Jamie shares her many firsts

MANILA, Philippines - Who would have thought that in her 27 years in the music scene and with several albums to her credit, it is only now that Jamie Rivera is launching her first Christmas album. Titled My Christmas Gift, it consists of 10 tracks that mostly speak about the joyous feeling of the Yuletide season.

Lack of song material has never been a problem, Jamie says. In fact, she has written Disyembre Na Naman, which is included in the song line-up, many years ago and “just let it sit in my baul for years because there was no chance to use it in the past since the focus then was on the season like, for example, the Jubilee Year and EDSA Revolution.”

My Christmas Gift,which she co-produced with Star Records, has also given her the chance to collaborate with her 17-year-old daughter Reine (in Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas) and Kapamilya artists Toni Gonzaga, Kathryn Bernardo, Yeng Constantino, Vina Morales, Erik Santos, Jed Madela, Janella Salvador, Angeline Quinto, Jovit Baldivino, Bugoy Drilon and Liezel Garcia (for Christmas Around the World which she also composed).

Jamie believes songs can perfectly express one’s feelings. That’s why she carefully selected which songs best represent the different feelings when Christmastime comes. The classics Joy to the World, Oh Holy Night/Silent Night and Gloria in Excelsis Deo convey happiness in Jesus’ birth, Pasko Na Sinta Ko speaks about the longing for lost love, Let There Be Peace on Earth touches on world peace. I’ll Be Home for Christmas adds delight in reuniting with loved ones while Disyembre Na Naman and Christmas Will Always Be Christmas bring cheers to everyone.

Asked about the songs she could offer to victims of Typhoon Yolanda that hit Eastern Visayas recently, Jamie, tagged as the Inspirational Diva, singles out My Life is in Your Hands which the survivors can repeat to themselves as the song will remind them that God will take care of everything. Another is Heal Our Land that says God always listens to prayers for renewal.

She, too, adds that Panalangin Sa Pagiging Bukas Palad and Pananagutan fit best to the kind-hearted who respond to calls for help and give support without asking for anything in return.

Jamie’s generous side will be felt more in the coming days. She has given her nod to perform in fund-raising events. “It is also a good idea to donate the sales of the album (My Christmas Gift) but it would definitely take more time. Instead, I did my part by giving monetary support.”

Does she think that it will still be fitting to celebrate Christmas given the unfavorable situation of Pinoys in the typhoon-hit part of the country?

“The more we have reason to celebrate by giving help to the victims. Giving love is the real essence of Christmas and if we all do our share then rest assured that they will get back on their feet again soon.”

She says this is not the first time that we experienced disasters but we always manage to rise from the fall.

On a lighter note, Jamie gamely shares her memorable “first time” moments. Read on.

The first time I sang was…When I was eight years old. I was sitting on the stairway of our house in Proj. 8 when I suddenly sang Skyline Pigeon and there, I found out that I can carry a tune so I started joining choirs. I was 18 when I first joined in a singing contest.

The first record I bought was…Do the Hustle because I really liked it when I was a kid.

The first song I wrote was… Hey, It’s Me in 1987 and it also became my first album (under Octoarts International).

The first show I appeared in was… on Eat, Bulaga during the Yamaha Music Mate Girls contest of GA Yupangco that I joined in 1985.

The first singer I looked up to…Kuh Ledesma. She knows that  I love her even before I started joining singing competitions kaya nga ang winning piece ko ay ’Til I Met You.

The first concert I watched…It was the concert of Nonoy Zuñiga when I was still a student at UST. Nonoy was taking up medicine in the same school.

The first award I received…It was an Awit award as Best New Recording Artist.

The first thing I bought from my earning… I can’t remember the little things I bought for myself but the first big thing I got for myself was a Toyota Corolla. For my family, I gave them money.

The first thing I did to my family after I made it big as a singer… I treated my mom and dad to an all-expense paid trip to the US. Sa house, I had our kitchen renovated.