ultifaceted—that's how balladeer Jeffrey Hidalgo describes himself. The 28-year-old former Smokey Mountain member not only sings and act. He is also, unknown to most people, a licensed chemical engineer!

He actually passed the board in 2003.

Jeffrey is a graduate of Philippine Science High School and the University of the Philippines . At PSHS, it was a prerequisite in his time that students, all of them on government scholarship, had to take up a science course in college. Chemistry was his favorite subject in high school. That's how he ended up in chemical engineering: “Tinuloy ko na.”

But the entertainer in him shone over his scientific side. That's because Jeffrey and his younger sister, Arnee, a recording star like her brother, have performing in their genes.

Their mother, Belinda, is a “frustrated singer,” Jeffrey says. “Hindi lang siya pinayagan ng Daddy niya no'ng bata pa siya.” Their lolo, Amor Castillo, the same man who did not allow his daughter to into showbiz, used to be a character actor himself.

Jeffrey recently starred in a short film, Huling Hininga, directed by Jason Tan and co-starring Miriam Quiambao. “Ang dali lang namin ginawa,” he recalls. “Isang gabi lang.”

But his greatest passion remains singing. Universal Records has just released his latest album, Jeffrey 05 .

Looks like he'll never get to use his chemical-engineering license. “I can't leave singing,” he says. “Kung i-pusue ko man ang pagke-chemical-engineer, kakanta pa rin ako.”

A singing engineer? Why not? Maybe he can play The Engineer in Miss Saigon!

The receiving room's main wall serves as a display gallery for the plaques that Jeffrey has gathered in 16 years of singing and recording. The plaques include those in recognition of the gold, platinum, and double platinum record awards for the album Smokey Mountain; a second-prize win in the international festival Voice of Asia; a PLDT My Music Poster featuring the Hidalgo siblings with Jay R; double platinum awards for the album Flames; and a gold record award for the album Araw Ng Pasko.

Jeffrey's younger sister, Arnee, a talented R & B singer herself, is contributing to the growing number of plaques and trophies. The ones on a nearby shelf belong to Arnee.

Behind Jeffrey is the door that leads to his bedroom, which can also be accessed through the kitchen. The room, which serves as his bachelor pad, used to be his mother's beauty parlor. “Parang nakahiwalay ako sa main house,” Jeffrey points out. That's because he often comes home late from work: “ Para hindi na ako makaistorbo pag tulog na sila lahat.”

Jeff's mom, insurance agent Belinda Hidalgo, is a versatile hobbyist. “May phase siya na nagko-collect siya ng mga angel figurines. Noong dumami na, nag-cross-stitch. ‘Tapos, gumagawa siya ng Zen fountains using ‘yong mga stones.”

Jeffrey's gray room gives him a feel of what solo living is like. (Except, of course, when his mom's cooking beckons.) The charcoal painting on the wall is the work of Jeffrey's friend \, Paul, who copied the face of Kate Moss and the upper body of Claudia Schiffer. Says Jeff: “Noong nagpapintura ako, dapat papatakpan ko. Pero sayan, e, so, iniwasa na lang nila.”

The opposite side of Jeffrey's room is saved for his entertainment gadgets—TV, component, computer, toys. On this TV set, Jeffrey watches his weekly show, Team Explorer (Studio 23). “Kaso, madalas, nami-miss ko ang tapings, so hindi ako kasama.”

That usually happens when he needs to rehearse for a play. He doesn't want to give up theater work: “Masarap, e. Lalo na ‘pag ang gagaling ng kasama mo.”

The door leads to his walk-in closet and bathroom. “Diyan dati sina-shampoo ‘ying mga customers na nagpapagupit.”

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