With songs in their hearts

Dahil kilala na kita

Handa na akong kilalanin ka pa

Dahil kasama na kita

Ang nais ko lang, makasama ka pa

Araw-araw, merong spark

May holding hands, pasway-sway pa

Dahil kilala na kita

Handa na akong kilalanin ka pa

— Chorus of the song Singapore Sling (Dahil Kilala Na Kita) from Ultrablessed, Sponge Cola’s latest album (released by Universal Records)

When Karylle and Yael Yuzon (vocalist of Sponge Cola) march down the aisle next month, they will do so to the tune of that song (and then some), co-written by Yael himself with Gosh Dilay.

It will be a very musical affair (“A very musical wedding,” as Karylle aptly put it) calculated to put the couple in the right mood, recalling how music has played a big role in their romance. They will exchange “I do’s” with songs playing in their hearts and it will be the sound of music that will light up their world for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, ‘till…

During this exclusive Conversation at Annabel’s restaurant (Tomas Morato, Avenue, Quezon City) last Thursday afternoon, Karylle was glowing, her eyes sparkling like those of any woman in love. She just came from hosting the Kapamilya noontime show It’s Showtime but she looked as fresh as a flower bathed in morning dew. Yael was nursing a nasty cold which didn’t dampen his spirit.

When asked to pose with a big teddy bear with LOVE YOU on it (a special gift for the still-not-blushing bride from The STAR for which she’s an occasional columnist), they hugged it imaginably as they would their baby (expected middle of late next year…hopefully!).

Yael turned 30 on Nov. 22 last year  (half-Scorpio/half-Sagittarius) and Karylle is turning 33 on March 22 (Taurus).

Singapore Sling seems to be very memorable to you.

Yael: The chorus is very self-explanatory. It’s the process of getting to know someone, a process that never ends. I wrote it when Kaye and I were in Singapore last year. We like Singapore because Kaye lived there for four months when she did Kitchen Musical (with Christian Bautista, in 2011). While she was there, I would visit her every three or four weeks kasi libre ang flights ko. (Yael’s mom, Elsa Yrastorza, is a retired PAL purser entitled, including immediate family members, to free flights. Elsa is related to the mom of Donna Cruz, Yael’s first cousin who will be a candle sponsor at the wedding.)

So you were already going steady…

Yael: Yeah, although nakakatawa ‘yung term na going steady, hehehehe!

You have also just released a new (eponymous) album (released by PolyEast. Any song on it that you’re dedicating to Yael?

Karylle: I actually did but it’s on another album. The one song on this new album that reminds me so much of Yael is Kiss You (music and lyrics credited to Karylle Tatlonghari and Francis “Kix” Salazar). Whenever I’m on a plane, I see people so sweet, at parang naiinggit ako – you know, sabi nga n‘ung song, I wanna kiss you here, wanna kiss you there, wanna kiss you all over the world…When you travel, you see people kissing everywhere, di ba?

Yael: Sometimes, my group is playing a gig in Baguio and Kaye naman is in Davao. Sometimes, we’re in the same place performing in separate gigs.

Karylle: There’s a song on his album called R.I.C.E. That’s my song! Kasi, I love to eat rice. He tries to make me eat camote. Do you want me to sing it now? (It has very few lyrics: If I had a choice, I’d eat rice every day…every day, with every meal. If I had a choice, I’d eat rice every day…every day, with every meal. Rice, you’re all rice.)

Yael: The song lasts for only 30 seconds. You should listen to it. (Karylle proceeds to sing it…in 30 seconds flat!)

So, Yael, how and from whom did you ask Karylle’s hand in marriage?

Karylle: He actually asked my mom (Zsa Zsa Padilla).

Yael: Kaye’s mom and dad (Dr. Modesto Tatlonghari) were there at Kaye’s house (where the pamanhikan was done). Iza (Calzado, Karylle’s cousin) was also there, so were my sister and her boyfriend. And, of course, my parents.” 

Oh, a very rare moment when Zsa Zsa and Modesto (whose marriage was annulled) were together in one occasion!

Karylle: A beautiful moment.

Yael: We were all hanging out in the living room. Everything was so casual, so easy.

Karylle: And very relaxed and relaxing. Parang naka-pambahay lang kami.

Yael: Ang ganda naman ng pambahay mo! I was in pink shirt.

How did the pamanhikan go?

Yael: The pamanhikan sort of capped my proposal which I did to Karylle last year.

Was that proposal, ehem, dramatic?

Karylle: It’s hard to explain, kasi di ba sa YouTube you see proposals that are big and grand? It didn’t happen that way. We did the opposite.

Yael: I wanted to do it differently. Feeling ko kasi, Kaye would expect me to do a grand gesture kasi marami na akong nagawang grand gestures over the years. So if I did a grand gesture, it would be predictable so I decided to do a small one.

Karylle: But it was very meaningful.

Yael: It was our first kiss. (Adding as if surprised) Oops! Am I allowed to say that?

Did it happen…in the car?

Yael: Yes, it did. While I was driving.

Were you taken by surprise, Karylle?

Karylle: Uhm, actually, I had a feeling. I don’t take surprises well, so he kind of gave me some clues para I would be mentally prepared.

Yael: Ang ayaw niya sa surprises, feeling niya nag-cheat…

Karylle:…no, nag-lie.

So how long had you been going steady before you proposed?

Yael: Three years.

Karylle: On our third anniversary.

Kelan ba ang anniversary n’yo?

Karylle (Looking at Yael, as if waiting for a cue): Basta, late last year.

Good thing you were both free when you met.

Karylle: Yeah. Actually, we were friends for a while and every time he would ask me for a date, I would say no.

Yael: I would see her on ASAP when our group would appear there as guest. 

Pero type mo na siya noon pa?

Yael (Hesitating): Well, type-type. Who would “type” her? She’s so pretty, really.

Pang-ilang girlfriend mo ba si Karylle?

Karylle (Answering for Yael): Madami! If you are in a band…Sige, sabihin mo na!

Yael: Ayokong sabihin.

Karylle: Nabibilang ba sa fingers ng dalawang kamay?

What about you, Karylle. How many?

Karylle: Mga four. (Addressing Yael) O, sinabi ko kung ilan ang akin, so puede ka na magsabi.

Yael (Still adamant): No way. Mga friends ko, mabibilang lahat ‘yon, so ayoko nang i-remind pa. At saka, may bala pa para asarin ako sa inuman.

How did you know that Yael is the one?

Karylle: You know, when I first met him, I was not super-happy. I had bouts of sadness, parang may mga ala-alang bumabalik. Being an actress, I have my dramatic moments. But when we really got together, people were telling me, “You’re happy, you’re blooming!” I never got so many compliments in my life. So I thought, “Wow, it really shows!” That’s why I love his song Iyong-Iyong-Iyo which is on his album. Part of it goes: Titila rin ang ulan, tatahan at daraan. Pangako sa’yo (pangako sa’yo), ako ay iyong-iyong iyo…It has a reassuring effect on me.

Yael: I really wrote it for her.

Karylle: I think it’s the first time somebody wrote a song for me.

How long did the courtship go?

Yael: Matagal. Six months. The longest courtship I’d ever done.

Karylle: Sanay yata siya na siya ang nililigawan, eh. Lapitin ng girls.

What do you think are your winning ways?

Yael (Modesty aside): I think I’m sweet because I’m close to my mom. (He’s middle of three children) My mom and I are chummy; we talk about stupid things also.

What made you finally say yes?

Karylle: I tested him many times. I asked him over and over again kung talagang sure na siya — you know, pang-forever. He passed the tests. Also, not many people know how weird I am…

In what way?

Yael:…she’s so weird. People understand me as a weird guy but I find her more weird. Kunwari, I would remind her of a long-planned trip to Boracay and she would say, “Yeah, I’m packing very, very many notebooks and pens.” Hindi lang isang notebook at isang pen, ha, kundi very, very many notebooks and very, very many pens. 

Karylle (Laughing): Kasi I’m fond of writing and taking down notes when I’m traveling. But one thing is that Yael and I have some things in common. We are both athletic; we run together. We also like to watch the same kind of movies.

What other songs will be played as you walk down the aisle?

Yael: No specific song, actually. Very Sponge Cola ang sound, probably instrumental, with a guitar lang.

Karylle: Singapore Sling is included, of course.

A Catholic wedding, I presume (Karylle and Yael are both Catholic).

Karylle: Oh yes. When people ask me what’s the peg for the wedding, I would say, it’s the song Singapore Sling.

Yael: Naguguluhan sila. Sabi nila, “Anong ibig sabihin n’un?”

Karylle: That song kasi evokes a sunny day full of love.

(Note: Details of Karylle and Yael’s wedding are kept confidential. This much Conversations can reveal: She will have three gowns done. The wedding, set between March 1 and 30, will be a big one, “because I want many people to pray for us and give us their blessing; I know a lot of people love us and I don’t want to rob them of that chance to be with us in prayer…” It will be held outdoor, “like a picnic.” For the second time, Karylle’s mom and dad will be there to give her away. Their honeymoon? Clue: They will make lovey-dovey poses with a tower as backdrop.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.) Photos by Ver Paulino