Ben Madilynn
This is not a meme.
Filipino theater company Repertory Philippines on Sunday, September 1, 2024, reveals the staging of a musical inspired by the songs of singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan.
Going Home To Christmas: A Jose Mari Chan Musical will take place on November 29 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of the RCBC Plaza in Makati.
Repertory Philippines, of course, added a touch of humor in their announcement of the musical.
It is well-known that September 1 marks the beginning of the Christmas season for Filipinos, and with it comes the proliferation of memes featuring Jose Mari Chan.
Why? It’s because Jose Mari Chan’s signature Yuletide hit, “Christmas in Our Hearts,” starts playing everywhere—from radios to commercial establishments—beginning in September and continuing through December.
Recently, video clips of a visibly emotional Jose Mari circulated online, prompting netizens to express concern for the hitmaker.
Jose Mari doused those worries by writing on Facebook, in response to a report published on PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal): “I will always be grateful to God for inspiring me to write this song, because of what it has come to mean for so many.”
Photo/s: Screenshot from Jose Mari Chan’s Facebook page
JOSE MARI CHAN SHARES THE GOOD NEWS
The beloved singer-songwriter himself shared the announcement about the upcoming musical on his Facebook page.
Jose Mari wrote, “Thank you, Repertory Philippines for honoring me with this project!”
While “Christmas in Our Hearts” is a huge hit, Jose Mari’s discography includes much more than just this memorable Christmas anthem.
His many hit songs include “Afraid for Love to Fade,” “Can’t We Start Over Again,” “Please Be Careful With My Heart,” “Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile,” and “Beautiful Girl,” among many others.
He holds the record for the best-selling albums in Philippine music history, with Christmas in Our Hearts (1990) at number one, followed by his 1989 record Constant Change.
Jose Mari Chan’s extensive collection of songs makes him a fitting subject for a musical, providing ample material—much of which is familiar to audiences—to craft a captivating story for the stage.
Musicals centered around Filipino artists’ discography have become popular for a couple of years now.
Some notable examples include Rak of Aegis, featuring the music of Aegis; Eto Na! Musikal nAPO, inspired by the songs of Apo Hiking Society; Sa Wakas, composed of songs by alternative rock band Sugarfree; and Ang Huling El Bimbo, a tribute to the music of the influential ’90s band Eraserheads.
