AC BONIFACIO'S STAR SHINES BRIGHT

“ There is no failure except in no longer trying.”  Elbert Hubbard

It was not always happy going in the entertainment career of AC Bonifacio, hip hop artist, singer and actress. AC stands for Andree Camille.

AC and dance partner Lucky just won as Grand Champions of a Filipino TV dance competition, Dance Kids. Lucky and AC were known as the Lucky Aces tandem in the dance competition. They were on a high after just winning 2 million pesos, a house and lot, 300,000 pesos shopping spree money and a contract with the famous Starmagic. Big Filipino entertainment stars are signed up with Starmagic.

After this euphoric phase, Lucky left the tandem and AC and her Mom Cherry were still in Manila trying to generate activities for AC. There were few and far in between calls from the studio. AC is originally from Vancouver and now lives in the suburbs called New Westminster. There was a noticeable doldrum in AC’s career.” Shall we quit?,” Mom Cherry asks herself.

“ Anak (daughter), let’s just go back home to Canada,” beams Mom Cherry. But AC resisted. She has a dream of making it in the entertainment world in the Philippines. Quitting is not in her vocabulary. As Babe Ruth says, “ It’s hard to beat people who don’t quit.” So quit AC did not.

THE POWER OF SOCIAL  MEDIA

Today, AC has 800,000 subscribers to her Youtube Channel. She has an Instagram account that has over 1.4 million followers. Her Facebook and Twitter accounts boast of hundreds of thousands of followers. AC Bonifacio has clout and is noticed by the swarming fanbase. She has  ACnatics Club(s) all over the Philippines. She is recognized and noticed by kababayans(all TFC subscribers) in Canada, US, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Arnel Pineda was discovered via his Youtube videos. AC Bonifacio's talents were made known to the world via Youtube as well. " We produced the videos ourselves," proudly declares Mom Cherry. AC did the editing herself. When you are driven to succeed you can learn everything to win.

One time she was in a Tim Hortons restaurant in Vancouver. Two of the young Pinoy cashiers were smiling when they saw AC. They are TFC subscribers.  AC had a selfie with them.

AC has always fresh materials in her social media. She dances, talks to her fans and gives the latest scoops about her and her family. She updates her stuff every Wednesday night.

“I love Instagram because my fans can see me and interact with me,” declares AC. There are moments which are announced when fans can go to her Instagram account and ask questions. If AC is asleep in New Westminster (while vacationing), her ACnatics officials are the ones doing the hard work answering fan questions.

HER BEGINNINGS

“ Ever since AC was 2 she was already dancing and singing,” Dad Arnold proudly talks about his daughter.  AC was also a commercial model appearing in ads. They always get compliments from their friends about AC going places someday. And it is now happening.

We asked AC who she can attribute her success as a Starmagic artist: “ Of course my Mom and Dad are always there for me no matter what.”

I was fortunate to have great mentors in dancing and singing. Tita Elaine Lapidario was a superb dance trainer. Riva Oquendo helped AC make those killer dance moves. Kiks De Leon also sharpened her singing talents.

WHEN YOU ARE A YOUTUBE SENSATION ELLEN DEGENERIS WILL INVITE YOU  

It seems that Ellen Degeneris is the gateway to bigger success for budding entertainment stars. Remember when Arnel Pineda was just at the cusp of stardom? He performed at the Ellen Degeneris Show.

And so with AC Bonifacio. She was also fortunate to be able to perform with Popstar Ariana Grande.

Of course in Manila, AC is also invited to TV talk shows. Boy Abunda of Fasttalk featured AC and she was gunslinging with her quick and intelligent answers to Tito Boy.

AC also routinely performs in huge malls in the Philippines promoting her new songs and dance steps. Jim Paredes of the Apo Hiking Society and a songwriter, is preparing an original material for AC. Her “Sumayaw, Sumaya” fits her dancing prowess.

THE FUTURE

Dad Arnold is not too sure yet whether as a parent  they will allow AC to join PBB if offered the opportunity. It involves full time commitment and may prevent AC from pursuing her academic plans. On the other hand big stars like Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson are both PBB alumni.

Asked what she wants to become in the future: “I want to be a lawyer.” That will be awesome. She can write and negotiate her contract.

Mom Cherry says that “the studio offers a lot of workshops for their talents.” AC has already appeared in Maalaala Mo Kaya(Laptop) and Wansapanataym. Gary Valenciano already noticed AC. When Gary V needed artists to help produce a show for UNICEF, AC got an invite from him.

AC misses her hip hop competitions in LA and Portland. She also had her ups and downs then. But she never quit. She is a Hall of Famer at 16 years old in the hip hop community in the US. Can you imagine what AC can become? She is just starting to blossom now. There is no limit as what she can become.