It’s been a full decade since Jason Dy won "The Voice of the Philippines" Season 2 under Sarah Geronimo's team, but for the soulful singer, everything still feels fresh. "It feels like it happened yesterday," he mused when asked how it’s like to mark his tenth year in showbiz. "Parang kahapon lang, kakapila ko lang para mag-audition, kaka-fill out ko lang ng mga application forms. Tapos ngayon, nandito na tayo. We're celebrating ten years after that moment,” he said in an episode of Kapamilya Chat.
Jason is grateful for the journey, although it hasn’t all been smooth-sailing. Like many artists, he hit a rough patch during the pandemic, a time he describes as very difficult for performers like him. "Walang live events. Nami-miss ko 'yung performing in front of an audience, connecting with people face to face. Kasi 'yung exchange of energy 'yun ang nawala, eh... Bumaba din ‘yung work opportunities," he recalled. With work slowing down, he even considered exploring a different path, and that's when he discovered photography, which has now become one of his favorite hobbies. Looking back, he's thankful he made it through that season.
Ten years in showbiz also means ten years on "ASAP," as Jason was welcomed into the musical variety show’s powerhouse cast right after being crowned "The Voice PH" grand champion, and with "ASAP" now celebrating its 30th anniversary, the timing feels extra special.
Just like his "The Voice PH" win, he also remembers his "ASAP" debut like it was just yesterday. As Jason narrated, the finals of "The Voice PH" happened on a Saturday night, and the very next day, he was already on the "ASAP" stage performing live. Up to now, he can still describe exactly what he wore during that prod—red pants, a black bomber jacket—and the song he performed, which was “OMG” by Usher. He can clearly remember the wonder and excitement he felt, like a wide-eyed newbie stepping into a completely different world where everything was fast-paced and larger than life.
“Bago sa akin lahat. Meron palang stage manager, may floor director. Gina-guide ako, 'Dito ka papasok. Dito e-exit.' Bago sa akin lahat… First time kong makita 'yung malaking prompter. Ganu’n pala 'yung setup,” he reminisced. “But I was taking it all in kasi pinangarap ko.”
Like many "ASAP" artists who started out in talent competitions, Jason also has his own "kwentong ASAP" about how he used to be just a fan, imagining what it would be like to stand on that stage. So when it finally happened, he felt the pressure to prove himself. In fact, he was more nervous during his first "ASAP" appearance than at "The Voice PH" Grand Finals. At least in the finals, he felt he had given already everything he had. But with "ASAP," it felt like a brand-new start, a new chapter where he had to earn his place all over again. “Nanginginig 'yung knees ko na baka hindi ko ma-hit 'yung parts, baka mali 'yung entrance ko. Pero masaya 'yun,” he added.
Still walking down memory lane, he recalled the first "ASAP" icon he saw that day was Zsa Zsa Padilla, then Gary Valenciano, and Martin Nievera. One by one, the stars he grew up admiring were suddenly right in front of him. He was finally meeting his heroes. And those heroes turned out to be just as kind and generous as he had always imagined.
"Ang maganda kasi sa ‘ASAP’ is 'yung na-foster na community and working environment, suportahan talaga at tulungan kasi gusto namin to give a great show to everyone," he shared. "Importante talaga sa amin 'yung samahan." He also spoke fondly about the off-cam moments that mean just as much—their bonding over meals, out-of-the-country tours, the small gaps before going back on air, and the little conversations in between performances. It’s these moments that have made his "ASAP" experience feel like home.
Jason has a vivid memory when it comes to his "ASAP" performances—he remembers the smallest details, which reveals how close these moments are to his heart. Another unforgettable moment for him was his “Beauty and the Beast” duet with his "The Voice" coach and Popstar Royalty, Sarah Geronimo. "She was in this yellow ball gown. Napakaganda ni Coach!" he described the visuals of that prod. It was around the time the live-action movie came out, and they performed the Ariana Grande and John Legend version of the song.
Add to his core memories the episode where Regine Velasquez was officially welcomed as an "ASAP " Kapamilya, which also happened to be his first-ever duet with Asia’s Songbird. He will also never forget his first production number with then-newly minted "ASAP Soul Sessions" segment, where he performed alongside his fellow R&B artists Kyla, KZ Tandingan, Daryl Ong, and Jay R. They sang “End of the Road” in coordinated blue outfits, complete with fog machine effects. “Epic 'yun! Favorite ko 'yun,” he enthused.
Looking back on a decade’s worth of “ASAP” memories, Jason is still that same artist who just genuinely loves what he does. And while he’s already come a long way, he’s not done dreaming. If anything, his first ten years with "ASAP" only feels like the beginning of everything still to come.