Chai Fonacier to work on new music with Cebuano artists

CEBU, Philippines — When actress Chai Fonacier recently visited her alma mater, the University of the Philippines-Cebu, some of the students couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a photo with her. Being a famous alumna of the university, she was amazed by how her work is being referenced in classes taught by her former mentors.

“My teachers would sometimes show some of the films I have been in and they discuss it when it’s relevant and significant to the topic,” she told The FREEMAN. “I found out that the song I wrote for Vispop in 2017 [Kung Di Pa Lang Ko Buang] was also discussed in a literature class and I was like, ‘Luh, really?’ It’s being discussed in a classroom and kids were taking home some insights from it. Amazing!”

Her international horror film “Nocebo” where she plays Cebuana caregiver Diana has been streaming on Netflix after its January theater run. Looking back, she is grateful for both the positive and negative criticisms the film received.

“I am glad those who saw it enjoyed it and those who didn’t enjoy it that much had substantial comments worth discussing. It was fun to discuss [cinema] that way. Every film has merits and demerits.”

She added, “It sparks discussion and that’s what I like about it. At least there’s proof that I was in a good film because people need to discuss certain important stuff like workers’ rights, multiculturalism, you know? It’s insightful and that’s what I appreciate about it.”

Fonacier came from filming in Bohol when she arrived in Cebu. She was working on “Song of the Fireflies” which stars fellow Bisaya singer-actress Morissette, as well as Rachel Alejandro, Noel Comia Jr., Krystal Brimner, Cris Villonco, and Cai Cortez.

“It’s about the Loboc Children’s Choir who I got to interact with. I heard them singing live and it was so beautiful,” she said.

Before she heads back to Manila, she wanted to do some art projects in Cebu with her friends. One of them is making music as a solo artist, which the former Womb vocalist missed doing.

“Before I ended up in acting, I always thought I was going to be a musician and then it was happenstance that friends had films and they would cast me in them. I haven’t done music in a while and I miss doing that,” said Fonacier.

“I want to work with Cebuano artists on my music and this is what I said when I moved to Manila. When I get back to making music again, I would work on it with the people here in the Cebu music scene.”

She expressed interest to work with Cattski Espina whose label 22 Tango Music Group aided in the music distribution for Womb, her former band with Anthony Uy and Fender Figuera.

“I trust Cattski when it comes to the music production process. She has insights and she thrives in augmenting what she knows. She is passionate and I trust her instincts and advice when it comes to those things,” shared Fonacier, who already met up with Espina to discuss her music comeback.

Fonacier isn’t sure what her upcoming music is going to sound like. “I don’t think of genres when I write, but it’s definitely not pop. I am going to have a listening room session with my friends and see what they think. I’ll see how they might describe it,” she said.