Pacquiao’s song to usher in fight

When Manny Pacquiao climbs into the ring to face Erik Morales on Jan. 21, the song "Para Sa ’Yo Ang Laban Na ’To" will reverberate throughout the 19,000-seat Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The Lito Camo composition was recorded by Pacquiao himself and is one of eight songs in his first-ever CD, available in the market starting Jan. 15. The CD was produced by Pacquiao and Camo through their recording company and is exclusively distributed by Star Records. It will sell for P199 and part of the proceeds is earmarked for Pacquiao’s charity projects.

Pacquiao recorded the songs before starting his training regimen for Morales. The title song "Para Sa ’Yo Ang Laban Na ’To" took at least five hours to finish because Camo wanted it perfect.

Camo mobilized six musicians, including Awit Awardee Ferdie Marquez, for the project which was completed in over 100 hours of recording, mixing and arranging.

Camo submitted 20 original compositions for Pacquiao to sing in the album and only the best eight that expressed his inner feelings were selected in the end.

"It’s a collector’s item," said Camo, recipient of the Awit Award for best new recording artist in 1998. "Because Manny picked the best eight songs from 20 I submitted, it’s like a greatest hits album. This could be the first and only album Manny will ever record. Our initial run is 15,000 copies but our goal is to sell 100,000."

Pacquiao’s consultant Jayke Joson said Star Records will make the album available in markets outside the Philippines where there are Filipino communities. The title song was introduced on the air in five mass-based radio stations in Metro Manila last Monday and requests from listeners for more spins are pouring in, added Joson.

Star Records managing director Annabelle Regalado signed the exclusive distributorship agreement with Camo and Joson at the ABS-CBN headquarters in Quezon City the other day.

An MTV of the title song was initially shown on ABS-CBN’s "TV Patrol" last Monday and is now being aired on various channels. The MTV was filmed at the Red Corner Gym in Libis. ABS-CBN will telecast the Pacquiao-Morales fight on Sunday morning (Jan. 22) and is promoting the bout with the slogan "Hataw Pacquiao, Bayan–Para Sa ’Yo Ang Laban Na ’To." Solar Sports will air the fight on cable.

A potential hit in the album is "Ikaw at Ako," a duet featuring Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee. Another hit-in-the-making is "Bilog Ang Mundo." The other songs are "Pagsubok Lamang ’Yan," "Biyaheng Pag-asa," "Ipakita Mo," "Hindi Ko Kaya" and "Kanta Tayo."

Joson explained that Pacquiao agreed to record the album because it was a vehicle through which he could reach out.

"This is Manny’s way of touching the lives of his countrymen," said Joson. "He’s not physically able to see and talk to all our people but through his songs, he can inspire them, especially those who are losing hope because of the hardships in life. He’s dedicating the album to the Filipino people."