CVAP on Radyo 5 Bagong Gawi

Hosted by Mon Gualvez and Laila Chikadora Pangilinan, Bagong Gawi on Radyo 5 92.3 News FM airs every Monday to Friday from 4:00 am onwards. On April 30, 2021, Certified Voice Artist Program (CVAP) Program Director Nikie Esmero and CVAP graduate Janeane Santos were featured on the show to talk about CVAP and the art of voice acting. 

At the beginning of the show, they talked about how one’s voice can be used as a way to express one's artistry and at the same time earn money. Nikie explained that all of them started at CVAP during the pandemic where they thought of making use of the time by learning how to better express themselves and at the same time explore a new career. 

Nikie continued to explain how CVAP started. She shared that in 2005, Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales founded Philippine Center for Voice Acting (PCVA), which is the first and only Voice Acting School in the Philippines. It was also PCVA that organized VoiceWorx that has 50 batches and produced more than 100 graduates that have successfully made their mark on the industry. “Halos lahat ng mga kilalang dubbers, DJ at voice artists na namayagpag na sa mga broadcasting stations, sa mga commercials ay nanggaling po sa VoiceWorx at PCVA,” she said.

It was during the pandemic, June 2020, that CVAP was established as an online-based voice workshop that has now produced more than 300 graduates. It aims to provide accessible quality voice training to aspiring and experienced voice artists. “Ang main goal po namin kasi dito is matanggal yung limitation ng isang tao sa pagseself-express, actually this is an indoctrination, more than teaching new skills about voice artistry, its an indoctrination on how you freely express yourself,” Nikie added.

Nike also assured that the opportunities in the world of voice acting are endless. “Sa buhay natin, lahat, may boses, from commercials, kung nag LRT ka, mayroong IVR, Public Service Announcement (PSA), kung nasa social media ka, lahat ay nagsasalita… so boses is kumbaga everywhere,” she explained.

In Janeanne’s case, she shared that even though she was a graduate of nursing it was her childhood dream to be part of the broadcasting industry as she enjoys participating in public speaking contests. Just like Nikie, Janeane discovered CVAP during the pandemic, although she quickly realized that voice acting was a challenging endeavor. “Kailangan talaga mafeel ng mga tao na nandun sila sa scenario na pinapadama mo sa kanila through your voice only,” she added.

Janeane also talked about how she started in the world of voice acting, she shared that it was when she discovered Ms. Kathlene Sone a.k.a Voiceover Flowers that her career in voice acting blossomed. She was a scholar of the VoiceMaster and was soon one of the top-performing students at CVAP. Janeane expressed her gratitude to Pocholo as he was the one who believed in her when she herself was still in doubt of her talents. 

“With CVAP po, sa first day pa lang po, mind setting muna talaga yung [tinuturo] nila… minimindset nila na you have to love the voice that you have because it's the only voice you have,” Janeanne shared when asked how was her experience in the workshop. This is reflected in the famous mantra of CVAP “Someone Needs to Hear your Voice” which emphasizes the need to love one’s own voice as it is uniquely their own and someday, somehow, someone will need to hear their unique voice.

However, Janeanne also clarified that life is not all rainbows and sunshine as rejection is inevitable in the industry. She accentuated that one has to go through many voice auditions. Though the important thing is they never lose hope and just keep the CVAP mantra in their hearts and minds.

At the end of the show, Nikie explained that since the workshop is online-based, it is open to anyone from around the world. She even shared that they have students that are OFWs. From the regular price of 10,000 Php, the course is now being offered at only 5,000 Php as The VoiceMaster wants to reach out to as many people as possible and let them use the half for purchasing needed equipment in voice acting.