Sabrina Orial – Acoustic Singer

Words by Kist Ong – (greenscorpio.wordpress.com)

Sabrina was a pleasant surprise. We were heading to another assignment when we chanced upon her in a concert in the Ayala Triangle Area. She was literally a few seconds away from going up the stage to perform for the “Tunog Natin” concert. She looked elated and excited – glowing in her yellow dress. This is her story.
Sabrina has always lived her life of reaching for the stars. She started singing for family and friends during the usual birthdays and reunions when she was young. Later on, she and her siblings formed a band called “Couch Act” which released one album. By the end of high school,  Sabrina went solo and released a debut pop album under her stage name “XanXan”.

Right in the middle of college, she found herself in love with Bossa Nova. She found her music maturing, and, in consequence her name, Sabrina, was made. This change was a turning point for her musical career. Sabrina is known today as the “Philippines’ Acoustic Sweetheart.” With her album “I <3 Acoustic,” she has appeared as a guest in various noon time shows and radio shows, and she has had mall tours all around the Philippines. Already a signed artist under the MCA Label, she has won various awards as an acoustic singer.  Sabrina won the Philippine Movie Press Club’s (PMPC) Best Acoustic Artist of 2009, Best Female Acoustic Artist of 2010 and the ASAP Gold and Platinum Awardee for 2009 and 2010.

She says that, despite all this fanfare, she still is like anybody else – who sleeps, who gets tired, who eats ice cream when depressed, and who asks her parents and friends for advice. MaMo asked what she wants to be known for in the future, she says she wants to be remembered as “an ordinary person who did what she loved the most and touched people’s lives through her music.”

It was simple, but, enough. Passion makes ordinary people get on the stage and makes them shine – just like Sabrina.

Find her and her music through her facebook page.