Let’s celebrate the season the Bonggo way

It is a time for celebrating and there is music to help us do so in the new album Let’s Celebrate by Bonggo. You may find the name strange but the album is not by a new artist. He has been around for quite a while as a singer and songwriter and Bonggo is how he wants to be known while performing. Bong is actually his nickname and Go comes from Gordon.

Bonggo is James L. Gordon Jr. of the famous Gordon clan in Olongapo. His father was the martyred mayor James L.T. Gordon. His mother is Amelia Gordon and he is brother to Sen. Richard Gordon. They and other relatives have for many years served the people of Olongapo as mayors and in other capacities. Truth to tell, the name Gordon has been around for so long that it has now become difficult to imagine Olongapo without a Gordon at the helm. And that Gordon, these past few years have been the musical Bonggo.

In keeping with the fabled Gordon personality, Bonggo, who went to school at Ateneo University and the Loyola U in the US, is a doer and true go, go, go-getter. It is only right for him to be so. Because, the Olongapo motto, which for all intents and purposes, is also the family Gordon motto, says Fighting for Excellence, bawal ang tamad sa Olongapo. That means no lazy people in Olongapo and Bonggo lives up to that and more.

 He really has no choice. While public service is the Gordon family passion, Bonggo is also passionate about something else, and that is music. He is a singer and songwriter who enjoys performing rock and roll. In fact, he has already recorded two albums, big-sellers all. These are the platinum-selling Fighting for Excellence and Deep Inside My Mind, which was certified gold. Both are made up of his original compositions.

He recently released another one, which is now being referred to as the album for all seasons. Produced by the award-winning Margot Gallardo and distributed by Viva Records, this is Let’s Celebrate, a two-disc set of happy songs that was cleverly designed to be used in important occasions throughout the year. You name the event and Bonggo has come up with a song for it, class or family reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and others.

Just take a look at the song line-up in the first disc: Let’s Celebrate, Valentine’s Day, Graduation Day and You, Happy Anniversary To Us, Happy Birthday, Pasko Sa Pilipinas, Happy New Year, It’s Good To See You Again (The Reunion Song), Always With You (The Wedding Song) and Congratulations. Then would you believe, Bonggo even has one titled Thank You, Salamat, which is obviously a thank you song. Isn’t it nice of him to extol the virtues of saying thank you? I can just imagine how every celebration in Olongapo will now reverberate with these songs.

Then because he is a Gordon, a family where love of country ranks high, Bonggo also has an assortment of songs that he dedicates to Olongapo and the Philippines in the second disc. The tongue in cheek Whatever is followed by It’s More Fun In The Philippines, Subik, San Marcelino, Castillejos, Anne Dito Lang Ako, Deep Inside My Mind, Maganda Ka Pa Rin, Basura Jingle, Children of Olongapo and the Olongapo theme, Himno Ng Olongapo, which Bonggo, of course, also composed. The CD includes two music minus ones — one each for male or female singers of this song, which is probably performed often in, where else but, Olongapo.

Much has been said about how Olongapo is one of the best places to live in and to do business in, in the Philippines. A lot of that is due to the great leadership that the city enjoys. I have a feeling that it is also a happy place. That is what happens when you have a mayor who literally loves to provide songs for every occasion.