October 8 - 21 , 2017 Jan . 22-Feb . 7 , 2015 Philippine Showbiz Today 9
October 8 - 21 , 2017 Jan . 22-Feb . 7 , 2015 Philippine Showbiz Today 9
Special Feature
Original Pilipino Music ( OPM ) is still vital today ( Pt . 2 )
he latter half of the 1970s
Tis considered by many as the golden age of Original Pilipino Music ( OPM ), a truly exciting time for the Philippine music industry when folk rock , pinoy hard rock , pinoy pop and disco ruled the local music charts and air waves .
This week we feature two OPM artists who made beautiful , timeless music in the late 1970s , music that is still being played today on the radio , television , movies and stage : singer , actress , producer Celeste Legaspi and singer , songwriter , producer Rey Valera .
Celeste Legaspi
Artistry truly runs in the genes of Celeste Legaspi , her being the daughter of National Artist in Painting Cesar Legaspi . What was it like growing up with a father who is a National Artist ?
“ At first I didn ’ t know that my father was an artist , like he was working like any father . The difference was there was this really huge easel beside our dining table and he would work on it ,” said Legaspi .
While Celeste Legaspi was growing up in an environment exposed to the art of painting , how did she get interested in music ?
“ Actually , when I was a little girl , I was drawing and then making art in front of the mirror . I started singing in my kindergarten years and got into theatre at a very young age . At St . Pauls College Manila , Doctor Felicidad Mendoza got me to wok in community theatre and I got to do moro-moro and komediya . Training back then was different because of that ,” said Legaspi .
The song “ Gaano Kita Kamahal ,” which was released in 1977 , is one of Celeste Legaspi ’ s trademark songs . It came from her Ako at Si Celeste long play album which was released by Vicor Music Records in 1977 . Her album got a Gold Record Award and featured three Gold Singles : “ Saranggola ni Pepe ,” “ Tuliro ” and “ Gaano Kita Kamahal .”
While the iron was still hot , Legaspi followed it up in 1978 by recording and releasing her Celeste , Celeste album on
Universal Records and it featured the popular hit single “ Mamang Sorbetero ” which also gave her another Gold Record Award .
Legaspi ’ s Bagong Plaka , Lumang Kanta long play album which was released by Universal Records in 1980 and the follow-up album Bagong Plaka , Lumang Kanta Vol . 2 released in 1982 , both earned double platinum awards .
Legaspi , now considered by many OPM fans and peers as a music icon , has received countless accolades and awards . Like the Outstanding Performance Award from the World Popular Song Festival held in Tokyo , Japan in 1976 where she sang “ Puso Mong Nagmamahal ,” the Aliw Award for Entertainer of the Yea in 1978 , and the Outstanding Women in the Nation ’ s Service Award in 1989 .
In 2010 , Legaspi and noted stage director Zenaida Amador , were the first recipients of the Natatanging Gawad Buhay Award , a lifetime achievement award from the Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group ( Philstage ) for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the professionalization of Philippine Performing Arts .
Legaspi was very active in the opposition during the Martial Law years , going out of the recording studio and joining rallies . What was it like during those days ?
“ When Cory Aquino ran for president in 1986 we were trying to help raise funds . The elections happened and talo daw si Cory and then finally People Power happened . The first night of People Power we were there na . When we arrived at EDSA , kaunti pa ang mga tao . I think it was director Lino Brocka who called and said they needed help at Radyo Veritas . So we went to Radyo Veritas and put on a show there . Then pumunta kami sa Channel 4 where I got to be head of the kitchen brigade there ,” said Legaspi .
Legaspi said the magic time for her is when she performs in front of an audience and her connection with the people seeing her perform live .
“ The secret is always being relaxed . Then the audience and
by Jose K . Lirios PST Manila Correspondent
you can be together in some kind of a special bond . It is really special and for me singing is like praying . I feel that is when I am closer to God ,” said Legaspi .
Rey Valera
The song “ Ako Si Superman ,” released in early 1977 , launched the career of Rey Valera in the 1970s . He has been called Jukebox King and the King of Tagalog Songs . Valera has also received numerous awards , including gold record awards for popular hit singles “ Naaalala Ka ” and “ Kung Kailangan Mo Ako ,” and gold album awards for Rey Valera ’ s Greatest Hits and Walang Kapalit . Valera also represented the Philippines as songwriter in the First Asean Song Festival held in Malaysia in 1981 .
“ Yung nanay ko noong araw kapag may kaibigan siyang dumating sa bahay , tatawagin niya ako at pakakantahin sa akin yung paboritong kanta niya : “ Tuwing lulubog ang araw aking mahal , larawan mo ang aking natatanaw ,” said Valera .
“ Nung ako ay nagging teenager , naghahanap ako ng kanta na pwede itugtog sa guitar . Ang unang nagturo sa akin ay ang ate ko at ang tinuro niya sa akin ay “ Leaving on a Jet Plane ” nila Peter , Paul and Mary . And then from there nag-explore ako nang ibat ibang kanta . Pumasok sa buhay ko ang the Beatles , David Gates ng Bread , Barry Manilow . Na-influence ng mga iyon at naghalo-halo sa utak ko ang mga iyon ,” said Valera .
How was Rey Valera discovered and who in the local music industry was instrumental in giving him that big break that would change his life forever ?
“ I had no intention of being a singer . Ang nangyari itong si Chito Ilacad ng Vicor Records ang tanong niya sa akin , paano at saan studio ko daw ginawa ang mga kantang ito . Ang sabi ko sa kanya sa garahe naming ko ginawa at pagbalik namin sa Manila , sabi ni Ilacad na sa Vicor Records na lang ako magtrabaho ,” said Valera .
Another big break in Valera ’ s career was when he met 12-yearold Sharon Cuneta . This is what he remembers of that fateful meeting .
“ Alanganin si Sharon noon na kumanta ng love song or nursery rhyme kasi hindi na siya bata . So ang nangyari kay Sharon ay sinulat ko yung kantang ‘ Mister DJ ’ para sa kanya . So nung lumabas ang ‘ Mister DJ ’ natambahan at natabunan ang second single ko na may pamagat na ‘ Naaalala Ka .’
“ It took about six months after sumikat yung kanta ni Sharon na ‘ Mister DJ ’ bago ang mga DJs at radio announcers were asking kung sino ang gumawa ng ‘ Naaalala Ka ,’ na meron palang single si Rey Valera . So they started playing ‘ Naaalala Ka ’ after that ,” said Valera .
Some songs written by Valera are still popular today and have been used as theme songs in local soap operas , movies and tele-series , like the song “ Pangako Sa Iyo .”
“ Ginagamit madalas ang kantang ‘ Pangako Sa Iyo ’ sa mga sikat na tele-novela . Kumita ako sa kantang ito at ang bahay ko ngayon , galing ito sa royalties sa tele-series na Pangako Sa Iyo .
How about the songwriting of Valera , what is his signature style and how does he come up with the unforgettable songs that he constantly writes ?
“ Ang tip ko sa kanila at ang palagi ko sinasabi tungkol sa mga kanta na iyon , although Rey Valera ang nakalagay sa mga kantang iyon , sa audience natin talaga nanggaling ang mga kantang iyon . Kapag guimagawa ako ng kanta , I put myself in someone else ’ s shoes . She or he and I become one . Whoever it is who gets to hear the song , ang sasabihin niya sa saliri niya ay it is about me , it is me . And when I get it , it becomes theirs . Magiging kanya na iyon ,” said Valera .
Rey Valera ’ s magic is in the songs he has written and continues to write to this day . Ever the prolific artist he continues to stage concerts in the Philippines and abroad , like his recent reunion concerts with fellow OPM icons and a tribute to legendary Pinoy songwriters along with Ogie Alcasid and Louie Ocampo . ●