Grabeng Kissing Nina Robin At Regine (Baby Talk)

Maraming interesting stories si Jose Mari Chan sa presscon-cum-launching ng Volume One Song Book called Words and Music - Jose Mari Chan. Like naka-duet niya si Pilar Pilapil sa isang love song na "Love Is For The Two of Us" during the 70s. Na si Lino Brocka ang nagbigay sa kanya ng break para gumawa ng mga movie theme song. At bago naaksidente ang batikang direktor ay plano sanang gawing pelikula ang buhay nilang mag-asawa. At 35 years na siyang singer pero sa nasabing panahon ay wala siyang manager at production assistant - siya mismo ang nakikipag-negotiate sa mga producer na gustong kumuha sa kanya. At nine years old siya nang una siyang mag-participate sa singing competition sa Iloilo (dinala siya ng kanyang yaya sa DYRI pero natalo siya).

Bukod sa mga nabanggit, nagkuwento rin siya ng ilang bagay tungkol sa kanyang wife na si Mary Ann na naging inspiration niya to write "Afterglow." "In 1967, while I was a senior in college at the Ateneo, I became host of 9 Teeners, an early evening TV musical variety show on Channel 9 (ABS-CBN), together with Roman Azanza, Tito Oasias, Johnny Salientes and Weng Gavino. The show was the local version of American Bandstand, Hullaballoo and Shindig rolled into one. That year, my girlfriend (and future wife) Mary Ann and I happened to have a brief 'lover's quarrel.' I was very sure, through, that we would not only survive the 'test' but were destined to end up with each other and this was my musical message to her which I sang in the show whenever I was on. The song got such a tremendous and favorable response from the viewers that when I was offered my first ever recording contract later that year, "Afterglow" was the natural choice. Thank God my first single was a hit even before its release.

"I would think that "Afterglow" and "Deep In My Heart" have become tiny milestones that help, in a small way, paved the way for the OPM boom in the mid-70's," Mr. Chan says during the presscon-cum-launching ng Words and Music.

Nakapaloob sa Words and Music ang 21 great songs ni Jose Mari Chan - "A Love To Last A Lifetime," "A Perfect Christmas," "Afraid For Love To Fade," "Afterglow," "Be Gentle," "Big Beautiful Country," "Can We Just Stop and Talk A While," "Constant Change," "Deep In My Heart," "Give Me The Old Big Band Anytime," "Good Old-Fashioned Romance," "Here and Now," "It Is The Lord," "Minsan Pa," "Mr. Songwriter," "My Girl," "My Girl, My Woman, My Friend," "Refrain," "Sing Me Your Song Again Daddy," "Sterling Greeting Card," "Tell Me Your Name" and "The Lord's Prayer" - sa 112 pages sa halagang P395.

Bawat song ay may kanya-kanyang kuwento - kung paano nabuo at anong naging inspiration niya like "Can We Just Stop and Talk A While." "One day in 1973, Oskee Salazar (RIP), who was then Billboard Magazine's contributor in Manila phoned me that Yamaha Tokyo was looking for song entries to the newly formed World Popular Song Festival. Certainly worth a try, I made a simple demo of this song. A month later, the good news came. My entry was chosen by Tokyo to represent the Philippines. Mary Ann and I had spent the first year of our married life (1970) as a missionary couple in Osaka and the chance to visit Japan again after three years was a wonderful added bonus.

"About 50 countries competed and I had the rare opportunity of meeting musical luminaries from around the world. Back home, "Can We Just Stop and Talk A While" became a major hit that led me to star in a series of highly rated TV special spotlighting my compositions. I believe the Holy Spirit had everything to do with that success, perhaps, because three years before, Mary Ann and I had given ourselves to the Lord's work in Osaka."

Interesting ang bawat kuwento ng kanta. Kung babasahin n'yo lahat, makikilala n'yo kung sino si Jose Mari Chan.

Isa siya sa may pinaka-maraming kanta na paborito noon hanggang ngayon ng mga music lover. Ang "Beautiful Girl" ay hindi lang sa bansa nag-hit. Nai-translate na ito sa maraming language.

At any rate, available na sa selected bookstore ang Words and Music - Jose Mari Chan. Siya ang kauna-unahang local artist na nagkaroon ng Music Book.

*****

Grabe as in torrid ang kissing nina Regine Velasquez at Robin Padilla sa Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw na nagkaroon ng press preview last Wednesday night. Parang feel na feel nila ang bawat kissing scene na hindi ko nabilang kung ilan. Clean cut si Robin sa pelikula at hindi humawak ng baril although may ilang fight scene. Si Regine naman ay sexy na hindi trying hard ang dating. Maganda rin ang mga outfit niya. Kunsabagay, lahat naman ng pelikula ni Regine, maganda siya.

At talaga yatang may kakaibang talent si Direk Joyce Bernal pagdating sa pagdi-direk ng feel good movie like what she did in the Regine-Aga Muhlach movie - Dahil May Isang Ikaw na kilig-to-the-bones talaga ang effect sa mga moviegoers.

In Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw, Regine portrays the role of Francine, isang famous singer who has all the material things that the world can offer. Pero hindi siya happy sa nangyayari sa buhay niya since she is unable to experience the most basic needs ng isang human being: the need to love and be loved in return.

Sa kabilang banda, si Guillermo "Gimo" Talumpati si Robin Padilla na avid fan ni Francine. Average urban guy siya who enjoy the simple pleasures of life. He is also caring na minsan ay hot headed, gullible and yet sly...but over-all he is dominantly a good person.

Nagtagpo ang landas nila nang manalo si Gimo sa "Star Magazine Dream Date with Francine." But the date turns out to be a circus dahil sa rami ng photographers at fans na nagkakagulo kay Francine. Before he knew it, the date is over.

Gumawa ng paraan si Gimo para matuloy ang date nila. In the long run however, Francine enjoys the company of Gimo and realizes na hindi niya naramdaman ang genuine fun and happinnes na napi-feel niya everytime na kasama niya si Gimo. Fascinated siya sa pagiging down-to-earth ni Gimo at pagiging hilarious na naging daan para maging magkaibigan sila.

Lingid sa kaalaman ng manager, media and fans ni Francine ang closeness ng dalawa.

Nang ma-ospital ang little sister ni Gimo, si Francine ang nagbayad ng hospital bills. Nasaktan ang ego ni Gimo, nagalit siya kay Francine at doon nag-cool off ang kanilang friendship.

In the long run, both realize the importance of each other.

Direk Joyce is able to translate the conflict of poor boy loves rich girl in the film by providing it with a twist that is said to be very Filipino. Mababaw ang kuwento at hindi masyadong bago ang tema, but she is able to come up with something very original.

The movie is set to kick-off on October 11 for Viva Films.