Before becoming a familiar name in OPM, TJ Monterde faced painful rejections and financial hardship that nearly pushed him to give up on music entirely.
In an emotional sit-down on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda aired Thursday, TJ recalled the sting of being turned down repeatedly. “Marami pero—masakit siya, ‘yung mga rejections siyempre,” he admitted, sharing how he’d often hear the line: “We’ll get back to you.”
One incident that stuck with him was a performance gig he had secured two months in advance, only to have it canceled a week before the date in favor of a more popular artist. “That’s one of the first heartbreaks. Hindi ka puwedeng sobrang madaling ma-hurt,” he shared.
To survive, TJ juggled side jobs including voice-overs for TV and radio, and hosting events. Despite the hustle, he reached a point where he had nothing left. “There was this time na wala na talaga kaming pera. As in, wala na,” he said.
He recalled a night when he had no money for dinner and turned to his friend, Makoy, who managed to scrape up just enough for buy-one-take-one burgers. On their way to the burger stand, TJ even hoped to find coins on the road just to afford soft drinks. “Lord sana may P10 ditong makita ako,” he prayed.
Though he questioned his direction during those moments, he said a persistent voice within him urged him to keep going. “There’s always a small voice. I hear it,” he said.
That voice eventually led him to release his debut single “Ikaw at Ako” in 2012, marking the start of his career. He went on to produce hits like “Dating Tayo” and “Palagi” with his wife, KZ Tandingan.
Earlier this year, TJ headlined a three-night concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. And this coming Sunday, July 13, 2025, he is set to bring his heartfelt music to Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, continuing a journey that once nearly came to a stop.
