AFTER more than a decade being the “life of the party”, DJ Patty Tiu aka Deuce spun her final set of records, walking away from the scene that gave her so much in a life that sadly could possibly come to a close sooner than later.
DJ Patty kissed her headset goodbye and waved to hundreds of concert-goers in one last bittersweet moment during the Howlers Manila event at Circuit Makati last Saturday.
Who is DJ Patty
The 34-year old music DJ was part of the sensational duo Deuce Manila with Kat DJ who won the Manila Mix Off and opened for international superstar DJ David Guetta. She also has performed with Icona Pop, Steve Aoki and Arman Van Buuren in front of thousands.
Known in the party circles as being one of the first female DJs, she has throngs of GenZ and millennial followers. She has 230,000 followers on Instagram alone.
What’s her story?
At age 22, DJ Patty was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Told in 2011 that she had five to eight years to live, she decided to skip chemotherapy and radiation treatments, for fear she will lose mobility, a testament to her commitment.
Then, when she attended an event, she had an epiphany.
“I was a young outcast and found myself alone in an unfamiliar place. The music was blaring while the loudness of the sound spoke to my soul. The echoes of joy, and the sight of everyone around me with their hands up. The atmosphere was filled with the energy of togetherness,” she recalled in an interview with When in Manila.
“And it was exactly at that moment I knew, this was where I wanted to be. I ran and walked this path, and at times when I had to crawl, I did. There weren’t any stars, or sight of the moon, there were only corners, my foot taps, and music.” she added.
DJ Patty would embark on a tough journey to pursue a passion that had no certainty and security. For more than a decade, she held it together without telling anybody about her lonely battle.
She went through painful surgeries during this time and endured the limitations her body had her undergo. Nights of feeling weak, stomach pains and a bucket on standby under her turntables made for the most challenging periods in her life as a DJ.
What kept her going is her indomitable spirit and positive outlook. She stared down imminent death with open arms and a brave spirit.
Moving on
Now, she wants to dedicate what remains in her life to helping others cope with their own struggles.
“Maraming maraming maraming salamat po sa pagbigay buhay at pamumuhay sakin at sa aking mga minamahal. It’s time for me to give you more. Give you more of me beyond music. We are still taking this journey together. Walang iwanan,” Tiu said in her post on Facebook.
Fans who consider her as a legend in the industry and as someone who represents an era that has come to a close posted messages of support and deep appreciation for all the memories she leaves behind.
So long, Deuce. Whatever happens, you came and you conquered.
