His career as a professional songwriter took off in 1982 when he won the Grand Prize in the prestigious Metro Manila Popular Music Festival (Metropop) with the song “Isang Dakot,” interpreted by an unknown singer named Sonia Singson. This big break came after barely a year of trying his luck in selling songs to record companies. In the succeeding year, he bagged two slots in the 6th Metropop Professional Division via the songs “Ako’y Ako” and “Be My Lady.” The Tagalog song got the Second Prize, while the English one, did not get any award but would be his vehicle to fame.

In 1983, Vehnee Saturno, an Advertising undergraduate from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, scored his first big hit in the song “Be My Lady,’ which was recorded by then promising singer, Martin Nievera. The balladeer rose to stardom thru the song, while the composer received numerous offers from record companies. The song’s popularity also attracted the interest of famous international performer, Mr. Matt Monroe. In that same year, Saturno earned that honor of being the only Filipino, whose song was recorded by the legendary singer/performer.

That big break led to a string of gold, platinum, and multi-platinum record awards. He scored a surprise hit in the song “Sana Kahit Minsan” that gave birth to a new singing sensation in Ariel Rivera. The song also gave him a songwriter’s contract with BMG Hong Kong in 1993, that made possible for Hong Kong superstar Jacky Cheung to record a Chinese version of the hit song and turned him (Saturno) into an international hitmaker. Other popular Chinese singers like Ekin, Jacky Wu, Vivian Chow, Karen Tong and many others, also recorded his songs in Hong Kong, and Taiwan. His songs were heard all over Asia. BMG Music Publishing in Hong Kong even sent him as their representative to the 1994 Pacific Harmony Songwriting workshop in Bali, Indonesia.

He finally found his niche in the Philippine Music Industry as his career soared during the 90’s. Saturno compositions almost dominated the airwaves and market. His songs launched the careers of Ella May Saison with “Bakit Ba?” and “Till My Heartaches End” and Allona with “Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye.” In 1990, his song “Nag-iisang Ikaw” for Louie Heredia was the most requested Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and gave Heredia his first Platinum Award. Hit after hit, his songs served as vehicle to the rising careers of Donna Cruz, with “Only Me and You;” Jessa Zaragoza, with “Bakit Pa?;” Jaya with “Dahil Tanging Ikaw” and “Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig.” Even singing heartthrob Jay-R and Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo, should be grateful to Saturno for their respective first hit, “Bakit Pa Ba?” and “Forever’s Not Enough.” [ MORE ]