‘Tubig Ay Buhay’ original title ng ‘Christmas In Our Hearts’

UMAY na umay na ba kayo sa kapapatugtog ng “Christmas In Our Hearts” sa halos lahat ng himpilan sa radio, from sunrise to sundown?

This Jose Mari Chan Christmas tune is one exception to a handful of songs na tama nang marinig mo hanggang tatlong beses sa buong maghapon as the fourth time will make you want to hammer and crush your radio to pieces.

Ito ang Pamaskong awiting hindi mo na kailang sabayan ng indak, your head movements nang pakaliwa’t pakanan ay tiyempo sa bawat nota nito.

Pero alam n’yo ba ang kasaysayan sa likod ng awiting ito? It was a poem that a batch of high school graduates made supposedly para i-perform nila sa kanilang silver jubilee celebration.

Originally titled “Tubig ay Buhay,” ipinrisinta ng isa sa mga ‘yon ang tula kay Jose Mari Chan para lapatan ng melodiya. Nagandahan ang pamosong singer-composer that he gave it a Christmas tune.

Naisip ni Jose Mari Chan na i-record ito nang may kaduweto. Who he had in mind was Lea Salonga but the latter—who was under contract with a rival music label—couldn’t possibly do it. Sa halip, Jose Mari ended up doing a duet with his daughter.

At mula noon hanggang ngayon, not only is the song in our hearts kundi nanunuot hanggang tenga most especially sa unang araw ng tinatawag na “ber months” all throughout the holiday season.