Katrina Velarde opens up about losing husband back in 2021

September 28, 2024 | 12:00am

When it comes to singing and music in the Philippine entertainment scene, vocal supreme Katrina Velarde is one of the Filipino artist always invited abroad to showcase what our country can offer.

Katrina’s rise from humble beginnings to becoming a respected singer is nothing short of inspiring. She represents the modern Filipino artist, who harnesses the power of social media to reach an audience beyond the traditional means of television and radio.

Her story is one of perseverance as well, and her success proves that with passion and hard work, one can rise above life’s challenges to reach the pinnacle of one’s dreams.

We spoke to Katrina during an intimate gathering at the Viva headquarters, where she announced her third solo concert entitled “SiKat V.3,” a culmination and celebration of her over 22 years in show business. She told us that the show will present a different repertoire as she will particularly sing songs from male artists.

“Kakanta pa rin po ako ng originals ko. Di mawawala yon, but the general idea of the concert is I’m singing men’s songs, which excites me a lot,” shared the singer, who even belted out a sample of Michael Bolton’s Go The Distance that awed us.

One of her defining characteristics as a music artist is her ability to tell a story through singing. Whether she’s performing a cover or an original, Katrina has a knack for delivering each note with a depth of feeling that resonates with her audience.

Her performances are not just about technical skill, they are about creating an emotional connection, and that is what the audiences will experience on her show this coming Oct. 11 at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.

Before all this success, we remember Katrina from 2011 during her “Talentadong Pinoy” days and her stint on TV5’s “Trenderas” show, where she was known then as Suklay Diva.

Katrina was one of the OG trending stars back then in 2013, when she randomly uploaded her personal performance. That was when she began to reach a broader audience. Using a simple comb as her “makeshift” microphone, she showcased her ability to effortlessly sing pop ballads and R&B hits. These performances were often filmed in casual settings.

Her covers of hits from Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Beyoncé drew attention for their technical brilliance. Katrina has a vocal range that can rival some of the most established names in the industry. Her control, agility, and ability to hit powerful high notes quickly made her a standout.

She shared with us how she felt that trending back then was more organic.

“Iyon ang most natural way ng pag viral. Wala talaga akong effort nung time na yon. Kumanta lang talaga ako and nag-viral na,” Katrina recalled the good old days.

Now, she is just happy that her music career is stable and is backed up by VIVA Entertainment, as her career desires are met well.

Katrina is one tough cookie. She may be happily seeing someone from outside showbiz now that she shares on social media in bits and pieces.

Prior to this, however, Katrina was married to Mike Shapiro in 2021. Their union came after they had developed a strong professional relationship through their musical collaborations, blending Katrina’s vocal talents with Mike’s expertise as a drummer and music producer.

Sadly, Mike also passed away in November of that year. Though it was a dark time in her life, Katrina said that she chose to be strong and fight the pain.

“It was, of course, challenging. Yun po ang isa sa mga naging madilim po na chapters ng life ko. Pero I need also to… yun po ang nagkaroon ako ng time na mag-isa po talaga. Without friends also, just with my son, mahirap po yon,” said Katrina, adding that “mas nakatulong na mag-isa lang ako that time. After that, nagtrabaho rin ako agad. Hindi face your fear kung hindi face your pain.”