The dream of many successful parents is for their children to follow their footsteps. However, some children do not share their parents’ enthusiasm for their careers. Or they fear they can’t match their parent’s success and so they’d rather go into another field. We’ve heard of musically gifted parents who were not able to pass on the baton to their children so whatever talent and legacy they had ended with them.
Fortunately, this is not the case with child prodigy Edsel Godwin Sotiangco, dubbed as “The Golden Boy with the Golden Voice.” Edsel not only inherited the musical heritage in his family, being the youngest son of top-rate entertainer Eddie Sotiangco; he also has a natural God-given desire to perform on stage and share his talents to entertain people.
With the upcoming Edsel & The Time Machine concert on July 16, Eddie Sotiangco has passed on the musical baton to his son.
“This concert is so meaningful to us because I started the Time Machine Show over two decades ago. Through the years, we have expanded and improved the show for the enjoyment of the Fil-Am community in LA. This year, Edsel takes over on center stage as I have passed on the torch to him,” said Eddie, the proud father.
Eddie’s success
One of the most successful Filipino entrepreneurs in the United States, Eddie Sotiangco heads The 
Sotiangco Group of Companies which has been a consistent top earner in the Insurance Industry. He has been dubbed as “The 10 Million Dollar Man” and the “Godfather” because of his amazing success in business and his well-known generosity. He has been the recipient of so many awards and honors, including the California’s Businessman of the Year Award five times in a row, 2002-2007. He is a lifetime member of the insurance industry’s Million Dollar Round Table and consistent Top of the Table qualifier for over two decades. This means Eddie is among the top 100 insurance professionals in the world, earning over a million dollars a year personally.
Born in Pangasinan, Philippines, Eddie was First Honor of the graduating class of Binalonan High School in 1954. Immediately after high school, he moved to Manila to complete his education. He earned his degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1959. In 1963, he completed his Bachelor of Laws, LL.B., from San Sebastian College.
He was a practicing lawyer in the Philippines before he came to the States in the 1960’s.
Starting a career in sales, Eddie eventually became the head of a business conglomerate which includes insurance, tax management, tax shelter programs, pension and retirement plans, investments, financial and estate planning, insurance financing and travel.
Music has balanced his stress-filled life as a businessman. Since his voice is similar to Elvis Presley, he became a favorite guest in many shows, impersonating “The King,” and being dubbed as the Elvis Presley of the Fil-Am community. He also did impersonations of Nat King Cole, the Platters, Lionel Ritchie and Roy Hamilton. Eddie has performed in Las Vegas with Sammy Davis Jr., Red Foxx and Debbie Reynolds. From music, he was able to carve another career and a new direction in life. He was able to spread that joy to others.
The Time Machine
In 1985, Eddie came out with The Time Machine concert, produced by the Sotiangco Group of Companies, which featured team members of SGC, their families and friends. The elaborate and sophisticated show dubbed Time Machine 1 earned kudos from multifarious critics, promoters and showbiz personalities.
In 1986, Time Machine II gave way to A Celebration of Life which depicted the plight of the Filipino immigrants in America.
The following year, Time Machine III brought to the stage Some Enchanted Evening. The musical spectrum portrayed a man’s quest for self-realization. The songs and music featured were of universal appeal, having been featured in Broadway shows, movies and other medium of entertainment. SGC President Eddie Sotiangco led his family of achievers to entertain the audience with his excellent music and heart-throbbing magic wizardry.
In 1988, Time Machine IV was The Best of Times—a story of a child who had been estranged from her father since she was a baby. When the father returns after many years, the family is reunited painting a portrait of happiness that can truly be said as The Best of Times.
On July 16, 2011, the Time Machine will be back, this time featuring a medley of the old and the new. Eddie Sotiangco has passed the torch to his teen-aged son, Edsel. The concert will take the audience through the unforgettable hits of the decades, from the ‘40s, 50’s, 60s,70s, 80s,90s to the music of today.
“It feels wonderful to make music with friends all those years of the Time Machine. Now, it feels I have come full circle as my son takes over the Time Machine. I am grateful to God that He has given me the pleasure of seeing my son making music with the folks of my generation and the younger folks of his generation,” said Eddie. “It’s a truly great thing to share music with your child and see him grow in his musicality,” he added.
Edsel’s Golden Voice
When he was just a toddler, Edsel already showed his parents that he has a natural ability to pick out melodies and things by ear.
“Music has always been a part of our lives,” said Edsel. I’ve watched my dad’s performances in awe and they motivated me to do the same, learn and practice more.”
At the age of 4, while kids his age were still playing with toy trains, Edsel started showing he had his father’s genes as an entertainer. He loved watching videos of his dad’s performances and memorized the songs of Elvis Presley, whom his father impersonated so well. When he was five years old, Edsel performed in school, taking the mike from its stand, like a veteran on stage. “I did not have any stage fright. There were around 200 people and I was showing off on stage,” Edsel told Asian Journal. Since then, he has been a regular main performer on stage in a multitude of school programs and special events.
In 2007, Edsel Godwin Sotiangco was discovered at the US Philippines Expo in Pomona and then became a winner in the 2008 Hollywood’s Best New Talent International competition in Kodak Theatre. He immediately became a Fil-Am singing sensation with his extraordinary talent and versatility, wowing audiences at various shows and events with his Golden Voice. A veteran singer and entertainer at his young age of 13, Edsel has shared the stage with the best Filipino and Fil-Am names in music industry like Martin Nievera, Jed Madela, Nora Aunor, Judy Ann Santos, Dolphy. Divas 4 Divas (Regine Velasquez, Kuh Ledesma, Pops Fernandez & Zsa Zsa Padilla), Apl de Ap of Black Eyed Peas, American Idol’s Jazmine Trias, Ramielle Malubay, AJ Tabaldo and and many others.
Edsel proudly points to his dad as “my favorite singer and person. I want to be like him when I grow up,” Edsel said. “Dad taught me the 3Ds of success—desire, determination and dedication. It worked for him so I’ll make it work for me too,” he added.
Eddie has naturally exposed Edsel to music, and to many genres, knowing that ultimately he will make his own choices. This exposure has prepared Edsel for his biggest performance yet in The Time Machine where he will sing the most popular songs of the past decades. Thank God for Eddie who has passed the gift of music along to his son who has willingly embraced the gift and the responsibility.
“I believe this is what I am created to be and to do—to perform and entertain people with the talents God has given me. It’s an honor to get the baton that my dad is passing on to me. It’s what we are supposed to do, share our talents with one another,’ said Edsel.
The much-awaited Edsel & The Time Machine concert is set to thrill the audience on July 16. To be held at the prestigious Bovard Auditorium, a state-of-the-art theatre in USC, the concert is expected to be another jam-packed concert.
“We’re doing everything to make Edsel &The Time Machine a show you will never forget. This show will definitely create an impact in the Fil-Am world of entertainment, ” shared Eddie.
Most of the original performers of the past Time Machine shows will be performing with Edsel in this very nostalgic concert. Along with them are future stars of tomorrow, handpicked by Edsel and his producer-father Eddie. The guest performers include Junn Aquino, Lianna Gutierrez, Erika Delos Santos, Allyson Cantimbuhan, Henry Pagkalinawan Jr., Andy Tecson, Glynis Sotiangco, Zandi de Jesus, Toots de Jesus, Nini De Jesus, Toni De Jesus, Fenny Pangan and Al Rapisura.
The concert’s main directors are Fenny Pangan and Alvin Reyes. Sonny Fernando is the musical director and he and his band will provide the music.
Asked how he feels about passing on the baton to Edsel, Eddie grins and says, “Edsel has far surpassed his old man. What more could I ask for?”
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek July 6-8, 2011 MDWK pg.2)
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