Anyone who has had the great fortune of meeting Mr. C, National Artist Ryan Cayabyab’s sobriquet, will agree that he’s a man of wisdom and wit. But wisdom and wit take the back seat to his kindness. One of the most generous talents in the music industry is Mr. C — musician, composer, conductor, Filipino.
Let’s put the emphasis on “Filipino” because Mr. C is respected in the industry as a pillar and icon of OPM (Original Pilipino Music). His lasting contribution of popular Pinoy music across generations earned him the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, too.
On May 11 and 12, to celebrate his diamond year — he turns 70 tomorrow, May 4 — his friends are producing Gen C, a musical offering at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Ayala Circuit, Makati.
“In this musical offering, I only need to produce my music — bring out all the music arrangements for a grand orchestra, as grand as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, prepare the singers and make sure my ‘department’ delivers excellently. It is not easy to put all the other parts together and present one seamless presentation, one needs to have a great plan, and a great budget to execute it,” says Mr. C.
“The director of the show, Rowell Santiago, has the plan in his head; the producers Celeste Legaspi and Girlie Rodis of Musikat Culturtain, together with Dr. Melfred Hernandez and Aaron Ricardo Veloso, have put together the machine to start rolling the grand offering,” Mr. C adds.
The title of the show, he says, was a tossup between “Legend in C” and “Gen C” and the general consensus of the team doing the tribute to his 70th birthday was that Gen C was shorter, more catchy and hip.
“And I am just the happiest because I do not entertain the term ‘legend’ with reference to me and my musical works. Legends are normally...dead, and larger than life. I am alive and living a simple happy life!” he laughs.
“This musical offering is a brainchild of Celeste Legaspi and Girlie Rodis, who would not hear of letting this year of Ryan Cayabyab’s 70th birthday pass without giving him a tribute,” says Melfred, an otolaryngologist and voice doctor to many of the biggest names in the music industry.
What Gen C promises
“The title is obviously a play on the first letter of the Music Man’s last name and in reference to today’s youth,” Melfred says. “Gen C is not a demographic group; it is not about an age bracket but a mindset, a group bound by love for and influence of the music of this National Artist and treasure. Gen C the musical offering will bind parents and grandparents, their children and grandchildren in immersing themselves in the splendor and timelessness of Mr. C’s music.”
Melfred adds the PGH Medical Foundation, Inc. is the beneficiary of the concert.
Artists to perform at the two-day concert include Aicelle Santos, Arman Ferrer, Ateneo Chamber Singers, Bituin Escalante, The Company, Gloc-9, Jed Madela, John Arcilla, Kakai Bautista, Karylle Tatlonghari, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, Nonie Buencamino, Phi Palmos, Poppert Bernadas, Ryan Cayabyab Singers, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez with Basil Valdez & the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
Guest artists for May 11 are Belle Mariano, Dilaw, Nyoy Volante, Stell with Regine Velasquez. Joining them on May 12 are Ben & Ben, BINI, Janella Salvador, Juan Karlos, Julie Anne San Jose with Vice Ganda.
To be 70
The cliché says that age is just a number and the music maestro says “70 is a puzzle for me.”
“I am old and young at the same time! I always thought that hitting 60 was a point where one starts slowing down. I haven’t slowed down and don’t even see myself slowing down. I am still discovering many other things to do but I have nothing in my bucket list at all. I have continuously lived my life on a day-to-day basis and I don’t intend to change that,” Mr. C says.
Aside from his numerous awards, what does the National Artist for Music consider as the three highlights of his life?
“Three highlights in my life? There are exactly three: 1) Meeting my wife Emmy, who has been my constant and who is probably the only one who understands my idiosyncrasies and actually has complete control over me; 2) Having my daughter Krina who is the best daughter one could ever have; 3) Having my son Toma, who is like a mini-me but cannot be a mini-me because he is taller than me!
“All three have made me a better person, and all three of them complete a great part of my life. They are all part of the great design that God has planned for me and I cannot be any happier for this great fortune,” he says.
Mr. C, ever unassuming and constantly ready with a genuine smile, always has a grateful heart. That’s his secret to his calm demeanor, perhaps even his armament when his world, if at all, turns topsy-turvy.
“I accept everything that life throws my way (the good and the not so good). I have mastered the art of being grateful and so this makes me a happy person,” says Mr. C, who, of late, has dabbled into painting.
“Lately, I end my day resting my mind. I usually accomplish a lot of creative tasks (of late, these are musical tasks) and I really do begin my day ticking off the tasks that need to be done the moment I wake up. There is usually a long list of things that need to be done, and being a workaholic, I do them one after another. I am happiest when I have completed my task for the day. I also value my rest periods,” he says.
Hopes for the music industry
What are maestro Ryan Cayabyab’s hopes for the Filipino music scene?
“We are on our way, the wheels are turning and the members of the younger generation are on fire and doing what they are tasked to do — to create that music movement of their generation and continue what the older gens have started. They are probably not aware of it but they have made giant strides into the international mainstream — the Filipino musicians have been doing that quietly through the past but because of socmed (social media), it has become even clearer that the Filipino music talent is a force to reckon with. I always say, give it more time. Slow cook tayo eh,” he says.
Humility resides in his core because, despite his sterling contributions to the OPM, Mr. C says his crusade to make Filipinos appreciate more Filipino music is still ongoing.
“I don’t think it will happen in my lifetime when the trend reverses: when we remit more royalties to Filipino songs compared to foreign music. As of the moment, we are being clobbered, maybe five to one. The reason I continually push for music literacy is that we can build a better understanding of how music works. As usual, I am optimistic and always declare that we are on our way. Sana,” he says.
At 70, Mr. C treads on a diamond moment in his life. Gemologists say only a diamond can cut another diamond. In that case, so to speak, only Ryan Cayabyab can outdo himself. He is posed to prove it — yet again — at the musical offering called Gen C.