Filipino-born mum of two Jeramie has always dreamed of a moment like this. After years away from the stage, she stepped into The Voice Australia Blind Auditions with her dad’s visa freshly approved and a health battle behind her that once left her unsure she’d sing again.
Woman’s Day caught up with Jeramie to talk family, faith and her journey to the stage.
How long have you been singing for?
I’ve been singing since I was a child, back in the Philippines, but I haven’t really sung on a big stage since I’ve been in Australia. It was almost like a new thing again for me, because I was so busy being at home and being with my kids.
When you first arrived in Australia, did you ever imagine you’d be appearing on one of our biggest TV shows?
No, I knew that when I came here, I’d be starting from zero. No connections, no anything, so there was no expectation at all. The truth is, I haven’t really had any gigs – I’m only singing in church. I’m part of the choir and I’m on social media, mostly on Facebook, but if you would compare me to other contestants on The Voice, I’m nowhere near where they are. We have The Voice in the Philippines too and I’ve always wanted to be on that stage, but I was never the right age, so now coming to The Voice Australia, it’s so unreal. I almost thought I was going to pass out!
Are you hoping your profile grows after appearing on The Voice?
Yeah, I hope so. I do hope I’ll grow my following and connect more with Australian audiences because most of my audience are Filipinos. I was actually in a talent competition there as well in 2016. I was only 17 when that happened. [Jeramie is now 26.]
Viewers will see you perform a rendition of Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion in the Blind Auditions this week. Why did you dedicate the song to your dad?
When I was doing the rehearsals in Sydney I was really shaking and thinking “No one’s going to turn.” I sounded really bad. I hadn’t been on stage for so long. I was in the hotel room and my husband [Scott] asked me, “Can you practise it again?” I started thinking in my head about a photo of me and my dad when I was 11. And I sang the song, and my husband was crying after that, and he said, “What you did just then, that’s what you gotta do on the Blinds!” I wasn’t even looking much at the audience when I was doing my Blinds. I was looking where my family was. I was looking at my dad. I was looking at my kids and my husband. I don’t think I had much connection with the audience to be honest because I was just dedicating the whole song to them, especially for my dad. It was such a special moment. Prior to the Blinds, I hadn’t seen my dad for more than two years. He only had his visa granted a week before we came to Sydney for the auditions!
How do your kids feel about Mum being on TV?
My three-year-old is constantly asking, “Is Mum going to be on TV?” whenever we’re watching The Voice. He’s very excited.
Are you a big Celine Dion fan?
Yeah, I am.
Do you hope that she somehow ends up seeing this cover, if it manages to reach her on social media?
Oh my goodness, that would be a dream come true! I would be jumping up and down if she ever sees it. I mean, she’s a legend. I’ve watched her growing up for years, so that would mean a lot to
me if she sees it.
What would winning the show mean to you?
Winning the show would mean everything to me. There was actually one Filipino who won The Voice USA maybe two years ago, and it meant so much being represented on an international stage. I come from a very humble family. Just being able to perform on this show is a big thing but winning it, that’s next level!
You’ve overcome some health challenges with your lungs to get here too. Did you ever think you’d be able to sing like this again?
No! In 2018 I found out that I was very sick. I had a litre of fluid in my lungs and it couldn’t be cured by antibiotics any more. It was shrinking one of my lungs. It was really hard for me to breathe. I’d have to sit down every time I walked anywhere and I couldn’t sleep and every night I just remember thinking “Maybe I’m not going to make it.” I was just praying, “Lord, please help my family when I’m not here,” you know? It’s been like eight years now and it’s actually been a blessing because after the surgery, I felt better in singing because it felt like such a miracle. Prior to that, I was always having a hard time trying to breathe.
What would you do with the $100,000 cash prize if you won?
A house deposit, I guess, because right now we’re renting. I would love to record more songs. Winning that would mean that I could have my parents or my little sister visit here too.
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