EXCLUSIVE: Gehlee Dangca reflects on growth, confidence after 2 years as K-pop idol

Being a Filipina K-pop idol has given Gehlee Dangca more than just opportunities to perform on the global stage, but also taught her valuable lessons about discipline, independence, and discovering herself.

After spending more than two years as part of girl group UNIS, Gehlee reflected on how the experience changed her as a person and as an artist in an exclusive interview with PUSH ABS-CBN.

“I learned a lot about discipline and adapting to different environments. I also learned that if you want something enough and if you put your effort in it and you just work towards your goal, no matter what pace you are going, you should never lose sight of that goal. You will bear the fruits of your hard work. Just keep working towards your goal,” Gehlee said.

Looking back at the person she was before becoming an idol, Gehlee admitted that one of the biggest changes she noticed was how she became more open and confident.

“The biggest difference that I can say is probably how much of an introvert I used to be. What I show kasi (now) was I was super confident, beauty queen-like but I was super introverted,” she revealed. 

After living independently in another country, Gehlee said she has become more comfortable expressing herself.

“Right now, I am more chatty and I am more open. I feel like in the two and a half years in a different country and living independently, it changed a lot about me. I feel like I am more mature now. I’m a big girl now,” she smilingly said.

Her growth was also evident in the way she approached performing. When she first started taking the stage with UNIS, Gehlee admitted that she was more focused on how the audience perceived her than on the performance itself.

“What was going on in my mind was like ‘Oh my god! How do I make them happy? How do I make them like me?’,” she said.

Now that she has experienced performing on different stages and events, Gehlee’s mindset changed.

“But now, with all the experience I have, it is more on focusing on the performance and focusing on delivering a good show because that’s what people wanted to see in the first place, that’s why they came in the first place,” she continued.

Before becoming a K-pop idol, Gehlee had originally envisioned herself entering showbiz through acting.

“Before being an idol, I just wanted to enter showbiz, however or whatever (way). I just want to be in showbiz but leaning more towards acting,” she admitted. 

“However, when I became an idol, I fell in love with performing and I just feel like becoming a solo artist is just the right path right now and music is also really important for me.”

Aside from the personal growth, Gehlee also took pride in representing the Philippines on an international stage.

“I was so happy that the first ever performance that I had was when I was wearing a Philippine sash,” she said. “The Philippines is just super special to me and always has that special palace in my heart.”

Returning to the Philippines for performances was also made more memorable by the warm reception she and UNIS received from Filipino fans.

“Every time that we came back to the Philippines for a performance, we were always greeted so warmly and it was just too touching. I feel like my heart is always bursting whenever I see the Filipino fans.”

“And also, they are very, very super vocal din whenever we perform. They would sing the lyrics for us that sometimes they are louder than the speakers. It was super fluttering,” she added.

As she begins her solo career, Gehlee hopes to continue receiving the same love and support from the fans who have been with her throughout her journey.

“I just hope that whatever I come out with, people would like it and I would, maybe, have a hold on their hearts just like how they were for me too,” she said. 

She also shared that she is not closing her doors to expand her career in being an actress, saying: “Even though I am focusing on my solo endeavours, I’m not closing any doors for other opportunities.”

“There’s always other opportunities and I have so many dreams. I would like to act. I would like to model, to do a vlog, or do a stream or to sing. There’s a lot that I wanted to do and I feel like I’m on the right path.”