Janine Berdin Isn’t Afraid of Being ‘Too Much’

Kids today grow up surrounded by everything, all at once. The internet is overflowing with inspiration from artists, creators, and personalities. These are dreams and lives that feel both distant and strangely within reach. Even I remember watching my first Pinoy Big Brother season in 2012 and suddenly wanting to become a housemate. Around that same time, I dreamed of becoming a writer, a MYX VJ, even to the point of impossibly imagining myself as part of the Star Magic Circle roster. 

But that “everything” can be overwhelming too. It often reflects what society frames as the ideal, with lives neatly packaged into a version of perfection we feel pressured to follow. In chasing that image, we sometimes lose small pieces of ourselves. Or maybe, in the process, we actually discover what truly matters to us. 

It’s nuanced. It’s messy. And it’s very much a part of growing up, like learning which dreams are ours, and which ones we were only taught to want.

The unlearning

“I was a kid who wanted to do it all.”

For someone like Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 2 Grand Champion Janine Berdin, it’s easy to assume everything had always been clear-cut. With a voice so distinct and that has earned years of standing ovations and resounding applause, it feels almost certain that this was the path she was always meant to take.

But for her, it wasn’t that simple, especially when she started to dip her toes into the industry at the age of 15. 

“I wanted to be everything—a filmmaker, gamer, YouTuber, theater actor, author, singer. I wanted to be Freddie Mercury,” she shares. “I wanted to be Rebecca Sugar, KZ Tandingan, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, Kitchie Nadal, Lady Gaga. I really, truly wanted to be all my inspirations. And everything I wanted, I tried doing.”

With all the dreams explored and tested, music had always been there. It remained the constant thread for Janine. From joining TNT as a chancer to build her own band in Cebu, with no expectations of winning, to eventually writing her own songs and sharing love, pain, and healing, she admits she was just performing and doing everything for herself.

In that way, she learned a lot. But just as much, she had to unlearn. At 16, she was told that being herself would never work. 

“I didn’t know the industry was inconsiderate, ruthless, and cutthroat,” she says. “And what once was a bright, shiny, loud, colorful dreamer had to shut up and be quiet and wear this and not say that. I wasn’t allowed to say no. I was told to always be grateful.”

And she was. Always. Raised to appreciate everything she had, she never once felt ungrateful. But over time, she realized that gratitude doesn’t mean accepting everything without question, reflecting, “You can be thankful for this abundant thing, and not tolerate this other one, and I wasn’t agreeable with a lot of things that were going on.”

Even when she was there for the music, the experience came with its own set of challenges. But slowly, she began to look up to people she admired, to the friends she found in music, to the artists who made her feel seen and the artists she once wanted to be. 

It’s an unforgiving industry, especially for a 16-year-old girl carving out her own space in a world where judgment is served as often as breakfast, and claiming your narrative in a male-dominated space feels like an uphill battle. But when Janine chose to trust herself, take risks, and stay true to her voice, she found herself exactly where she once dreamed of being eight years ago.

“Kasi I always knew I would be here, but I didn’t know how I could do it. I was getting scared na I couldn’t imagine a game plan. And now I’m here. There’s still a long, long way to go, and I have the biggest ambitions ever—but I’m here.”

Ultimately, Janine had to unlearn so many things to be more sure of who she really is.

Being ‘too much’

Now that Janine is more certain of herself than when she first started, no amount of silence can quiet the voice of that loud kid she’s always been. Growing up, she was never afraid to take up space. In the best way possible, she’s not afraid to be seen, to be heard, and to be too much.

And that same “too much” has become her strength. It’s what makes her a collaborator other Filipino artists trust deeply. It’s her voice that’s not only powerful on its own, but a voice that uplifts, listens, and creates music with intention.

It was Sponge Cola who first brought her into a music project when she was just 17. Then, around 2020, Juan Karlos reached out to help her out. At the time, she didn’t fully understand why as she felt like she didn’t know enough, like she was still figuring everything out.

Even now, she says she still doesn’t fully understand why they chose to help her. But what she does know is that she learned a lot from them, and those experiences shaped the artist she is today.

And of course, she speaks with deep gratitude for Adie. “I don’t even know what to say about Mahika,” she shares. “Adie, you changed my life.” As for Juan Karlos, she laughs, remembering how he told her he saw himself in her. “Totoo ba,” she jests. “I love you, JK. My kuya. He’s annoying—but I love him so much.”

And maybe, she reflects, she does understand it a little now: “I’m delusional, and all the people I’ve connected with have that same kind of delusional aura.” But beyond the humor, there’s truth in it too. Her work ethic is something she takes pride in. “I give a lot of myself to my art,” she quips. “I always make sure of that.” 

And perhaps that’s exactly why these collaborations happened and why they resonated so well with the listeners. Her vision is just there, waiting to be felt.

“Be too much!” It’s the piece of advice she wants to give everyone, especially to the young girls looking up to her and listening to her songs. But she also makes it clear that authenticity comes in many forms; if being soft feels true, then be soft. If being loud, expressive, or unapologetic is what feels right, then embrace that, too. “If you want to jump around and scream. Jump and scream. Just don’t hurt anyone, man. You can be assertive and confident but kind. They’re very different things.”

Living life the Janine way

At the center of it all for Janine has always been love—for the music, for the craft, for herself, and for others as well. 

However, sometimes love humbles us in ways we don’t want to admit. It’s the kind of feeling Janine leans into when asked about the importance of telling stories from that messy, in-between space. It’s that certain area where emotions are unfiltered, where pride dissolves, and where truth sits, uncomfortable but real. And it’s that exact space she captures and embraces in “Lab Songs ng mga Tanga.”

“I want to make people feel what I felt when I first heard Georgia by Emily King,” she shares. “And really, this album was what I went through. I want this record to be someone’s best friend too. Sh*t you go through but are too scared to admit. Music’s got you, man. Forever and always.”

Just as music has always stayed by her side, she now becomes that presence for others. It’s why she’s come to be associated with what many call “female crashout” energy—an unfiltered, emotionally charged honesty that refuses to be polished down. 

Her expression of femininity lives in that space. Loud when it needs to be, soft when it wants to be, and messy when it inevitably becomes. 

“I just really am being honest. Just the things I choose to talk about aren’t generally the best things to admit—but everyone goes through them, and sometimes nakakahiya i-admit kasi. I think honesty is cool. I think a lot of people think honesty is cool,” she says. 

Because in a world that rewards composure, there’s something freeing about someone who admits they’ve fallen apart and survived it. Well, Janine is right when she says honesty is cool. Vulnerability, even more so. It’s something she’s been building toward all these years; choosing to be open, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s not pretty. 

What’s next for Janine? If anything, it’s only forward and louder than ever. Fresh off writing and singing the theme song for the Mobile Legends Professional League, a project that feels especially close to her heart as a longtime fan of the game, she steps into this new chapter with the same energy she’s always carried. 

Well, a new project is already on the horizon this year. “I’m just so excited to do this because I get to do it as fully myself, with a team that believes in me, trusts me, and keeps me grounded. I’m surrounded by love and kindness,” she states. “And if I ever trip and fall, it’s okay because I know I’ll always stand back up. That means the only possibility for me is to love, sing, and create again and again, no matter what happens.”

Kids today grow up surrounded by everything, all at once. The internet overflows with inspiration, with possibilities, with endless versions of who we could be. It can feel overwhelming. 

But for Janine, once a kid who wanted to be everything, that sense of overwhelm became something more meaningful. Maybe she didn’t just chase it all because maybe she grew into it. And maybe, in doing so, she’s everything now. Loud and soft. Certain and still figuring things out. A little messy, a little fearless, a little louder. She can be overwhelming at times, or most of the time, but she’s real. And in choosing honesty and authenticity over perfection, she didn’t actually lose the kid who wanted everything. 

“Living feels so fuck**g exciting,” she declares. 

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Photography by Grant Babia

Cover story by Hans Ethan Carbonilla

Art Direction by Joe Andy

Makeup by Loren Kaye Sapin

Styling by Bryan Laroza

Fashion film by Sean Pascual

Nails by @nailsby.acha

Official Venue Partner - Apotheka Manila

Special thanks to:

Universal Music Group Philippines - Island Records

Rhanica Restrivera - PR & Media Manager

Jemina Mission - Marketing Manager

Jackie Lou de los Santos - Artist Manager