MANILA, Philippines — Veteran singer-composer Jose Mari Chan refuses to be tagged as the Father of Filipino Christmas tunes despite the undeniable success of his pop song, Christmas In Our Hearts, that is always played when holiday season comes.
“I don’t want to be called the Father of Filipino Christmas songs,” Jose Mari insisted. “I am not. Long before I was born, there were already many Christmas songs composed by Filipino artists.
“Some kids, they don’t want to call me Christmas king. They’d rather call me ‘Chan-ta-Clause.’ I’m happy to share my blessings.”
Sharing the secret to his youthful vibe even now when he is already 78, Jose Mari admitted being blessed by being married to the same woman, Maryann, in the last 53 years.
“She has given me a lot of wonderful moments together,” Jose Mari said. “We’ve shared beautiful experiences. That’s the secret of the joy in my heart, being married to the right woman all my life.
“We’ve been blessed with five children and nine grandchildren. That’s bonus over the bonus.”
What people don’t normally see is that Jose Mari is a joker. “I always love making my children and grandchildren laugh,” he said.
While he can still carry out a full-length concert in and out of the country, Jose Mari understandably lowered the minus-one key of his pop hits whenever he sings them live onstage.
“When I bring my minus one to do shows, I have to lower the key because I could no longer reach the original key,” he admitted. “I have to be realistic.
“Whenever I do shows, whether it’s Christmas or not, invariably, I start singing my songs from the ‘50s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s,” Jose Mari disclosed. “Just like last week, I was in Cebu and I was surprised the audience still remembered Deep In My Heart from 1968.
“I accommodated Deep In My Heart and it was a good thing we brought the minus one of that song. The audience was singing along. It brought me tears of joy. My songs are like my children. Each one is different.
“When a song like Deep In My Heart is remembered, it’s like having a child growing up to become president of the bank or admiral of the Philippine Navy. That’s an accomplishment I considered for myself.”
Jose Mari will perform with Christian Bautista and Roselle Nava in a benefit Christmas concert, YuleStars, Dec. 1, at Samsung Performing Arts Theater. Calvin Murphy Neria directs.
On other dates, Joey Generoso and Angeline Quinto will mount the stage on Nov. 30, while Ogie Alcasid and Nina will perform on Dec. 2. Ice Seguerra will be the special guests in both shows. Proceeds of all three concerts will benefit the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI).
The artists will prepare to render their hits, as well as duets. They will dish out Christmas songs, love songs and other production numbers with their fellow artists.
“I want to come out with more albums but the platform has changed. Now, nobody buys CDs anymore. Tower Records is gone. They go to YouTube and download the songs for free. That’s unfortunate,” he said.
“Doing concerts is a wonderful opportunity whereby we can sing our songs, our new songs and old ones, to share with our audience.”
When Jose Mari was a kid, it was his dream to be a cadet in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio.
“I guess I was influenced by the films that I watched,” Jose Mari said. “I watched (John Ford’s) The Long Gray Line (1955), about a misfit at West Point starring Tyrone Power. I said one day, I want to become a cadet at West Point.
“Of course, when I think of the Navy, I think of (George Sidney’s) Anchors Aweigh (1945), with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly as sailors. I wanted to enter PMA and West Point. But God had other plans for me.”
Every morning, Jose Mari’s prayer is a thanksgiving for the “gift of life, the gift of family, the gift of good health, the gift of my music that brings joy to others,” he granted.
“I’m very happy that God is using Christian, Roselle and me as tools of love and music to give to our audience. Long live OPM (Original Pilipino Music).”