Before Taylor Swift, There Was Mandy Moore

I was watching an episode of Dogshow Diva when they mentioned something that instantly caught my attention, the duet between Mandy Moore and Regine Velasquez at the MTV Asia Awards. I had never seen it before, so I searched for it on YouTube right away. And there it was. Mandy Moore, the soft-spoken pop princess from the West, singing side by side with Regine, our very own Asia’s Songbird. It was magical.

Regine Velasquez has always been my biggest idol. Her voice shaped my childhood. I grew up watching her concerts on TV, trying to mimic her high notes, and feeling proud that someone from the Philippines could sing with such power and grace. Seeing her perform with Mandy Moore, someone I also admired deeply, felt like two worlds colliding. It was a moment that reminded me just how much music has shaped who I am.

Before I ever followed Taylor Swift’s eras or decoded her lyrics, there was Mandy Moore. She wasn’t just a pop star to me. She was the voice of my teenage heart. Her songs were the first ones that made me feel love, heartbreak, and hope, even before I fully understood those emotions.

I was still very young when I first heard Mandy Moore’s music. Songs like “Cry,” “Only Hope,” and “I Wanna Be With You” weren’t just playing on the radio. They were playing inside me. Her voice was soft and sincere, and her lyrics felt personal. She didn’t need to be flashy. She sang with emotion, and that was enough.

And of course, I sang her songs too. Like many Filipinos, I grabbed the microphone and poured my heart out on the videoke. Whether it was a birthday, a family reunion, or just a rainy afternoon, someone would always punch in the number for “Only Hope” or “Cry.” Her songs became part of my memories.

Her songs were the soundtrack of my coming-of-age. They were the background to my first crushes, quiet heartbreaks, and secret hopes. She made it okay to be soft, emotional, and to dream of love that was gentle and true.

Then came A Walk to Remember. I first watched it during our film showing in Junior high school as part of our Film Review project. It was one of those moments that stayed with me. Mandy played Jamie Sullivan, quiet, kind, and full of faith. She was the kind of girl I admired from afar. Her character wasn’t loud or dramatic, but she had a presence that made you feel something deep. I remember watching it with my classmates, and by the time she said “You’re my angel,” we were all crying. That movie didn’t just make me sad. It made me believe in love that was pure and deep.

As a Filipino, I connected with Mandy Moore in a special way. Her music reflected our values like family, faith, and quiet strength. “Only Hope” is still sung today, and it still brings back all those emotions.

Taylor Swift may be the queen of storytelling now, and I love her for that. But before I learned to analyze lyrics and celebrate eras, Mandy Moore taught me how to feel. She was my first heartbreak, my first hope, and my first walk into the world of love songs.