Even the most composed artists have their breaking point. For Sitti Navarro, the Philippines’ “Queen of Bossa Nova,” that moment came years ago during a performance in Cagayan de Oro—an experience that forced her to balance professional grace with self-respect.
Looking back during a recent media conference for her upcoming “Sittiscape” concert, the singer opened up about an incident that tested her patience and revealed the darker side of the entertainment industry.
Years ago, Sitti and her team traveled to Cagayan de Oro for a scheduled performance. Despite arriving early and completing their sound check, her manager discovered a major red flag: the producer had failed to settle the agreed-upon payment.
“My manager told me, ‘You haven’t been paid, so don’t perform anymore,'” Sitti recalled. Following her manager’s advice, she stayed backstage, prepared to walk away from the engagement.
While waiting in the wings, Sitti overheard something that shifted her frustration into disbelief. To explain her absence to the crowd, the producer began telling blatant lies about why she wasn’t on stage.
“I heard the producer making apologies to the crowd, but they were telling lies about what happened,” she shared. “You can’t just say that. I don’t like liars.”
Facing the choice between sticking to her manager’s “no pay, no play” rule or correcting the narrative for her fans, Sitti chose the latter. Despite the lack of payment and the producer’s dishonesty, she decided to perform. “In the end, I still performed because we were already there. It would have been a waste.”
Sitti described the incident as the only time she felt that disrespect in the industry had gone too far. While she considered filing a formal complaint at the time, she ultimately chose to move forward, viewing the experience as a vital lesson in practicing self-respect and setting stricter boundaries.
“I should have been more strict with myself… I wish I had looked after my outputs more,” she reflected, noting that the experience has shaped how she approaches her career today.
The singer is now channeling her experiences into her craft as she prepares for “Sittiscape: The City of Bossa,” scheduled for May 17 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. For Sitti, the concert isn’t just a show—it’s a reminder that music is a medium for genuine expression, far removed from the deceptions of the past.