Joey Albert: Fulfilled wife, mother, singer & teacher

I will not be surprised if Joey Albert is spending these few weeks after New Year’s Day in bed. She must be tired from all the work and partying she had been doing. And then she also needs to get recharged because she is embarking on another hectic schedule this 2013. The fact is while other people move to Canada to live a quiet, very relaxed lifestyle, Joey is doing just the opposite.

Joey welcomed the New Year with a show at the Copper Club Grill & Lounge of the Executive Plaza Hotel in Coquitlam, British Columbia with guests Janice Lozano and Jojo Quimpo. Before this, she was on a brief holiday with her family in Whistler, a ski resort in the Northwest. That was one well-deserved Christmas break because before that Joey went on a US tour with fellow ’80s stars Raymond Lauchengco and Gino Padilla. Then there was this fundraiser for typhoon victims in the Philippines, a guesting in Quimpo’s own show, her solo stints at Kelowna, Cerritos, etc.

Aside from singing, Joey also runs a daycare center where she is Teacher Joey to little children. Then on top of all that, she did her Christmas shopping and planned her family’s holiday schedule. She already has next year’s calendar almost full. This will include a European tour and another reunion concert with the New Minstrels and the Circus Band at the Music Museum on Valentine’s Day. You want a superwoman in this day and age? Joey Albert is it.

Her ability to keep her life organized and her dedication to her career must be the reasons why Joey, despite her absence, remains in the consciousness of friends and fans out here. So do her songs. Although these songs initially came out during the ’80s, they continue to play on the radio and there is seldom a videoke bash where some girl will not attempt to sing her hits. Take the case of the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival entry, One More Try. The theme song, Without You, sung by Angeline Quinto, is a Joey Albert hit composed by Louie Ocampo and Jim Milbowers.

Movies and teleserye producers make no secret of their preference for her songs. In fact, Without You is the sixth Joey song to be used in a film score. This comes on the heels of Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, Iisa Pa Lamang, Sa ’Yo Lamang, Yakapin Mo Ako and Tell Me. Truth to tell, I have a feeling that should her hectic schedule allow her to do some new originals again, those will surely land in various soundtracks.

Incidentally, Joey is one of the artists featured in the hit collection Christmas With The Stars. She sings her latest recording, 25th of December, a composition by Moy Ortiz and Edith Gallardo. The all-star CD includes some of the best voices around singing well-loved Christmas songs. I know Christmas is now supposed to be over. The Feast of the Three Kings, which closes the Yuletide season, has been transferred to a movable Sunday date every year. But that is lost on the Pinoy who still clings to Christmas up to Jan. 6 and sometimes beyond that. So you still have a few days to enjoy this great album.

Aside from Joey, there are also Basil Valdez, Pasko Na Sinta Ko; Regine Velasquez, O Holy Night; Martin Nievera, The Christmas Song; Zsa Zsa Padilla, Ang Aking Pamasko; Raymond Lauchengco, What Child Is This; Rico J. Puno, Merry Christmas Darling; Rachelle Ann Go, Kumukutikutitap; The CompanY, Noche Buena; Mark Bautista, Himig Pasko; Princess, Give Love On Christmas Day; Charlie Green, Please Come Home For Christmas; Anja Aguilar, All I Want For Christmas Is You; Marvin Ong, The First Noel; Gino Padilla, Silent Night; Aiza Seguerra, Miss Kita Kung Christmas; Sarah Geronimo, Sana Ngayong Pasko; and Sharon Cuneta, It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve.

Incidentally, speaking of Mark Bautista, the young balladeer is now in the socks business for a cause. He is behind Foot Notes Socks where he sells inspiration at your feet. Each of the beautifully designed and comfortable socks produced carries an inspirational message. Feeling a bit low in the morning? Pull out a Foot Note and check your message for the day: Waste Nothing, Do It Now, Focus and Win, Just Breathe, Never Quit, It is Possible, Be Grateful and others. The socks are available online. Check out www.footnotessocks.com. P10 out of every purchase goes to the M.A.C. Foundation.