Raymond Lauchengco brings back beautiful memories of the ’80s

Raymond Lauchengco has the best of both worlds as a singer and actor. His songs are timeless Original Pilipino Music (OPM) hits written by great Filipino composers. He acted alongside the Megastar Sharon Cuneta in “Cross My Heart” and “Bukas Luluhod ang mga Tala.” He became the leading man of Diamond Star Maricel Soriano in the tearjerker classic “Saan Darating ang Umaga?” Raymond sealed his celebrity status as one of the hottest matinee idols of the ‘80s with youth-oriented movies like “Bagets,” “Bagets 2,” and “Hotshots.”

He displayed artistry at a young age by performing in Repertory Philippines’ “The King and I,” in which he played Louis, and “The Sound of Music” as Friedrich, one of the Von Trapp children that included his sister Menchu, Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, and Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

With this impressive resumé, Raymond is indeed a lucky guy. Four decades have passed, yet he is still a well-loved performer. This is a remarkable feat in an industry where everything seems fleeting. He will come full circle in his 40-year journey as an artist with a concert titled “Just Got Lucky: The 40th Anniversary Concert” on Nov. 23, 8 p.m. at The Theatre at Solaire.

“It’s my way of saying thank you to all the audiences who have listened to me for the past 40 years and who continue to listen to me,” he said during our conversation on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.”

Raymond has aged like fine wine. He remains good-looking while confidently sporting his graying hair. “It has very little to do with who you are on the inside which I think matters a little more.”

The concert’s title brings back beautiful memories of the ‘80s. “Just Got Lucky,” with its signature dance moves, is the catchy soundtrack of “Bagets.” Raymond said 40 years of him is four decades of the iconic film that also starred Aga Muhlach, Herbert Bautista, William Martinez, and JC Bonnin.

“‘Just Got Lucky’ represents so many things in my career. If you look at my hits, all of these great songs were given to me on a silver platter. With all the starts and stops that I had, every time I gravitate back towards singing, audiences still welcome me with open arms and without judgment. So, feeling ko, I just really got lucky. Maybe the more appropriate term is, I’ve been extremely blessed,” Raymond explained.

He admires his contemporaries Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano because they saw their goal and went ahead to pursue it. “Kasi I had this creative restlessness in me. I saw the destination, but the journey was just as important.”

Raymond stopped at some points in his career and got into directing and visual arts like photography and sculpture. “I wish I had more time for all of my dreams but life is short, so you got to choose the dreams.”

It’s now time for him to go back into singing and say thank you to people who still listen to his songs up to this day. Raymond’s hits have transcended time and become soundtracks of our lives. His song Shadow of Time, composed by Louie Ocampo, from the soundtrack of “Hotshots,” is a romantic ballad. I Need You Back, written by Odette Quesada, is his first hit.

“The recording of it is a bit of a blur. All I remember was that it was my first time to record. I was in a studio. Hindi ako sanay kasi teatro ako. I’m used to playing in front of a live audience. Ito wala kang live audience. May mikropono lang na nakasabit, so it was a bit daunting for me.” Raymond had no inkling that the song would become successful.

Another beloved hit is Saan Darating ang Umaga? which Raymond saw being written by George Canseco on the day he was scheduled to record it.

Cecile Azarcon’s So It’s You was given to Raymond and it has evolved through the years. He shared, “From something that talked about first love, I now sing it sa mga renewal of vows of people who have been married 20, 30 years or so. It tells the story of a love that evolves. That’s what I love about it so much.”

Raymond’s Farewell, another Odette Quesada classic, was used for the graduation scene of “Bagets.” The song has become the unofficial anthem in many graduation ceremonies. Raymond even heard it used in schools in Guam and Los Angeles. “It turns out their teachers were Filipinos,” he said.

Raymond thought he would never sing again due to the pandemic. “I told myself, if given opportunities again, if ever things get better, I would like to face these opportunities with gratitude, grace, truth, and authenticity.” And this is what he is about to do in “Just Got Lucky.”