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Juan Karlos Labajo highlighted three women in his life as he talked about his 10 years in show business at the press conference of his first major concert titled Juan Karlos Live held yesterday, October 15.

The 23-year-old singer-songwriter first remembered his late mom, who inspired him to join the singing talent search competition The Voice Kids in 2014.

At the time, he confessed, “I didn't think anything seriously, actually. I really didn't because joining The Voice Kids was never really about what I wanted. I joined it because it was what my mom wanted. It was my bonding with my mom.”

He further said, “Kasi ako, hindi ko naman pinangarap ito when I was a kid… I never dreamt of any of these things. I mean, maging artista, maging musician, maging aktor--never really crossed my mind. But now, here we are because of that one decision after my mom passed kasi I saw the audition for The Voice Kids.”

JK then closed his eyes and recalled the exact moment he decided to audition, “Nasa wake pa ang nanay ko noon, naalala ko. Napaka-vivid memory sa akin noon, November 22, 2013, few weeks after Yolanda [typhoon], five days after my mom passed. She was still in the wake, I was still grieving and processing everything as a 13-year-old boy. Then, mga bandang hapon nakita ko sa TV na may pa-audition sa The Voice Kids, naisip ko lang, for some reason, ito yung gusto ni Mama. Kasi, yun ang bonding namin, doon kami nagkakasama kasi sinasamahan niya ako sa auditions.”

After recalling how he started his showbiz career, GMANetwork.com asked JK what he would tell his young self now that he's become a very successful music artist.

“If that 13-year-old is in front of me… 'Padayon lang, 'di ka dapat mawad-an ug paglaum. Daghang mga tawo nga nituo sa imoha, daghang mga tawo nga kaila sa imoha, ug daghang mga tawo nga nagmahal nimo.'

“'Pagpatuloy mo lang at huwag kang mawalan ng pag-asa kasi maraming tao ang naniniwala sa 'yo, maraming tao sumusuporta sa 'yo, at maraming taong nagmamahal sa 'yo.'”

Lola's boy

Another source of inspiration that he mentioned during the press conference was his grandmother. The “Buwan” singer has been very vocal about being raised by his grandma.

“She would push me to do all of these things that she thought would be best for me. My lola is really that one constant in my life,” he reiterated yesterday.

JK also shared that her lola was one of the first persons who was very cheerful about doing a major concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on November 29.

“Sobrang natuwa si Lola. Si Lola kasi kapag natutuwa, bigla na lang nagsasayaw. Hindi siya masalita na tao, bigla na lang siyang sasayaw, 'tapos ilalagay niya yung cellphone niya sa gilid at biglang magti-TikTok.

“She was really happy when she found out. After that, biglang nanghingi ng maraming tickets kasi marami siyang gustong bigyan. She's always there, especially online, siya lagi ang nakikipag-usap sa supporters as in halos araw-araw… Masaya si Lola. Super saya niya.”

Related: Celebrities who were raised by their grandparents:

Beauty queen's boyfriend

On Juan Karlos Live, the “Ere” plans to feature fellow music artists whom he has worked with.

He said, “As much as possible, I would love to be performing with somebody that I released songs with. At the same time, I'm not closed naman to that idea, pero mas maganda lang siguro yung takbo ng show that way, na parang as artist to artist, meron tayong something na tayo ang gumawa.”

This is why his singer-songwriter girlfriend, Dia Mate, is not joining him on stage. JK also mentioned that his relationship with the Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2024 is more on a personal level.

When asked what kind of support Dia would give him at his first major concert, JK answered, “Aside from the fact that, alam mo 'yon, she'll go there and watch the show with her family, it's really the emotional support and in moments that I have self-doubt and in moments I don't feel confident. It's really that support that you get from a partnership.”

Juan Karlos Live will be directed by Paolo Valenciano with Karel Honasan as the musical director. It is produced by Nathan Studios with the support of Universal Music Group Philippines.

Meanwhile, get to know JK's girlfriend Dia in this gallery: