IT was in the middle of the afternoon, and British Craig Wosahlo still has not eaten his breakfast yet.
He just moved in a few days ago to his own small condominium unit in Mandaluyong City, after living his life for three months through the generosity of friends.
“Yes, I just signed a one-year lease contract here,” Wosahlo quipped with a smile. This is coming from someone who is trying to get it all together and find some direction in his life.
Wosahlo relocated himself into the country in August 2015, with absolutely no plan in hand. He just chose to live in the Philippines because of what he termed as the positive vibe he saw in the country during his previous visits, along with the friendliness of its people.
Carrying with him a degree in film directing from Newcastle University, Wosahlo has moved out of the United Kingdom after graduating from college and has moved around countries like Australia, China, Canada, Thailand, New Zealand, the United States and, now, the Philippines.
Surprisingly enough, Wosahlo has never made use of his college degree and, instead, got jobs on the marketing and sales side, while trying to pursue musical careers in some of those countries.
As for moving back home, Wosahlo said he just does not see himself living in the UK for the long term.
“I have a love-hate relationship with the UK. I just do not see a future for me there. I cannot find a job there that I love. I have been seven years out,” he said.
The odd jobs
Wosahlo first moved out of the UK in 2009 to work in Australia for a year. He landed a job in a popular international apparel brand. His stay in the country lasted close two years.
Afterward, he went backpacking to several countries looking to find a sense of fulfillment in whatever it is that he wanted to do.
Then it was back home for Wosahlo over the next five months, as he worked the nightshift in what he termed as a superstore.
By 2012, he saw himself traveling to China for what he initially thought as a one-year stay, doing whatever job where he could find happiness. Instead, he spent more than three years in the communist country teaching English to people from all ages.
“I was teaching English to every age imaginable. From babies to high-school, and college students and professionals, like doctors and pilots, I was teaching them. I guess, it was there where my patience ran out,” he said.
Wosahlo said he lived a pretty comfortable life in China, and could have stayed there if he wanted to. But the itch to travel hit him again. From there, it was destination Philippines for him.
Once in the country, Wosahlo said there was no culture gap, and he easily got comfortable with the people. But one thing that hit him the most was the cost of living in the country.
“The Philippines is crazy expensive,” he said in a bit of frustration.
Although he had considerable savings from his stint in China, aside from the expenses, it was also tough for him getting a career started in the country.
“I was couch surfing for three months. I was broke. I was homeless. It was mentally and physically exhausting,” he added.
So it was just in time when Pony, the popular American clothing and footwear brand, approached him if he can be its brand ambassador.
He quickly said yes and, since then, has been part of the company’s continuing campus tours, where he is one of its featured artists.
At the same time, he started two endeavors in the country—Lush Word and Lush Nights.
Lush Word was designed for tourists coming into the country, as it provides them with tips on what they can do in and around Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, Lush Nights is basically a bar crawl, where clients are taken to seven bars in one night for an evening of drinking and fun.
According to Wosahlo, they already have clients from Canada, Egypt, France, Ireland, Scotland, the UK and the US since they started the business.
“I am starting to find my direction. Life finally started doing things my way. Things are definitely turning around. I will be here in the country long term. The people are good. I am in a happy place now,” Wosahlo said.
Wosahlo added that he had a friend recently calling and asking him to go home. He said the friend just started a film-production company, and wanted him to be a part of it. He politely begged off.
The musician
Even before moving out of the UK, Wosahlo already played with garage bands. He was influenced by the early works of Incubus and At The Drive In.
He said the bands were just for fun and a way for him to use his creative side. They played in local shows, but never really intended to be signed by any record label.
Wosahlo, over the years, has counted on some mainstream artists and bands among his influences—including Huey Lewis & The News, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Death Cab For Cutie, Billy Joel, Sting, Genesis and Phil Collins— yet, at the same time, looks up to artists like Owen, City and Colour, and Battles
While working in Australia, Wosahlo, armed with an acoustic guitar and having Graceson as his stage name, also used the streets Sydney to earn an extra income by singing his original compositions in public.
“It was spare income, so I would not be touching my savings,” he said.
His stage name was initially Greyson, as in Dick Greyson, or better known as Robin in the DC Universe. But having found out that someone already is using the name, he changed it to Graceson, which is an ode to his favorite Jeff Buckley album.
Wosahlo figured that with his talent, he would probably be found by record companies that would sign him to a recording contract. It did not happen in Australia and has yet to happen for him here in the country.
In the Philippines Wosahlo played in the underground scene, most of the time, for free. It was the scene where he found what he termed as some of the most unbelievable bands in the country.
“I wanted to be exposed and make new friends,” he said.
He also did the bar circuit. That was when someone offered him a management contract, which basically led to nothing.
Today, he is getting his fill of the music industry by doing the Pony campus tour and doing corporate gigs.
In the De La Salle University (DLSU) stopover of the Pony campus tour, Wosahlo said he was driven to tears by the response of the students.
“It is awesome playing for college students. They are so loving and warm. In DLSU, they were singing along with me. It was a strange feeling. I did not feel that for a long time,” Wosahlo added.
Although still hoping to land a record deal here in the Philippines, Wosahlo said he is much fulfilled these days.
“I am already living the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle. This is not a normal life,” he added.
Wosahlo has a new album ready to be released once he gets signed by a record company. He said the album will be titled With Grace, Son.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano