MANILA, Philippines?Marvin Ong is only 21, but his credentials seem to show that he?s a seasoned performer.

This graduating Ateneo Communication Arts major says music is his life?he learned to sing at age 5?and that he?s bent on pursuing a professional singing career.

Though he had performed in musicals staged by Trumpets Inc. in his grade school years, Marvin had to finish high school before his father gave him the blessing to chase his dream. Right after his high school graduation, he plunged head on, appearing in two stage musicals.

He has since earned good credits as a performer in campus and professional theater productions. But Marvin says his forthcoming role as the orphan Tobias in Repertory Philippines? third staging of Stephen Sondheim?s ?Sweeney Todd? (opening Nov. 14 at Onstage Greenbelt 1) is the real milestone.

Did you totally stop thinking about music while you were in high school?

Of course not. Music is my life; my parents know that. Although I had to work hard at my math because I was failing it, my parents always gave me classical CDs to listen to. And I was allowed to play the piano?I have three. That helped me write my own songs.

Did you take formal music lessons?

No formal voice lessons at all. Director Audie Gemora (who plays the lead role in ?Sweeney Todd?) was my first mentor at Trumpets. He still teaches and guides me. I studied piano for a short while, until I learned to play it by ear.

What are your most memorable stage performances?

I played the title role in Ateneo Blue Repertory?s ?Bat Boy? last year. I also had good parts in ?Sister Act? and ?High School Musical,? Trumpets? productions of ?Noah?s Big Ark,? and ?The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.?

What else keeps you busy?

Right now, I?m recording my debut CD which will hopefully include two of my own compositions.