The true story behind Joe Mari’s ‘Christmas in Our Hearts’
MALAPIT na namang sumungaw ang larawan ng itinuturing na `Father of Philippine Christmas Music’ or `King of Philippine Christmas Carols,’ ang OPM music icon, singer, composer, hitmaker, record producer and successful businessman si Jose Mari Chan pagsampa ng unang araw ng September, indikasyon na nalalapit na ang Christmas.
Despite his status, Joe Mari humbly disagrees to accept the titles given him in respect sa mga nauna nang composers ng mga classic Filipino traditional Christmas carols long before lumabas ang kanyang biggest hit Christmas song na “Christmas In Our Hearts,” a duet with his daughter Liza (when she was in her teens) which he himself composed.
Bago pa man ang monster hit Christmas song ni Joe Mari with his daughter, Liza, ang “Christmas In Our Hearts” ay nariyan na ang mga traditional Christmas carols tulad ng “Pasko na Naman,” “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,” “Sa Paskong Darating,” “Namamasko (Sa Maybahay ang Aming Bati).” “Noche Buena,” “Kampana ng Simbahan,” “Misa de Gallo,” “Ang Diwa ng Pasko” at marami pang iba.
It was Universal Records’ lady boss Bella Tan who requested Joe Mari to come up with a Christmas song and a Christmas album which he never had yet at that time and was given three months to complete. But first, he needed to come up with a maiden song na mapapasama sa album at dito nabuo ang kantang “Christmas in Our Hearts” which was intended for a duet.
At first, kinunsider ni Joe to have Lea Salonga to sing with him pero hindi umano ito pinayagan ng kanyang recording company at that time. Then he contacted Monique Wilson (ang singer-actress na under study noon ni Lea sa “Miss Saigon” in London) who readily said yes to him.
The recording schedule was scheduled on a Tuesday and three days before the actual recording, Joe got a call from Monique na walang kaboses-boses at ayaw niyang mapahiya sa singer-composer kaya biglang nagka-problema si Joe. He shared it with his wife Mary Ann Ansaldo-Chan who immediately thought of their daughter Liza to do the duet with him.
“Nagre-review noon for her exams si Liza when I approached her. I told her to study the song and we will record it on Tuesday. Tuesday came, we record the song and the rest is history,” pagbabalik-tanaw ni Joe.
The thirty-four-year-old “Christmas in Our Hearts” which was released in 1990 remain the biggest-selling Filipino Christmas song of all time. The melody was composed by Jose Mari Chan while the lyrics was written by another songwriter Rina Caniza-Zarate. The melody was based on the poem “Tubig ay Buhay” written by Chari Cruz-Zarate.
Timing na nakilala niya si Rina Caniza who personally approached him in his car pagkagaling niya sa simbahan at nagpakilala that she’s also a singer-songwriter. The veteran singer-songwriter asked Rina if she can write the lyrics for a Christmas song at dito nabuo ang “Christmas In Our Hearts”.
Rina, of course, is a part of the tremendous success of the song na ginawa nang `traditional national Christmas anthem’ ng mga Pinoy sa tuwing sumasapit ang Kapaskuhan.
“I am so honored,” pahayag ni Joe nang ito’y ating makapanayam for our online talk show, “TicTALK with Aster Amoyo” on my YouTube channel.
Although he’s still very much in demand sa mga shows and concerts here and abroad, he’s much sought after during the Christmas season laluna sa mga corporate shows.
“Ang nakakatuwa lang, whenever I sing, sa simula pa lamang ng kantang “Christmas in Our Hearts,” the audience starts singing with me,” he shares.
Of course, he gets almost the same reaction kapag kinakanta rin niya ang iba niyang classic hit songs tulad ng “Beautiful Girl,” “Please Be Careful with My Heart,” “Tell Me Your Name,” “Can We Just Stop and Talk A While,” “Refrain,” “A Love To Last A Lifetime,” “Afterglow,” “Deep in My Heart,” “Afraid of Love to Fade,” and a lot more.
Joe Mari wrote his first composition when he 13 years old which he continued doing when he turned 14 and 15. Although his pure Chinese father Antonio Chan was supportive of his early passion for music, he reminded him that it is only a hobby for him and his top priority was to finish his college and help him run the family business which he obliged.
Si Joe Mari ay nagtapos ng Economics sa Ateneo de Manila University kung saan niya nakapanabayan ang isa ring music icon na si RJ Jacinto.
Luckily for Joe Mari, he was able to mix business and music altogether kahit nung nag-asawa na siya at nagkaroon ng mga anak (five of them) at siyam na apo.
When his father passed on, Joe Mari took over the chairmanship of the family business. He also stayed in the US for eleven years (1975 to 1986) but never stopped writing songs.
Pagbalik niya nung 1986, he was able to revive his music career in the Philippines by coming out with a “Golden Collection Album,” a collection ng kanyang mga past hits na kanyang sinamahan ng bago niyang komposisyon, ang “Tell Me Your Name” hanggang maging sunud-sunod na ang kanyang paglabas ng hit songs and albums numbering to about 14 solo albums and 22 collaboration albums. Ang mga ito ay labas pa sa mga kilalang commercial jingles that he composed for an airline, chicken soup, milk brand among others, and various movie themes.
He also composed songs for other artists including APO Hiking Society, Anthony Castelo, Celeste Legaspi among others.
Apart from his being a successful businessman and a renowned award-winning singer-songwiter and record producer, Joe Mari is loving and caring husband to his wife Mary Ann and father to his five children and doting grand father to his nine grand children.
“They are all my joy in life,” he proudly says.
Nalulungkot lamang si Joe Mari na ibang-iba na ang music platflorm ngayon kumpara noon, but he still encourages young songwriters to continue writing songs for the present and future generation to enjoy.
Joe Mari credits his maternal grandmother (from Cebu) and mother as his early music influences.
“My mother plays the piano while my grandmother would always listen to music everyday,” kuwento pa nya.
Ang nakakatuwa lamang kay Joe, sa kabila ng kanyang tinatamasang tagumpay sa negosyo at sa larangan ng musika ay nananatili siyang grounded, the reason of his longevity. Nag-iisa lamang si Jose Mari Chan.
Christian signs up with a Hollywood agent
HINDI bothered ang award-winning actor na si Christian Bables kung naku-question man ang kanyang gender dahil sa pagganap niya ng mga gay roles sa pelikulang kanyang ginagawa .
Bilang actor, bukas umano siya sa iba’t ibang klase ng papel na ipinagkakatiwa sa kanya.
Bukod sa Pilipinas, nag-sign-up na rin si Christian sa isang agent in the US to represent him for future Hollywood projects.
The singer-actor is also considering in applying for a US Immigrant Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievements.
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