You may not seem to be that familiar with her name, Julia Banda is the name to watch out for in the music and entertainment scene. She is Kristia Julia Marie G. Banda, 19 years old lass who hails from Dasmariñas, Cavite. 

Her parents Julius and Marichele were both deaf and mute but their situation doesn't prevent Julia from reaching up to her dream and took it in a positive way instead. She's now in her Junior year at Miriam College taking up BS Psychology. 

Growing up, her family, especially her Mom, Dad, Grandmother and Aunts had been very supportive of her passion for singing which she had expressed at the age of three. 

Julia Banda (center) flanked by her very loving three aunts and her dad, Julius during her pocket presscon and press presentation 

Julia poses with her family: her dad Julius, mom Marichelle and siblings minus the little one. She has a total of three siblings. 

During her pocket presscon, she has shared to us her singing prowess that was very well appreciated and recognized at the WCOPA  (World Championships of Performing Arts) in 2014. The said international talent contest is also known as the "Talent Olympics," wherein over 40 countries participate and compete in different performing arts categories. This is the same competition that gave Jed Madela and Raph Salazar their prestigious awards and titles. 

Julia samples some of her superb tracks that are so memorable to her like the song "Try it on My Own," by the no other than the Queen of Souls, Whitney Houston. According to her, this particular song best describes her and her journey to success. She is no longer afraid or too shy to try and pursue her dreams. This song had also won her one of the major awards the WCOPA 2014. 

If you want to watch sing her inspirational song, "Try It on My Own," please check it out here.

Owing to Julia's admirable singing prowess, is her being a product of Center for Pop. She also shares that she has performed in some minor and major concerts before but has temporarily ceased to give priority to her studies since she's graduating from high school that time. 

Her three supportive aunts (father side) had never really given up to help Julia pursue her dreams, they had encouraged her to join the WCOPA audition then was accepted later. They were trained here in the Philipines first for about one and a half month then competed in Los Angeles, California, USA. 

She came out as the biggest winner for the Team Philippines in 2014 WCOPA (Senior Division). She garnered four individual gold medals, gold medal for group competition, one silver medal, an industry award and three plaques being the over-all winner for 3 categories. That's a lot, really! Julia is really a potential big star. 

When asked about her genre, she prefers pop and rock and she also digs K-Pop music. She idolizes Jona ( Viray) and Jaya. She looks forward to singing with Jona again in the near future. She also likes Jessie J. and Korean boy band, BTS. She has also joined another singing competition, "Pilipinas Got Talent," before but was not lucky enough to be selected. But that didn't stop her from pursuing her ultimate passion. 

Another memorable and very heartwarming story that she shared to us was, just early this year, they have discovered one of the letters her grandmother had written and was dated right after she won and came from WCOPA 2014 in Hollywood. To be very brief, her grandma was suppose to send her letter to KMJS, "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," and was requesting the show and the host Ms. Jessica Soho to allow her granddaughter, Julia be featured in any of the show's episodes. That's how proud, loving and supportive her grandma was. It was a very touching story and I hope that if anyone from KMJS or GMA Network will get the chance to read this story, they may be of great help to make a love one's last request come true. I know it's never too late, right?! 

Julia Banda 

So there goes our promising superstar a real performer, an award-winning singer. I hope that she will be given a great chance in the music industry and the right package and management that will really boost her career and be appreciated by many for she has got what it takes to be a star singer. 

Catch her cover of "Tadhana" here. 

Catch her cover of "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw" here.

Congrats Julia and good luck to every endeavor you have. 

See you again soon! 

                                                                 June 05, 2017