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To this day, emerging Pop-R&B artist Cedric Escobar beams with pride whenever he would talk about his experience of performing at the OPM Summer Fest 2023, the annual live music tour featuring some of the well-known Filipino acts happening across North America.

"It was a really good experience kasi nakakasama ko na itong mga idols ko, like Rivermaya and Gloc-9," Cedric told GMANetwork.com during a private media luncheon in Quezon City.

"I learned from them and they would really give me good advice. Kaya after the tour, super inspired ako."

Cedric singing his heart out at the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York City. / Photo courtesy of Jayson Comelio

The big tour saw the gathering of Rivermaya, Gloc-9, Ito Rapadas of Neocolours, and Introvoys. Truth be told, Cedric, who grew up in New York, USA, could still not believe that he would get the chance to tour with his idols, especially because he didn't see himself to be at their level yet.

Cedric recalled the backstory with fondness, "I got the gig because through Introvoys po, kasi nung 2021 I opened for them as a front act, tapos the following year they asked me to come along sa OPM Summer Fest, but they included me as an actual artist in the show, parang ako 'yung transition artist nila.

"The same idea for this year, tapos ako 'yung in between the big guys, so parang I'm keeping the crowd hyped up. It was a two to three hour show of nonstop music. We did 13 cities in the US and Canada, Anaheim, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, then Toronto, Halifax, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver."

Cedric performing at the Global Kingdom Ministries in Canada / Photo courtesy of Charmz Photography

The gig was career-defining for Cedric. It gave him more exposure and stage time --- time to get used to performing before a large audience and more time to hone his skills as an entertainer.

"I've been doing front acts for a while, but this one [OPM Summer Fest], this is my longest set," he said, adding that the experience is now a "core memory" for him.

"I also got to sing my debut single, 'di Na Ba?' Compared to last year when I was just doing covers, this year, I got to introduce myself as an artist, na ako na po talaga, that they can find me on Spotify."

"'di Na Ba?" was written by his mentor, Paco Arespacochaga, who, if you know your OPM history, was the popular drummer of Introvoys back in their heyday.

Cedric said the song was inspired by his story. "It's my story that he [Paco] wrote into music. Siguro what I learned from Kuya Paco is to always stand my ground, believing in what I want to put out and the artist that I want to be."

Aside from it being a personal love letter, "'di Na Ba?" holds a special meaning for the good-looking fellow. It was after recording that song Cedric developed the courage and confidence to start making his own music.

Now that he's in town (and has signed with Polyeast Records), Cedric is raring to show more of his talents to the public.

"I had never been more motivated to become my own kind of artist and create more music and a name for myself."

In fact on Sept. 29, he will be releasing his own rendition of Sugarfree's "Wag Ka Nang Umiyak."

Cedric is in no hurry to make it big, but he doesn't plan to cherry pick the opportunities given to him. He is going to maximize whatever comes his way.

"I've been trying to make it in this industry since 2016 when I was doing acting. I feel like I would just take every opportunity that I can get and do my best. And if something clicks, 'yun talaga 'yung opportunity for me. As long as I'm giving my 100 percent, 'yun 'yung goal ko siguro, to give my best."

Cedric, who is also known for the song "Gasera," also has a new EP called Mellow, which is a collection of his version of well-loved OPM hits from Joey Albert, Donna Cruz, Jamie Rivera, Pops Fernandez, and Carol Banawa.