SA album launch ng Going Home To Christmas ng music icon na si Jose Mari Chan ay dumalo si Yours Truly sa imbitasyon ni katotong Jun Lalin.
Nakapanayam namin ang music icon na sinagot naman niya lahat ngunit sa English lang, dahil hindi ‘ata siya sanay magsalita nang tuwid na Filipino. Lumaki pala siya sa Iloilo at sa salitang Ilonggo siya bihasa, 11 taon silang tumira sa Amerika ng kanyang pamilya, at may lahing Chinese siya.
Limampu’t isang taon na palang recording artist si Jose Mari at dahil nga tipong nagkaedad na siya, natanong tuloy namin siya: “Sir, do you believe that singing talent is ageless?”
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“Yes. As I’ve said earlier, music is in the DNA of the Filipino. And I heard, all guys, you know, in Cebu and wherever, singing songs that they grew up with, music is in the heart of the Filipino,” sagot ng magaling na musician.
“Hindi pa po nagbabago ang iyong singing voice despite your age, ‘no?” hirit na tanong uli ni Yours Truly.
“No. Weak na po ang boses ko. I cannot make birit. I have to vocalize for about two hours if not the voice will collapse. Wala na po. Matanda na po,” tumatawa naman niyang banat.
Natanong din naman kung ano ang pinaka-memorable Christmas song niya.
“When I was 10 years old, I was in Iloilo City then. I was born in Iloilo City and I remember one Christmas eve, December 24 and my parents gone to Christmas mass. I couldn’t go with them because I was running a high fever then and so when I was waiting for them and while I was seated beside the Christmas tree, I was listening to the radio and it was playing…Little Christmas Tree ..No one to buy you, give yourself to me…sung by Nat King Cole and I fell asleep. The next thing I knew, I was awaken by my Mother and gave me a Christmas gift that I will always, always remember,” pagbabalik-tanaw niya.
Hirit na tanong pa namin ay nu’ng kabataan ba niya, hindi ba siya natukso sa ibang babae, dahil alam naman sa showbiz at kung mayroon ba siyang second or third family, gaya ng mga nauusong palabas ngayon.
“No. Hindi uso sa akin ‘yon. My time is only for my only one wife. I have only one wife. I am very faithful to my wife. I have only one family. And I cherish my wife. I cherish my children. I cherish my family. Your wife, she should be your best partner and your best friend. I am blessed. I am lucky to have her my wife,” pagtatapos ng nag-iisang Jose Mari Chan.
-MERCY LEJARDE
