Original interview by DOUGBROCK
Retranslated to English for the general public by Sinking Fish
Original interview upload: January 29, 2023
Quick Links:
- Part 1: The Early Years
- Part 2: Taking the Leap
- Part 3: Rain-Soaked Dreams
- Part 4: Going Up with the Boys
- Part 5: The Rocksta Mentality
- Part 6: Tasting Success with SB19
- Part 7: Future-Proofing and Taking Risks
- Part 8: Keeping an Open Mind
- Part 9: Closing Thoughts
DOUGBROCK Radio Episode #89 Part 7 – Future-Proofing and Taking Risks
Dougbrock: So we’re still here with Felip. To everyone watching, thank you. To everyone enjoying watching, no matter when you’re watching this, thank you.
Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, like: DOUGBROCK TV.
Anyway, bro, I’d like to ask: You’re super passionate in what you’re doing, so I want to understand what wakes you up, what becomes your motivation to keep going? Because of course this isn’t easy. It’s actually exhausting! What do you hold on to, to continue?
Felip: I’ll be honest with you, okay? I think I’m doing this for myself. I genuinely enjoy what I’m doing, but more than that, it’s also for my future. We all know that I didn’t finish school, right? It’s true. So, I just want to secure my future.
That’s a big part of it now, aside from our fans. They really give their all for us, and we truly want to repay that. But yes, another reason why I want to do this, aside from enjoyment, is to secure my future.
Dougbrock: I respect that. That’s a man of few- thinking about your future. Because you understand that not everything is permanent.
Felip: Yeah, it’s true.
Dougbrock: That’s really nice, that’s smart actually.
Felip: These answers might not be what people want to hear, but I want to be honest about this.
Dougbrock: Thank you, man.
Felip: I really want to secure my future.
Dougbrock: That probably comes from a kid who grew up in a place where news is slow. Time is slow. The pace of life is slow. The flow of money is slow. No signal.
Felip: Yes, and I always think, “I don’t want to go back, man.” I don’t want- for example, there will come a time when I’ll start a family. Of course, I want them to be really secure. I want there to be a specific fund for our future, a decent house for my future family, you know? We’ll be able to make it no matter what.
Dougbrock: You’re taking care of your future. It’s as simple as that, huh? That’s really nice. I mean, there are a lot of stories of artists and successful people who work incredibly hard but lack that future-proofing mentality. They spend a lot on lifestyle, this and that. Then, of course, things change over time, and they don’t save… How about you? How do you manage your finances, knowing that you’re one of the most influential people, artists, in this country? How do you handle it?
Felip: I do spend a lot! But the good thing about me is that I’m surrounded by people who guide me towards making the right [financial decisions].
Dougbrock: That’s really really important.
Felip: Yes. That’s probably it. Because I have so many good people around me, and they always remind me, “Hey, that’s enough.”
Dougbrock: “This is what’s right. Only up to here.”
Felip: “Only up to here for now.”
“It’s okay to buy that, treat yourself because you deserve it. You’ve worked hard for it, poured your blood, sweat, and tears into achieving it. And you know you couldn’t afford it before, so go ahead and spoil yourself. But remember to know your limits.”
Dougbrock: That’s really important. That’s really nice. Shout out to the people behind Felip, right? Everyone around him who’s taking care of everything. That’s really, really important.
Felip: Because sometimes, I couldn’t think of things. Sometimes I forget, or I get overwhelmed. So yeah, I’m so thankful that people like that are there for me.
Dougbrock: That’s really really good. Bro, do you see yourself performing until old age? Doing this?
Felip: Yes, yes, yes, yes, absolutely, without a doubt. I can see it. Even as I grow older, even as music evolves—and it will evolve, it won’t just stay the same. When the music changes, I’ll change with it. That’s what’s in my mind. Even if I get old. Even if it goes back to the old school, ‘green, green grass of…’
Dougbrock: You’re still gonna do it.
Felip: Yes, I’m still gonna do it, man. Music is my language. It’s my way to speak to people.
Dougbrock: But you used to hate it before, right? Your sound, your voice, right? Your vocal range. But look at [you] now, right?
Felip: Yeah, you know, I was wondering about something. Like how there are some songs you can’t understand, but you still feel uplifted.
Dougbrock: You know, man, there are so many songs where I only know the melody. I don’t know the lyrics, I don’t even know the title, but when I hear it, it just makes me feel good.
Felip: For example, even with just instrumental music, there’s still a certain feeling you get, right? It’s so amazing. That’s kind of what happens with my songs. Even though they might be a bit weird to listen to, it’s all about how they make you feel. It’s about how they speak to you.
Dougbrock: That’s how you do it, huh?
Felip: Yes, I forgot to say it earlier. That’s what I wanted to say. Yeah.
Dougbrock: We went back around.
Felip: I just wanted to go back.
Dougbrock: He was wondering about those kinds of songs. That’s how he’s able to create [songs] like that.
Okay, bro, let’s talk about: What’s a typical day is like for Felip? How does your day unfold, from morning to- What’s your schedule when you have work, and then what about when there’s no work? How do you spend your idle time, whether it’s for yourself or with your loved ones?
Felip: So what’s first? With work?
Dougbrock: You choose.
Felip: Sure, so if there’s work, we’re usually preparing for events or working on new projects, like an upcoming shoot or new songs. So every day, we’re in the studio, practicing our pieces, choreography, refining the songs, and practicing harmonies for recording. We repeat this process every day until we’re ready to record
That’s pretty much all we do—master it, so when we record, there are no problems. And when we’re shooting, everything goes smoothly because we’ve already planned out our roles and actions. We make sure everything is clear before finalizing, so to speak.
As for my personal time, if I’m just at home, I just watch anime because I’m a super big anime fan.
Dougbrock: Hey to all the anime fans out there, now you know Felip is too!
Felip: I’m a super big anime fan. Manhwa– I read manga. Actually, my life is full of sadness right now.
Dougbrock: Why? Why is it full of sadness?!
Felip: Because I finished everything I needed to read!
Dougbrock: Naruto?
Felip: Man, his kid is the main character now, man. I’m still there.
Dougbrock: Updated!
Felip: Sometimes I think.. Do you know Boruto?
Dougbrock: No, I don’t.
Felip: Okay I won’t continue. But that’s his kid. His kid is the main character now.
Dougbrock: Okay, Boruto is the next chapter of Naruto, like that? His kid. Oh, okay okay. My brother, Kuya Edward, is updated. He’s a fan of Naruto, a fan of manga.
Felip: Shout out to you.
I’m a super big fan [of] One Piece. That’s why I said earlier “You’re Luffy”. So yeah, I’ll read mangas, I’ll read manhwas which are made by Koreans.
Dougbrock: Manga of Koreans. Manga is Japanese.
Felip: But it’s colored. Yeah, manga is Japanese. There’s also manhua, which is different from manhwa. Though they sound the same, they’re spelled differently. It’s Chinese. I read everything. Because when I run out, I get so sad!
Dougbrock: You really are a super fan.
Felip: Yes. I finished all the anime.
Dougbrock: Why do you think you like it so much? The stories?
Felip: Man, it’s the goosebumps that I get every time the story starts to get more intense. When the character is becoming more badass, especially the protagonist. Mmh! That feeling—it’s just different! That’s when I can really relax and think, “Wow, so badass!”
I’m imaginative, so sometimes I imagine that it’s the real world.
Dougbrock: You’re only reading it, but you feel like you’re there, huh?
Felip: Like, “What if I could go to a different world? Is there such a thing?” Stuff like, when you die, do you get reincarnated? Does that happen? I imagine things like that just for fun. Do you get reincarnated? Is it true that you can travel to other dimensions? Stuff like that, exploring different places. Because it always happens in what I’m reading, so what if it’s true? There are different kinds. There are- what do you call it- when it reveals what rank you are.
Dougbrock: People have levels and such.
Felip: Yeah, people have levels and stuff like that. There was even a time when I would be like, ‘Status open’. Those commands so you can see your levels. My god, it’s embarrassing.
Dougbrock: No, that’s you. And that means you’re human too, right? There are things that make you happy, entertain you, and help you feel relaxed. And it’s different from the endorphins you get when you perform for your fans, when you sing to your audience. That’s the beauty of life, right? The balance between the personal, the business, and everything else. So for you-
Okay, bro, over the course of your career, if you’re willing to share, do you have a secret or a tip that you can share on how you got to where you are, as Felip, as Ken? Something that could inspire young artists who dream like you?
Felip: It’s because I’m a risk-taker. I’m brave, and I believed in myself. That’s how I was able to do it. And like I said earlier, I was probably desperate. But yeah, I’m really a risk-taker. I only had 1500 PHP pocket money (Roughly 27 USD as of today’s conversion from Google Finance) and I went to Manila even though I didn’t tell anyone. So, I’m a risk-taker. I knew I might not get accepted, right? So it was a big gamble, like I was betting my whole life on it.
Dougbrock: But look at [you] now. I mean, with no risk, there’s also no reward.
Felip: I believed in myself.
Dougbrock: That’s the secret.
Felip: It’s like standing at the edge of a cliff, not knowing how high it is, right? And I just jumped, man.
Dougbrock: “You can do it. No matter where you fall, you can do it!”
Felip: I believed in myself that I could do this.
Dougbrock: Wow, I respect that, man.
Felip: So yeah. Anyway, God gave that to me.
Dougbrock: That’s a blessing, right?
Felip: That’s why I sometimes wonder, “How was I chosen to have this kind of life? To be given this kind of blessing?” I mean, I don’t know. Only He knows.
Dougbrock: Very blessed.
Felip: This is His plan.