Kuh Ledesma talks about favorite songs, ‘divine calling’

MANILA, Philippines — Kuh Ledesma, the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icon, has touched many a listener’s heart through her timeless songs. The latter, in fact, serve as the soundtracks of their lives.

Beyond this, and probably unknown to most, Kuh has also inspired people by sharing the Word of God.

“I make it a point to seize every opportunity to share the teachings of the Bible,” said she in an e-mail interview with The STAR. “I’ve learned a lot also from the Bible studies from my church, CCF (Christ’s Commission Fellowship). Whether I find myself sitting beside someone on a long or short flight, meeting new people in gatherings, my goal is to make new friends and make time to share the love of our Father and His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.”

This is in a way part of her ministry as a good Christian, and she considers it a calling.

“This isn’t merely a career for us. It’s a divine calling that we consider a privilege to serve the living God,” shared she. “It is also a great responsibility. It’s not something anyone can simply undertake; obedience plays a crucial role in this calling.”

According to her, one must dedicate time to studying the Word of God, which equips anyone to “share it effectively and clearly.”

Asked what her achievements are as a Christian, Kuh answered, “I believe that I have encouraged and inspired many to commit their lives to Christ and make time to study the Bible. I believe that being fearless is one of the things I’ve gained as a committed follower of Jesus Christ.”

“Discovering the many promises of God in the Bible and experiencing His faithfulness is more than an achievement. Experiencing the life abundant (or abundant life) is an achievement. Knowing that He will never leave me or forsake me, that He will be with me to the end allows me to approach anyone, be it a person of high status or an ordinary individual in the street helps me to freely share with them about God’s love,” added she.

In this aspect of her life, Kuh has had tunes that capture and further enrich her relationship with Him, with the following as her favorites:

“The first song I want to mention is Perfect Grace, originally Perfect by Ed Sheeran. In this version, the lyrics were changed into a powerful gospel message, and the title was changed to Perfect Grace,” said she. “It’s essentially a testimony in song form, reflecting the profound changes that Christians experience when they encounter the powerful love of Christ.”

Next on her list is Goodness of God by the award-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans. Kuh described her as “an extraordinary singer, (of the) same caliber as the legendary Whitney Houston, and interestingly, they were good friends.”

“I love this song because it beautifully conveys the concept of God’s goodness in our lives. It reminds me of my own spiritual journey. From a young age, I felt a calling from God, sensing His presence in my life. However, it took several decades for me to fully dedicate my life to serving Him,” she recalled.

“Just like the lyrics of the song, my experience reflects the realization of the profound goodness of God and how it ultimately led me to embrace my calling with a wholehearted commitment. The song serves as a reminder of the transformative power of God’s goodness in our lives and the beauty of obeying and answering His call.”

Way Maker by Sinach, said Kuh, holds a special place in her heart. “Its lyrics speak of God as the way maker, promise keeper, and light in the darkness,” shared she. “These attributes are not just words to me. I’ve experienced them throughout my life. God has shown himself as the faithful fulfiller of His promises, consistently guiding us and giving us victories no matter how challenging it maybe.”

Her being an OPM icon, on the other hand, also complements Kuh’s responsibilities as a Christian.

“I’m grateful that God has given me a platform, giving me a respected career (spanning) over 45 years. I attribute this success to God’s divine orchestration of my life. Clearly, God had a great plan for me to meet so many people who helped in molding me to achieve a good name, and because of them, my name has gained such a positive reputation,” said she.

“Because of this, I find it easy to connect with people, whether it’s with Filipinos abroad or anyone I meet. This enables me to easily share the gift of God.”

Kuh’s gift to touch audiences’ hearts through songs will be showcased again in the concert, I Love OPM, on Nov. 25, 8 p.m. at the Music Museum. In this new edition, she will have Marco Sison, Janno Gibbs, Maegan Aguilar, Mark Carpio, Kathy Mas and Mitch Valdes as special guests. The first I Love OPM was held at Hacienda Isabella and featured Richard Merk and Maegan.

For details, call 09608850288 or 09202868895.