hat is she really like -- as the saying goes -- up close and personal? Is she as youthful and playful as her nickname suggests? Or is she as serious and dedicated as her career makes her sound?

The truth is, she's both. Tootsie Guevara is both a child and woman, an intriguing combination any way you look at it. At 19, she is caught in that interesting stage where she is too old to be a child yet too young to really be considered an adult, but in typical Tootsie fashion, she's living it up just the same.

This intriguing combination that makes up Tootsie is best seen in the approach she has on her career. "This is my work, my career, but why can't I have fun at the same time?" she says, fully believing that she can combine work and play in the one thing that takes up most of her time.

Tootsie is busy promoting her second album under Star Records. The Platinum record KABA, which is also the title of her carrier single, features compositions by award-winning composers, arrangers and producers like Vehnee Saturno, Ben Escasa, Kedy Sanches, Brix Ferraris and Jimmy Borja. Its quite different from her debut album in the sense that this one showcases a bit more of the woman Tootsie has blossomed. Her voice displays more depth and emotion than before, prompting Vehnee to remark during the recording sessions that her voice had become even more "sexy."

If Tootsie seems so at home in the world of entertainment, it's because she was practically "to the microphone" born. She discovered her affinity with music in fancy. Realizing that their daughter was a performer at heart, her parents had no choice but to give in. They enrolled her in voice and piano lessons at the Trebel School of Music.

At the age of eight, her vocal talent turned in a winning performance at the Yamaha Musicmate singing contest in Cebu City. Singing “Isang Mundo, Isang Awit,” she was crowned the regional champion. It was this performance that led to her discovery. An executive from the Cebu branch of Vicor records recognized her talent and immediately signed her to do a solo album. Tootsie then moved back to Manila with her family and began her official career as a recording artist, recording the single, “Nais Kong Umawit.” This was followed by her first full album, Tootsie, with the carrier single, “Kinabukasan Ko.” This album garnered her a nomination in 1990 for the best child recording artist from Awit Awards.

A list of her awards can be viewed by clicking here.

lways on stage, Tootsie practically grew up in front of the camera, appearing on three different television shows in Cebu City by the time she was eight years old. In Manila, Tootsie was a regular performer on several television shows, appearing on That's Entertainment, D.A.T.S., and the show Jammin, all on the GMA Network. Even with all her success as a child performer, her education remained her first priority. This resulted in an extremely demanding schedule. Despite spending all day at school, she would go directly to the studio to rehearse dance numbers for the upcoming shows. These rehearsals would often last well into the night, after which she would return home - sometimes after midnight - and diligently do her homework for class the following day.

Tootsie eventually signed on with Star Records as a new artist. Around this time, she also met the multi-award winning producer and songwriter Vehnee Saturno who produced her first album under Star Records.

Released in the summer of 1997, "Really Wanna Tell You" produced the hit single, "Pasulyap-sulyap." The album went Gold by October. The single was also featured on the soundtrack of the movie, "Flames." After the success of Pasulyap Sulyap, another single was released from this album - "Mr. Kupido," first rendered by Rachel Alejandro.

Her growing popularity and the success of this album led to numerous other television appearances, including appearances on A.S.A.P., Today with Kris Aquino, Flames, Eazy Dancing, S.O.P., and Master Showman, just to name a few. Tootsie's appeal is not only due to her voice, but also to her remarkable beauty and her charming personality.

Her looks have garnered her stints in commercials as well as photoshoots as a model. Although she aspires to try the big screen, she continues to wait for an appropriate role. In fact, she continually declines offers from producers intent on capitalizing on her natural beauty, sultry voice, and widespread popularity to appear as a "bold" actress in various movies.

Despite her strong desire to act, and producers' superficial promises of new cars and luxurious condominiums, she remains commendably unwilling to compromise her image and morals for appearances in demeaning movie roles. Sadly, she finds many barriers even in the recording industry, where young women are expected to find a "godfather" and are exploited as they struggle to achieve some degree of success. She has become increasingly disillusioned by an often seedy industry characterized by greed and exploitation. Yet in the meantime, she continues to sing - her first love - and as she earnestly hoped, her latest album is a success.

Take a look at her TV and Movie credits. Click here.

ootsie remains committed to both her education and her career, studying in college while busy promoting her albums. In her free time, she enjoys watching TV (music videos, in particular), playing on her computer, listening to music, singing (of course) and spending time with her close friends. An incredibly neat and meticulous person, she has also been known to spend hours cleaning and rearranging her room.

Tootsie listens to a wide range of musical styles. However, she leans towards R&B, and her musical influences include the likes of Toni Braxton, Vanessa Williams, Brandy, Boys II Men, and Brian McKnight. She also has great respect and admiration for Pilita Corales, Kuh Ledesma, and Lea Salonga.

Tootsie's captivating voice is equally at home singing R&B covers or Kundiman songs. Yet, despite all the success that has come her way, Tootsie has kept the part of her that is still child-like; her humility. Everyone who knows her agrees that she remains extremely humble and charming. She is unimpressed by her own success, and is very committed to her family and her friends.

Amazingly sincere and friendly, she has a knack for quickly winning over almost everyone she meets. What does she have to tell her fans? "I hope they will continue to support me in my career. Thank you for making my new album turn platinum, and keep listening to me and my music. Watch out for my next album."

-- based from the original write-up by Michael Avila