez), again, inspired him during high school. His brother was also just starting to learn how to play the guitar those days. He didn’t have his own so he only borrowed acoustic guitars from his brother or the one his cousin (Johnny Delos Santos) had. He didn't have friends or relatives with the same passion for playing so he had to do it himself. He learned how to play guitar through chord charts in the mid-sections of old song hits (song-book) sold around the Church in Kawit, Cavite. He never had a band to play with so he shared his passion for playing music to his close friends. He practiced through the little gatherings they had in his teens. Step back from music

He didn’t come from a wealthy family so he started working at his early age of 17. His mother was a factory worker and his dad was a tricycle driver. He never knew he had any chance in earning money by playing music because he knew he can sing and play guitar but never to the professional level. Taking a course in college related to music crossed his mind once but he never lingered to it. He knew he couldn’t make it through music. He didn’t even know if he would be able to go to college in the first place. He drove his dad’s tricycle at night to earn some cash. He also worked in a fast-food (Chowking) to make his own money. He also contributed (a little) to their family’s expenses. He earned very little for working as a tricycle driver or a fast-food crew. He went to CVsU (Cavite State University) to study Mechanical Technology. He was able to finish the 2-year course through the help of her elder sister, Vangie Enriquez. He chose this school and course for practical reasons – it’s the most inexpensive school to go to and taking a 2-year course will lessen the burden of his sister financing his studies. He liked mechanical but never loved it. He knew he had to take actions to change his path. He heard of the new industry in the country those days -the BPO. Different companies from the United States are outsourcing here in the Philippines. That became his next target since he knew he could earn some decent money in this profession. He knew he didn’t have the communication skills required to get this job so he went to a free call center training. It was a government project with a 2-week-course to help the students communicate better and get hired in the booming BPO industry in the country. With EJ’s determination, he got hired during his first week in the course. He wasn’t able to finish the course because he already got his first job in the call center world. He worked for 3 different companies without the dream of getting any promotion. He knew he was earning enough for himself but his heart wasn’t in the right place. At this point, he still didn’t know what he truly desires. The First Dance

He only got himself exposed to on-stage music the first time when his best friend (in elementary), Kim Villa, asked him if he wanted to form a band (duo) which they named “Amphitheatre”. He didn't know how it was going to work and he was in the front line since he will be the only one singing for the band. His singing and communication skills he acquired when he worked in a BPO (call center) are the only ones he got to get the show going. He never had the confidence in public speaking (singing in this case) since he never had any experience in doing so. He played as the (only) vocalist and the percussionist (cajon) in their new band. He pursued their band by sending their profiles left and right in different bars in Cavite. They were able to get some gigs which helped a lot in honing their talents as individuals and as a duo. They soon met Gidgeth Filoteo (Female vocalist) and Elmer Rafallo (violinist) who joined their team. Their quartet had a distinctive sound that helped them acquire more gigs (events and regulars). This helped EJ gain more confidence in playing on stage. Hailey’s in town! While still with Amphitheatre, EJ decided to go back to studying as he questioned the future of being musicians. He doubted his music career as he knew a lot of musicians in Cavite with better skill sets who already aged in music but still without the brightest future for their families. He felt that he wasn’t for the BPO industry too. He felt like he needed to change his plans for his future. He took Information Technology in San Sebastian College Recoletos. He has always been a tech savvy. His BPO experience also helped him a lot in new technology stuff. He juggled his schedule for music and school. He did this for a year and a half until his girlfriend at the time, Mary Jane (now his wife) got pregnant with their kid (Hailey). He had to take immediate actions in the course of his career because he had an immediate need for money. He needed to prepare as his wife was giving birth to their child and he will need to support them. He also thought of how Mary Jane’s parents would take it if they knew that their in-law was just a musician who couldn’t even afford a caesarian section for his wife-to-be. He manned up and asked for Mary Jane’s hand for a marriage. He then talked to the team (Amphitheatre) and told them he would need to take a break because he will apply for a job in the BPO industry again. This was because he knew he couldn’t earn enough if he stayed studying while playing music. His child will be born soon. He will need to support this child. He also had to prepare for his wedding with Mary Jane and he will have to start his own family without any savings. He stopped studying and only had few gigs left. He only played with Amphitheatre during his rest days. During those days, Ian Torres was the one who played the percussions and male vocals for Amphitheatre while EJ was at work until EJ’s schedule had too much conflict with the band schedules. EJ had to give it up and quit the band. Amphitheatre continued without EJ in the scene. New skills acquired

During his second run in the BPO industry, EJ fully committed in his career. He took it seriously this time. He had already given up his music career and this is the only one he got left. He wasn’t getting any younger so he knew he couldn’t change careers anymore. Music has always haunted him during his days in the BPO. He really wanted to stay in music but he didn’t have any choice. He spent 3 and a half years being a call center agent until he worked his way to getting his promotion as a trainer. He pursued being a trainer over being a team leader because he knew that trainers have a fixed schedule – weekend off! After being separated from playing music on stage, he was able to find a way to play music at least on weekends. The only question then was HOW!? Amphitheatre already has their own percussionist / male vocalist and EJ couldn’t play solo because he never played the guitar on stage. From then he knew what had to be done. He knew he had to focus on his own skills. That was the only way. He decided to prepare to be a solo performer instead of building his own band because he knew that he would earn more if he played solo and no one would join his band if he only played during the weekends. He bought a guitar, some speakers, a mic and a stand. He reviewed all the songs he can remember. He studied more songs everyday after a long day of work as a trainer. He spent 2-4 hours every day to review and study new songs. Nobody knew that he is now playing as a solo performer. His network as a musician is now gone after not playing for a while. He knew that the bars and restaurant owners prefer performers with experience and he would only have experience if he acquired gigs as solo. He spent the entire week studying and focusing on self-improvement as a solo artist then during the weekends, he played live on Facebook. This helped him gain experience in playing music with live audience. This also helped to let everybody know that he is already playing solo now. He continued to do this until he got his first solo-gig in Brielle’s Bar and restaurant in Cavite. From there, he continued to focus on his self-development as a solo artist. He would continue studying after work every week and play at Brielle’s during the weekends. He also met Crystal Tinitigan along the way. A female vocalist who helped him get more gigs during the weekends. He was able to get 4 gigs during the weekends. He would work at night from Mondays to Fridays. After his shift on Saturday mornings, he will go straight from work in Makati to gig in Tagaytay to play there at noon. He will go home in the afternoon and get some (just some) rest then head to Café Juan Miguel to play there on Saturday nights. He will have to sleep right away because he needed to go back to Tagaytay on Sunday mornings to play again and back to Brielle’s on Sunday Nights. This very tight schedule helped EJ gain a lot of experience in playing solo. During these days, he also found interest in looping. A device that repeats the sounds it gets from the guitar and mic inputs. It took him some time to get used to the device until he included it in all his performances. This became his trademark as an artist. Kuya ‘Ner

He and his brother were never close. They even hated each other when they were kids. They only started getting along when Reiner and EJ already have their own families. That was the time they only started to hang out together and really know each other. Their family is very close and would go out as much as they can to spend all the time possible together. Their worlds have been shaken when Reiner started showing symptoms close to bell’s palsy. They were still in question of Reiner’s illness until he was finally diagnosed properly. He was diagnosed o myasthenia gravis. An auto-immune disease that destroys muscle receptors. This was very devastating for Ej and the entire family. Reiner had to go through a lot in front of EJ’s eyes and this was the most painful experience EJ’s has ever been through. Reiner had to go in and out of the hospital for white some time because of this illness. Taking a leap of Faith and Making It Work

While focusing on work as a trainer and as a musician during the weekends, EJ got another promotion in his call center job as a Training Supervisor. He, now, doesn’t have to train but he will now handle a group of trainers to support a specific program in the company. He tried his best to handle the team until the call for music already sounded too loud for him to handle. His brother’s passing also helped him realize that we have to take ownership of our life and not let the things happening around us indicate what we are going to do. To do what our hearts truly desire no matter what because we won’t know when it will all be over. His brother wanted to do many other things than just working but he never had the chance. This inspired EJ a lot in terms of making his decisions and dictating his own life. He felt that he is ready. It took a lot of guts to jump into the unknown future for music but he did it. He decided to finally do it full time and making it work along the way. He was able to enjoy music while providing for his family. His experiences in life as a teen playing the guitar with his friends helped him understand what he really loves the most. Hi experience in working early in his days made him realize how hard life can be. His experience with Amphitheatre helped him experience being a band-member, a lead vocalist and a percussionist. It also had given him the experience he needs to talk and negotiate with clients. His experience in the BPO helped him improve his stage presence and communication skills. His experience being a manager helped him understand the business side of things which helps him as an individual performer now. Having two jobs at a time helped him invest for his music career. He was able to invest for his own sound system business (EJ’s Lights and Audio) and his equipment for playing music. He is now working as a freelance musician for regular gigs and special events with his sound system business on the side. His experiences made him realize that all these things that he had gone through and will still go through are just a preparation for what we truly are for. He now knows what he truly wants to do and what he is really good at.



“You can only do your BEST WORK if you’re doing what you want to do and if you’re doing it the way you think it should be done.”

- Stan Lee