Cris goes romantic in her new album

This makes me feel old but it’s a fact that Cris Villonco is now 20 years old. She celebrates her birthday today, Oct. 17, while attending classes at Sarah Lawrence College in New York where she is a Liberal Arts sophomore. Hers must be a quiet but heartfelt celebration among friends who are probably unaware of how she spent her summer vacation in the Philippines this year.

Cris, granddaughter of the famous Armida Siguion-Reyna, did two solo concerts, guested in a few others, joined Lagi Kitang Naaalala, the Tribute to National Artists held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, posed for pictorials, talked about herself in interviews, braved press conferences, made several TV appearances and to top it all, finished an entire new album. So while friends in New York were living it up on the beach or touring Europe, Cris was back home working.

I do not believe though that she thinks of singing and performing as work and a busy schedule as something to complain about. She is one of the few young artists around who see show business as a career choice she loves to do. In fact, aside from being related to Armida and the Time Magazine’s choice as "Hero of the Planet," the image most of us associate with Cris is that of the little girl singing with sweet, crystal-clear notes in Les Miserables early in her career and later in the Filipino musical Alikabok and in the three albums she has recorded.

Her latest, simply titled Cris Villonco, must be the most special of them all. I say this because it is probably her most romantic ever, and it’s nice to see that the little girl has indeed matured and become a credible interpreter of love songs. Produced by Margot Gallardo of Aiza Seguerra’s Pagdating ng Panahon fame, the album mixes new originals with old favorites.

And when I say old, I mean really old tunes like Nat King Cole’s Dreams Can Tell a Lie which Cris performs with so much feeling. Other revivals are Tell Her (Every Girl Likes to be Told), and We May Never Love This Way Again. The new songs, all of them romantic, are Bago Mapagod ang Puso, the first single release, Kaya Lang, Umiibig Na Ngayon, Pabago-bago, Iba Na and Ikaw Rin at Ako.

Then there is also Then Came You. A truly special cut in Cris’ album is her duet with Philippine-born Broadway star Jose Llana. The mention of Jose brings to mind a romantic tenor on stage singing We Kiss in a Shadow or I Have Dreamed from The King and I or You are Beautiful from Flower Drum Song. But it turns out the guy can also sing pop and he and Cris can do an excellent duet of Then Came You, a composition by Moy Ortiz and Edith Gallardo. Hearing the track was a sweet surprise and one cannot help but admire the versatility of these two artists.

Speaking of Jose, the talented young man is currently on a successful tour of the US of A with Flower Drum Song. Jose plays the leading man Ta, the role he originated with Lea Salonga as his leading lady in the revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, then took to Broadway and went on tour starting last August. Reviews have been great, and the tour has been extended to other cities, giving Jose one of his busiest schedules. In fact, the earliest date Jose will be able to get a break from performing is February 2004.

Jose hopes to return to the Philippines for a few weeks next year, do some concerts, release his live album and resume promoting his all-Filipino debut for Viva Records titled Jose. The album contains his interpretation of well-loved modern classics from local composers like Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan by George Canseco, Sana’y Maghintay ang Walang Hanggan by Willy Cruz, Walang Kapalit by Rey Valera and Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang by Ogie Alcasid.

Highlights of the collection are Iduyan Mo, a duet with Regine Velasquez, Nais Ko, another duet with new singing sensation Sarah Geronimo and To Love You Once Again, a new original composed by Louie Ocampo.