Michael dares to sing ‘song for all sexes’ shunned by others

I Pare, mahal mo raw ako

Iyan ang sabi mo raw nang minsan ay malasing tayo

Hindi kita sinisisi, galit ay wala ako

Pare, pag-usapan natin’to.

II

Pare, ako raw ang ‘yong gusto

‘Yan ba ang lihim na sa aki’y sasabihin mo

Hindi ako iiwas, di lalayo sa ‘yo

Pare, pag-usapan natin ‘to.

Refrain

Wala namang mababago

III

Pare, nandito lang ako

Nangangako sa ‘yo ganoon pa rin ikaw, ako

Hindi ako iiwas, di lalayo sa iyo

Pare, kaibigan pa rin ako.

(repeat Refrain)

Bridge

Hindi maiilang lagi mong tandaan

Kaibigan mo ako kailanpaman.

(repeat Refrain)

Pare, kaibigan lang kita.

This is the song titled Pare, Mahal Mo Raw Ako, written by Joven Tan, which is one of the 15 finalists in the 2014 Himig Handog set for Sept. 28 at the Araneta Coliseum, the same competition for songwriters in which Joven emerged grand winner last year with his entry Anong Nangyari sa Ating Dalawa interpreted by Aiza Seguerra. (The 15 finalists are being played on MOR 101.9 For Life. Listen to them.)

Perhaps worried lest they be incriminated by the sensitive lyrics about a closet queen (secret gay) expressing his love for his straight-male friend, a few singer-actors politely refused to interpret it for Himig Handog, but Michael Pangilinan readily said yes when Joven approached him.

It turned out that Michael was the perfect interpreter of the song. Joven and Star Records guys were so impressed upon hearing Michael’s singing the song that, there and then, they gave him the thumbs-up.

“I am happy with Michael’s rendition of the song,” said Joven (no relation to veteran songwriters Danny Tann and Nonoy Tan, nor the late singer Richard Tan) who recalled that he wrote it in his car while stuck in a traffic jam. “Actually, it’s a song that can be sung by a man, a woman, a gay or a lesbian.”

Secure with his sexuality, Michael admitted that he was able to “feel” the lyrics of the song even if he has not had (so far) any experience being proposed to by another man, adding half jestingly, “But if a (male) friend does it to me, I don’t think I will have any problem. Just like the lyrics of the song, I will assure him that we can go on being friends pero hanggang dyan lang. Magkaibigan.”

At last Sunday’s merienda-presscon, LGBT head Bemz Benedito was present to affirm his group’s support for the song.

“The song should help enlighten (straight) men that they gays ‘courting’ them are not to be afraid of, that gays can be their best friends.”

LGBT is endorsing the song to its members and to everybody as it goes to the market as carrier single of Michael’s new album. As part of the promo for the song, Front Desk Entertainment Production (owned and managed by Michael’s manager Jobert Sucaldito) is mounting Pare, Mahal Mo Raw Ako Concert on Thursday, Aug. 28, at Teatrino (in Greenhills Promenade, San Juan City) starting at 9 p.m. Michael’s special guests are Sam Milby, Prima Diva Billy, Rochelle Pangilinan (no relation to Michael) and Herbert C. (a National Penitentiary inmate whose number will be shown on video).

Also a nominee for New Male Recording Artist of the Year in the forthcoming Star Awards for Music by the PMPC (Philippine Movies Press Club), Michael (described by Jobert as the new “Kilabot ng Kolehiyala”) capped the presscon by singing Pare, Mahal Mo Raw Ako for the movie writers who gave him a round of applause.

Incidentally, the presscon was held at (Jobert’s favorite venue) Dong Juan of which a co-owner is Jobert’s dzMM’s Mismo co-host Ahwel Paz who celebrated his birthday (yesterday) two days in advance by sponsoring a medical mission among the movie press.

“It went well,” said Ahwel who is well-loved by his colleagues. “Minor surgeries were done, blood pressure and blood sugar were monitored, and other medical procedures were administered. I will hold the same medical mission next year.”

 What’s up?

• In case you’re starting to miss Paolo Bediones (photo) on TV5’s late newscast, it’s because he has volunteered to go on indefinite leave in the wake of his sex video that has gone viral, with a new version reported to have been recently uploaded by still unknown suspect. Wise decision by Paolo because televiewers are invariably distracted from the news he’s reporting by images from those sex videos playing in the televiewers’ mind. But with his talent, Paolo will, I’m sure, eventually survive the scandal.

• Cheers to Brapanese Daniel Matsunaga (photo) for winning the PBB All In finals. Let’s hope that he won’t follow in the footsteps of his fellow Brapanese Akihiro Sato who abruptly went back to Brazil with the P1M prize he won in the GMA show Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown. Daniel also bagged P1M as part of his prizes. When last heard from, Akihiro was reported to have gotten married and is now a father.