Still nothing like Filipino music

I was recently asked this question. What is the biggest hit song by a local artist today? I had the name of the biggest artist of the moment, Daniel Padilla, but I could not come up with the hit song or of some hit songs. 

Worse yet, I could not help but think that while I am sure there would be people dissecting or simply smiling over Gloc 9’s Sirena, 20 years from now. I am not really sure if Yeng Constantino’s Chinito would be considered a classic by that time. It is okay by today’s lower standards but not one for the ages. 

Maybe Rico Blanco’s Lipat Bahay might have a chance but I do not think the same of Vice Ganda’s Karakaraka. Do you think there will be something as enduring as Bonggahan decades from now?

It is a scary thought. Without new works that would withstand the test of time, we might have a future generation with no classics to enjoy or to build memories on. At worse, they would still be listening to the oldies that have come to symbolize the golden age of Filipino pop music and these are really getting to be very old. 

On the other hand though, I cannot really blame them, the works of Canseco, Cruz, Chan, Cayabyab, Valera, Quesada, Saturno and Alcasid are truly golden, not only in terms of the number of years these have been around but because these are timeless creations that everybody can relate to. Why, even Philippine televison agrees heartily. As I am sure you already know, today’s telenovelas are still using songs made in the ’70s and ’80s eras like Please Be Careful With My Heart.

Recent proofs of this are two bestsellers by major artists that are made up totally of old Filipino compositions. Well, almost all because Noel Cabangon has included his new work, Huwag Mong Sabihin with lyrics by Pete Lacaba in his Tuloy Ang Biyahe album. Nice move. Introduce something new sandwiched among big favorites. This is his second volume of local pop classics and it is even better than his first Byahe.

There was a tentative quality to that one, born doubtless out of years Cabangon spent singing mostly his protest originals. He is now all pop confidence in Tuloy Ang Byahe, toying with varied arrangements and including cuts in Cebuano, Usahay and Ilocano, Sika Laeng Iti Bia. Wise move, too. If you can’t get buyers to try out regional music, trapping them in a collection like this one will force them to listen and I am sure they will also love those songs. 

Tuloy Ang Byahe by Noel Cabangon also includes Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka; Anak; Kahit Na; Kailan; Malayo Pa Ang Umaga; Ikaw Lang Ang Aking Mahal; Paano; Lagi Na Lang; Iduyan Mo; Pumapatak Ang Ulan; Manila featuring rapper Gloc 9; Joey’s Theme (Umaga Na Naman); and Handog.

The other oldies collection is Ogie Alcasid, The Songwriter And The Hitmakers by various artists, where a line-up of big name artists perform songs composed by Alcasid.

Alcasid himself opens the set with the theme from the TV series Lobo, Ikaw Ang Aking Pangarap, then does a duet of Tayong Dalawa in the middle with the proudly hyphenated Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and also closes the album with Ang Puso Ko. 

In between are Sino Ako also by Regine; Kailangan Kita by Gary Valenciano; Pangako by Martin Nievera; Walang Iba by Kuh Ledesma; Tanging Ikaw Lamang by Sarah Geronimo; Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka by Angeline Quinto; Mula Ngayon by Rachel Ann Go; Ikaw Ang Pag-ibig Ko by Noel Cabangon; To You by Richard Poon; Tanging Ikaw by Jed Madela; Kung Mawawala Ka by Piolo Pascual; Mga Nakaw Na Sandali by JayR & Jaya; and Why Don’t We Give by Kyla.

Picking out the best is a hard task in this case but I am glad that my favorite Alcasid song, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, has been given a light rock touch by Journey frontman Arnel Pineda. It is the cut I like most of all. Well, I also like almost to the same degree, Ikaw Lamang by Christian Bautista. Christian has the sort of voice and style best suited to plaintive Filipino love songs and I think this is one of his best recordings ever.

I am sure there will be artists still recording these songs many years from now and movies and TV dramas being enhanced by these beautiful themes. Filipino music will still be very much alive. I just hope there will also be some new songs for future generations to enjoy.