“Don’t stop believing, hold on to that feeling….” Growing up in the eighties, this song and its catchy refrain was played  in the background of many bars and clubs. It became a cult classic and is one of the many hits the band Journey churned out. Recently this song became played continuously again all over the world celebrating the triumph of a small town boy from the Philippines becoming the lead singer of the legendary band Journey. This was the song Arnel Pineda sang in front of thousands of fans in Superbowl 2009.

How does a middle aged Filipino male, who a couple of years ago was belting out copies of different singers to small audiences in Manila , go from that to enthralling thousands in the biggest party of America’s favorite sport? It boggles the mind.

But there is more to the story than what you read in showbiz news, we all have heard versions of how Arnel was discovered by Neal Schon , Co-founder and lead guitarist of Journey, in You Tube. A avid fan had uploaded videos of Arnel and his band Zoo playing gigs in many clubs in Manila, Neal chanced upon it trolling the internet looking for inspiration to the quandary of who their new lead singer should be. He was amazed at the eerie way that Arnel was able to mimic not only the sound but even down to the mannerisms Steve Perry, the most famous lead singer of the band. He watched stupefied as he watched more videos of Arnel doing Toto, and other rock stars almost seamlessly.  When he told his band mates that he had found their new lead singer in Manila, They replied in disbelief, “great, you found us a singer that cant speak English…”

“Just a small town “boy” living in a lonely world, he took the midnight train going anywhere…” The starting words of the song literally describes Arnel’s journey. His mother died when he was thirteen and his father left him with relatives. He decided to live on his own, collecting scrap to get by and sleeping in Luneta. He had a friend who played the guitar and together they practiced. He auditioned for a small band and was told he wasn’t good enough, but one of the band members offered to put him up and pay his salary from his own pocket.

He soon made a name for himself singing covers and popular hits. But this also drove him to boredom. He started to take drugs and party hard, then one day he discovered that he could no longer hit his usual notes. A doctor told him to retire , that his voice was shot, tired from the long nights, abuse, and vices. He was only 27 years old.

He did not lose hope, He went straight, relearned how to sing, and formed a new band called Zoo. That’s where he was discovered and his “journey” began.

This true story is an inspiration to many of today’s youth on possibilities in life. How we should not limit ourselves to self-made or society manufactured glass ceilings.  I would like to pose the question, what is more probable or possible, a middle aged former street child in a third world country becoming the lead singer of one of the world’s legendary bands or becoming a successful entrepreneur? Or one of the best, how about  a man with a Kenyan father and an Asian childhood becoming President of the United States or becoming a successful entrepreneur?

Makes you wonder or ask yourself hard questions. Dreams are free. Hoping is easy. Faith is necessary. Believing is the first step.

All things are possible, no matter how improbable. Always have hope, acquire Faith, and Believe. Arnel said, “My life is a fairy tale but I’m awake and I’m dreaming it.”  Don’t stop believing…. Let’s follow the examples of these ordinary individuals as they strive to make a difference. Each week, lets all get together and share knowledge, stories, experiences, information, all for the sole purpose of getting One Step Up.

For comments, suggestions or stories that you want to share, email me at stirspecialist@gmail.com ,  or visit  www.stirspecialist.blogspot.com