He’s the reason why I sing.

Updated on September 8, 2008

1. I started singing at 2 years of age in a Southern Baptist church in Manila.
2. I am an only child.
3. I was named after both my grandmothers. My first name, Aura, was taken from my maternal grandma’s name, Aurelia, and my middle name, Dolor, was taken from my paternal grandma’s name, which is, Dolores.
4. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour when I was 8 years old on Christmas Day.
5. I got baptized 2 years after that.
6. Both my parents sung in a semi-professional choir that did radio and television ministries for more than 20 years.
7. I come from a very musical family. Everyone, from the grandparents to the little kids either sing or play an instrument (or 2 or 3!).
8. I taught myself to play the guitar. I have been playing it off and on for about 14 years now.
9. I studied piano, off and on, for about 6 years starting at 5 years of age. I still play piano on occasion.
10. I was born in Pasay City, Manila, Philippines.
11. I moved to Canada with my parents in 1990.
12. In high school, I was known as “the girl who sings”. I was only popular because I sung, no one really knew my name, they just knew I could sing. I made a career out of singing at school assemblies in high school.
13. I wrote and performed a song when I was in high school for an event for the Scarborough/Toronto school districts which promoted the performing arts in schools all over Toronto and neighboring towns.
14. I had my first “romance” during my senior year in high school. It lasted only for about 6 months (I moved to L.A. by then).
15. I had been singing in choirs and groups almost all my life.
16. My parents and I moved to Los Angeles in 1995.
17. I attended Biola University as a Music Education major with a Vocal emphasis in 1996. I haven’t finished my undergraduate studies yet, but I’m actually working on going back to finish it.
18. I’ve recorded vocals in 3 music albums/CDs. 2 for a Christian music label in the Philippines and 1 for an independent music label here in Los Angeles (in this one, I helped arranged).
19. My first “official” audition ever was for “The Lion King” in L.A.
20. I love coffee, Starbucks™ in particular.
21. I performed in my first concert when I was 8 years old.
22. I’ve been on TV twice.
23. I’m currently in 2 contemporary Christian singing groups, In Harmony (which consists of me and 3 cousins) and Papuri (a mixed contemporary Christian singing ensemble).
24. I’ve sung on a Broadway stage. (Ask me how this happened…LOL)
25. My favorite movie of all-time is “The Lord of the Rings”.
26. I had a cystectomy when I was 19.
27. I had my first real heartbreak 9 years ago.
28. My favorite musical is “Les Miserables”.
29. My favorite basketball team of all-time (that means past or present or future) were the Chicago Bulls of the ‘90s.
30. My favorite basketball player was, is and will always be Michael Jordan.
31. I like roller coasters.
32. My favorite soda is Coca Cola™.
33. I like strawberry lemonade.
34. I don’t like tomatoes in my burgers.
35. My all time favorite food is spaghetti.
36. I’m an affectionate person. I like to hug people, even if I barely know them.
37. I don’t like hospital food.
38. I don’t like being late.
39. I don’t like waiting for people.
40. I have a high tolerance for pain.
41. I was fairly good in school, I was usually in the top 5 in most of my classes, then college happened. LOL
42. I had my first crush when I was 10 years old.
43. I’ve always been even-tempered. Have never “flown off the handle.”
44. One summer (in 1997 I think), I watched MTV almost everyday and learned dance routines from music videos.
45. My nickname growing up was “Boks”.
46. My friends in college would call me “diva” and yell it out across campus just to embarrass me.
47. I like raisins.
48. I can’t stand broccoli.
49. I’d rather sing in public than speak. I’m a horrible public speaker! Quelle horreur!
50. The first musical that I saw was “Miss Saigon”.
51. The first record that I bought was Lea Salonga’s “A Small Voice” when I was 10.
52. I like to be alone most of the time.
53. I can belt a G above the octave of middle C.
54. On a good day, I can sing “whistle-like” like Mariah Carey…LOL
55. I like “Blue’s Clues”. LOL
56. I think the “Teletubbies” are creepy.
57. I like taro milk tea with boba (that’s tapioca balls).
58. I wear contact lenses.
59. The longest friendship I’ve had is 33 years. OK, make that 28, not counting the first 5 years of my existence in this planet.
60. I played volleyball in high school.
61. I like to play tennis, and I’d like to convince myself that I’m good at it, when in reality I’m not. LOL
62. I can play table tennis.
63. I can play pool.
64. I like to bowl.
65. I used to watch the Canadian French channel everyday when I was in high school even though I didn’t understand a word they said. But I’ve picked up a few phrases since then.
66. I’ve never slipped and fell on my butt in the snow.
67. I almost drowned in a pool when I was 9 years old. I slipped and fell in, head first.
68. As a result, I only swim in the shallow end of the pool. I have to be able to touch the bottom of the pool and stand whenever I want to.
69. I love “sky high” tenors. I like listening to them sing. The idea of guys singing really high appeals to me. LOL
70. I lived in Canada for 5.5 years and have never gone skiing, snowboarding or ice-skating.
71. My favorite colours are pink, blue, brown and purple.
72. I like to munch on Flaming Hot Cheetos ™
73. I have one god-daughter and 2 god-sons.
74. I cried during the opening scene of “Tarzan” the animated movie (Disney). LOL
75. I like to go to clubs just to listen to live music.
76. I have a fascination with the United Kingdom.
77. I would love to live in the U.K. some day.
78. The cleanest city I’ve been to is Calgary, Alberta (in Canada).
79. I haven’t been back to the Philippines since I left in 1990.
80. I went through a “classical music” phase my sophomore year in high school, when all I listened to was classical music and nothing else.
81. The first thing I notice about a person are their eyes.
82. I’m always up for karaoke.
83. I had a “Shakespeare” phase in high school, unbelievable as it may seem, but I did. LOL My favorite plays were “Othello“, “As You Like It“, “Taming of the Shrew“, “Macbeth” and of course, “Hamlet“.
84. The most I paid for a meal in a restaurant is $50, which consists of one plate of food and a Coke.
85. I don’t like going to the mall.
86. The farthest I’ve traveled to do a concert was about 3,000 miles (Toronto).
87. Aside from Filipino food, I like Italian, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese food.
88. I believe in the sanctity of marriage and, sex exclusively between you and your spouse.
89. I’m a good listener.
90. I’ve never hated anyone.
91. I love my family.
92. I love God and my faith is very important to me. It influences everything I do especially these days.
93. I don’t like confrontation.
94. I respect people who do what they are passionate about, regardless of fame or fortune.
95. My fondest childhood memory is going with my dad to his work and hanging out with him all day.
96. The farthest I’ve traveled to see my favorite band is 2,500 miles (New York).
97. I switched my major from Music to Psychology during my last semester in college because I wanted to be a Biblical Counselor.
98. I drive a white, 2004 Chevy Cavalier.
99. I used to drive a green, 1998 Ford Escort ZX3.
100. I had my first kiss when I was in the 6th grade.