It took more than 300 auditions until the doors of Pinoy Pop Superstar and eventually Pinoy Dream Academy opened for Ronnie Liang, and iconic pop anthems in the ballad genre were always his song choices.

When Liang interprets a ballad, he infuses every emotion in every word and line. His listeners get the subtexts and stories of the ballads he performs. Ronnie becomes the embodiment of the groovy kind of love and romance; the sweetness and naivete and the beginning of relationship; the anguish and confusion when an affair of the heart turns bitter and sour; the ache and melancholia. Ronnie’s mastery of ballads pulls the heart strings.

Ballads everywhere

“Even when I am in the shower, cooking or I do household chores, I hum or sing ballads,” Liang said. “It is always a mix of old favorites, my own and yes, even praise songs which I started singing at 10 years old when I was part of a church choir.”

His all-time favorite ballad, said the singer: “The Josh Groban pop anthem ‘You Raise Me Up.’ It was my audition piece when I joined the two singing competitions that were instrumental in my becoming part of show business.”

Liang thinks ballads continue to thrive because they are sentiments Filipinos would like to say but are unable to express. “When we listen to an artist singing about the drama, kilig (thrill), happiness and sadness that we all feel or felt, and then it became a song, hinahaplos, pinapasaya at nagsusumigaw ang mga puso nating lahat (it strokes, gladdens and makes our hearts shout).”

Being a balladeer for 17 years, Liang’s Filipino pop musical contributions include “Ngiti,” “Para Lang Sa Iyo,” “Gusto Kita” and “Closer You and I.” His latest single is “Byahe ng Buhay (Life’s Journey),” which he self-produced and composed by actor Wilbert Ross.

The reason Liang produced this song, he said: “It is an inspirational song for lovers, companions and friendships. It’s not exclusive to people who are in romantic relationships.

“It’s a reassuring song. It gives hope and guarantees that the kind of love will always be beside the person who matters most to the one singing it. You know, ‘n a larger scope, ‘Byahe ng Buhay’ can be a theme song for friends.”

“Friends are the siblings we never have. They are the ones who stand beside us during life’s ups and downs. That is why having friends is worth celebrating,” Liang said.

Longevity

With singing competitions giving new champions and the drastic changes in the music industry, Liang is grateful to have experienced the “old school era” and the “now music and trends.”

He said: “I am most grateful of course to God, for the talent and for giving me guidance in my career. Being in the business for 17 years, maraming (with many) bumps and bruises, ups and down pero yung (but the) drive and passion to excel, to give my public good songs, and to be surrounded by the best people in the industry who truly believe in my talent and care for me an artist and as a person, si God talaga ang dahilan eh (it’s all because of God).”

“In my journey as a singer, importante talaga (it is really important), aside from talent and swerte luck), prayers, professionalism, respeto sa lahat (respect for all), sincerity — all of these matter,” Liang said. “Also, your mind and heart must embrace change and innovation. I am not so wrapped in my comfort zone. I observe. I learn new things and create new things para sa sarili kong (for my own) growth and share it with my public.”

He added: “Also, marami namang aware that hindi lang ako palaging nasa (Also, many are aware that I am not just in) showbiz — I am a reservist and proud ako of that fact. Licensed pilot na ako, which a childhood dream na naging totoo rin (that became true) with hard work and perseverance. And whatever blessings I have, I share it sa (to my) foundation ko, ang Project Ngiti na of assistance sa kids na may cleft lip and palate issues.”

“I am now in the position that I produce my own music,” said Liang. “I release songs the way I want it released. Ako na ang may say sa mga (Now I am the one who decides on) musical material na (that) I want and may means na ako (I already have the means) to work with new and seasoned composers.”

Coming soon

Liang is now being managed by GMA 7’s Sparkle Artist. What he wants to do, he said: “More acting projects not only on TV na ginawa ko na (that I have been doing) lately, but in movies as well. I want to do a romantic comedy or drama, and makapag (to do) action movies as well.”

He is curious to try musical theater again: “Ang gaganda ng mga Filipino musical na ipinapalabas now (The Filipino musicals now are really good). I hope one of these days I’ll get an opportunity. The last one I did, yung (that) stage musical version pa (before) of Bituin Walang Ningning.”

The balladeer Ronnie Liang promises to drop a new ballad in three months. “There is so much to sing about love, and I thank everyone for loving Biyahe ng Buhay,” he said.

Check it out on all music platforms worldwide.