(below is an excerpt from Lea Salonga’s column “BACKSTORY” for today’s edition of the Inquirer.)

MANILA, Philippines—My husband Rob and I just celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary on Sunday. We spent it in Cebu working—he as president of AmbientMedia, overseeing my concert “Your Songs,” and I as the artist singing at the Waterfront Hotel.

However, when the concert ended, he took a few minutes for a little old-fashioned romance and gave me a bouquet of roses as the curtain call music was playing. What he didn’t know was that my brother Gerard and I were told that he would be making that sweet presentation (thanks to our production manager, Liza Camus), so we prepared a surprise of our own.

I kept Rob onstage, and then signaled Gerard to end the chaser music and start “Two Words.” I sang it to my husband, pretty much the same way I rendered it on our wedding day six years ago. And yes, it got the same reaction, but without the body-wracking sobs.

Wow, it’s been quite a while since that beautiful wedding ceremony. I remember that day very well (and since there are numerous videos posted on YouTube, it’s easy to relive it). However, that’s not how our story began.

It started on Nov. 5, 2001—the night of our very first date. [READ MORE….]

(via Manila Bulletin) Known for her hits “Everyday” and “Sa Isip Ko,” Agot Isidro takes on a new role as a ‘wedding singer’ as she returns to the music scene via “White Lace and Promises,” a collection of well-loved wedding songs.

Released under PolyEast Records, Agot said the concept of “White Lace and Promises” is just right for the ‘ber’ months.

“Contrary to popular notion that June is the wedding month, it is actually during the ‘ber’ months that more Filipino couples walk down the aisle. The nights are longer during this time and people anticipate receiving their Christmas bonus,” she said during the press conference for the album held at Discovery Suites on Oct. 14.

She shared that choosing songs for the album was a challenge “because there are so many good wedding songs.”

Nevertheless, Agot and PolyEast were able to come up with an album they could be proud of—one that features versions of OPM classics and international standards that can be used for both intimate and big weddings.

Agot confessed that she initially balked at recording a version of Basil Valdez’s signature song, “Ngayon at Kailanman.”

“I didn’t think I could sing this song. I thought the song was too ‘big’ for me and I knew how popular and well-loved this song is to Filipinos. I hope I gave justice with my version,” she related.

Her version eventually ended up as the album’s promotional song.

The singer-actress also did a duet with Martin Nievera on the Patti Austin-James Ingram song, “True Love.” She said the Concert King had to sing four songs prior to recording “True Love” to enable his vocal cords to stretch because it was arranged in a key higher than he is used to.

Other songs in “White Lace and Promises” are Rico J. Puno’s “Together Forever,” The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun” [the second verse of which is where the title of Agot’s album was lifted],  Shania Twain’s “From This Moment,” and The Corrs’ “Runaway” (which Agot sang at the Judy Ann Santos- Ryan Agoncillo nuptial on April 28).

Agot said she is reminded of her wedding to businessman Manu Sandejas whenever she listens to her latest album. The two tied the knot on Oct. 7, 2000 at the St. John Bosco Church in Laguna.

“Unlike some people who recall their weddings as blurs, I remember mine very vividly. It was raining while the priest was saying mass, but the rain stopped as soon as we [Agot and Manu] stepped out of the church,” said she.

Incidentally, Manu agreed to be photographed as Agot’s love interest for the album’s inlay. She said that Manu replaced a Brazilian model for the task when negotiations for the latter didn’t fall through.

Agot is choosy in accepting invitations to sing at weddings, preferring to do so only for people whom she knows well..

“Weddings are very intimate occasions, [so] there’s this danger of becoming an ‘unwanted stranger’. It’s important that you discuss with the couple what they want to sing. The music is your connection with them,” she explained.

album tracks:

1. Ngayon at Kailanman
2. Here There and Everywhere
3. Runaway
4. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)
5. Together Forever
6. I Will
7. From this Moment
8. When You Say Nothing at All
9. We’ve Only just Begun
10. Fallen
11. Looking Through the Eyes of Love
12. True Love (duet with Martin Nievera)

The year was 1973.  Ninoy wrote an ode for Cory from within his prison cell in Fort Bonifacio as a political detainee during the Marcos Regime.  The original poem is composed of 19 stanzas symbolic of the years of their marriage.  It’s a tribute to his wife sacrifices for him and their family as he served his country and fought for freedom.  Its theme was both emotional and political.

In 1987,  singer/songwriter Jose Mari Chan was commissioned to set the poem into music.  The piece adopted the first line of the poem for its title “I Have Fallen in Love (with Same The Woman Three Times)” and was included in Chan’s top-selling album “Constant Change” which has since achieved a Diamond Record status (10 times platinum in terms of sales). The song didn’t get as much airplay on the radio then as much as the big hits from the album (i.e. “Beautiful Girl”, “Please Be Careful With My Heart”).  But the paean now serves as one of the theme upon the former president’s demise.

On the day of Cory’s passing, the Joe Mari Chan was interviewed by Arnold Clavio & Vikki Morales for GMA News detailing about how the song came to be.  When requested by the news anchors to sing parts of the song, Chan obliged but turned emotional midway.  Below is a clip of that 9-minute interview:

A remake by Christian Bautista is due to be released soon and will be included in his new album containing 19 Jose Mari Chan classics. Below is the full lyrics of the song and a YouTube clip as Bautista sang it live for the first time in yesterday’s tribute for Cory in ABS-CBN’s Sunday noontime show, ASAP.

I Have Fallen in Love (with the Same Woman Three Times)
words by Benigno Aquino, Jr.
music by Jose Mari Chan

 I have fallen in love
With the same woman three times
In a day spanning 19 years
Of tearful joys and joyful tears

I loved her first when she was young
Enchanting and vibrant, eternally new
She was brilliant, fragrant
And cool as the morning dew

 I fell in love with her the second time
When first she bore her child and mine
Always by my side, the source of my strength
Helping to turn the tide

But there were candles to burn
The world was my concern
While our home was her domain
And the people were mine
While the children were hers to maintain

So it was in those eighteen years and a day
‘Til I was detained; forced in prison to stay

 Suddenly she’s our sole support
Source of comfort
Our wellspring of hope
On her shoulders felt the burden of life

 I fell in love again
With the same woman the third time
Looming from the battle
Her courage will never fade

 Amidst the hardships she has remained
Undaunted and unafraid.
She is calm and composed
She is God’s lovely maid

- - - - - - - - - -

Full text of the original poem is posted here.

It’s cool to have a nine year old daughter who’s a Hannah Montana fan (sh.  I really think the TV show is funny.  Sadly, the movie we got into last night wasn’t any at all.  The characters of Jackson & Oliver weren’t given enough limelight.   Still some of the songs in there are just… well… very well written.

Aside from “The Climb“ which practically is the anthem of the movie, there’s this father & daughter duet which I think most brides can relate to. I know the marrying age group aren’t exactly big Mily Cyrus or Billy Ray Cyrus fan, but if one’s able to get pass that, the song may just tug any father or daughter’s heart.  The Cyrus’ made it sound like a lullaby. Here’s the lyrics.

BUTTERFLY FLY AWAY
songwriters: Glen Ballard & Alan Silvestri

 You tucked me in, turned out the light
Kept me safe and sound at night
Little girls depend on things like that

 You brushed my teeth and combed my hair
Had to drive me everywhere
You were always there when I looked back

 You had to do it all alone
Make a living, make a home
Must have been as hard as it could be

 And when I couldn’t sleep at night
Scared things wouldn’t turn out right
You would hold my hand and sing to me

 Caterpillar in the tree
How you wonder who you’ll be
Can’t go far but you can always dream

 Wish you may and wish you might
Don’t you worry, hold on tight
I promise you that there will come a day
Butterfly fly away

 Butterfly fly away, butterfly fly away
You’ve been waiting for this day
Take your dreams and make them all come true

Butterfly fly away, butterfly fly away
We’ve been waiting for this day
All along and knowing just what to do
Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly, butterfly fly away

Butterfly fly away
Butterfly fly away

- - - - - - - - - -

As for my little caterpillar, don’t grow up yet and let’s watch this video together when you wake up. Mwah!

“Que a nuestra mágica noche de bodas,
More than our magical wedding night,

Más aun que esto… te amo”
Even more than this… I love you”

Today, I’m spending my Valentine with the same date I’ve spent it with the past sixteen years. No big plans actually. We’ll go out if ever we decide to later. We’re pretty much laid back in fussing over Valentine.

I guess that laid back attitude pretty much shows here in W@W. Because for a wedding site/blog, W@W didn’t make so much fuss about February 14 since it existed. But I’ve come to realize how big a deal this day is for most soon-to-weds. As they say, today is one of the few “allowed” days for men to be mushy. I’d grab that license today.

As a guy, I’m the type who’s not ’sweet’ but can be deeply romantic. It’s not a contradiction. Just like some guys, I’m not the touchy, showy, feely, PDA-type. I may even seem distant. But my deepest, strongest and more sincere feelings have always been better expressed trough writing. I guess all writers are like that.

In high school, Id assist a few buddies with their love letters and, modestly aside, our batting average was pretty high. I’ve learned to write songs in my late teens and into my early 20s and that hobby became an outlet in expressing things I can’t easily blurt out.

But as a songwriter, there are times that I come across songs written by others which truly captures my deepest sentiments. Those songs I can’t top (not that I’m saying I can top any other songs). Those types for me are just too “perfect” and writing one like it would just pale in comparison.

An example of which is the song “Te Amo” by Alexander Acha.

I’m not a big fan of foreign-language music. I’ve downloaded that song for free in the iTunes store and didn’t think much of it at that time. But the melody sold it for me. Truly, music is a universal language that all citezens of the world understand.

I’m surprised that my daughter Kite likes it as well. Just last night, I’ve learned that Benz like it too.

Seriously, this is the one song I’d serenade Benz with, if only I have the balls for it.

Why? For it doesn’t only say what I want to tell her. It does so in a language I don’t speak: Latin-loverboy style! ‘Steeg diba?

But since I’m not a performer, I’m blogging about it instead and sharing it with all of you. Listen to the song or download it for free in the iTunes Store. Spanish lyrics below (though I have to warn you that the words are a challenge to follow).

TE AMO

Amo toda tu figura
modelo de lo increible
belleza y virtud en una
tu soltura al perdonar

no dejas morir a nadie
y vas sembrandonos ilusiones
tu no sabes lo que causas
creo que no te has dado cuenta
haces que la gente agradezca
tu existencia

(coro)
te amo, mas que a un nuevo mundo,
mas que a un dia perfecto
mas que a un suave vino
mas que un largo sueño
mas que a la balada de un niño cantando
mas que a mi musica
mas que a mis años
mas que a mis tristezas
mas que a mis quehaceres
mas que a mis impulsos
mas que a mis placeres
mas que a nuestro juego preferido
mas aun que esto te amo

amo toda tu persona
parabola de la vida
poderosa cenicienta
tu destreza para amarnos

no olvidas dolor de nadie
y te desvives por alegrarnos
no has notado lo que eres
y me aterra que no lo notes

haces que las rosas se peleen
por ser tu broche

(coro)
te amo, mas que a un nuevo mundo,
mas que a un dia perfecto
mas que aun suave vino
mas que un largo sueño
mas que a la balada de un niño cantando
mas que a mi musica
mas que a mis años
mas que a mis tristezas
mas que a mis quehaceres
mas que a mis impulsos
mas que a mis placeres
mas que a nuestro juego preferido
mas aun que esto te amo

mas que a un largo viaje
mas que a un rubio campo
mas que a un viejo amigo
mas que a cualquier santo
mas que a tu pureza adornada de errores
mas que a tu tenacidad que no se rompe
mas que a tu alegria
mas que a tus colores
mas que a tu sensualidad que crees que escondes
mas que a nuestro beso primero
mas aunque esto te amo
mas que a nuestro beso primero
mas aun que esto te amo
mas que a nuestro beso primero
mas aun que esto te amo
mas que a nuestra magica noche de bodas
mas aunque esto te amo

Happy Valentine’s Day, Mimma!