“None at all,” he says. “When Bella Tan of Universal Records told me to come up with a Christmas album, she said I should have an original song. I used the melody for a song I composed for a friend’s poem that she wrote for their silver jubilee homecoming in Assumption, ‘Ang Tubig ay Buhay’. A new writer offered to collaborate with me, Rina Caniza, and she wrote the first line and the title. After a few days, we completed it but Universal said it’s too Christian and radio won’t play it. So I wrote another song, ‘Perfect Christmas’. But as we all know now, it’s ‘Christmas in Our Hearts’ that became the bigger hit.”
What does he think is the reason? “A good song is the ideal marriage of good words and music, complementing each other like husband and wife. Here, it’s also the combination of the major and the minor, of Oriental and western music elements for the spirit of Christmas.”Blessed with his wife of 48 years, Mary Ann Ansaldo, with five children and 8 grandchildren, Jomari is no doubt one of local music’s biggest icons, but he has remained so humble, with great PR and so well grounded through the years. When someone said he’s the father of Christmas songs, he says he doesn’t deserve it. “It should be Levi Celerio or Francisco Santiago who wrote immortal Christmas songs like ‘Ang Pasko ay Sumapit’ and ‘Pasko Na Naman’.”
The concert is produced by Dr. Rhoda Espino of Metro Esthetico Skin & Wellness Center, Star Media of Anna Puno and Solaire Resort, sponsored by People’s Journal, Shea Mira Corp., Pink Cookie Project, and others. Tickets are now available at Ticketworld, 891-9999 and online at ticketworld.com.ph.
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