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Still singing 'Paraiso,' ex-Smokey Mountain star settles into gov't role

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1422200" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA -- Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino on Tuesday sang &quot;Paraiso,&quot; drawing parallels between his poverty-fighting crusade as a government official and as a member of the 90s pop group Smokey Mountain.</p><p>The song, one of the signature hits of the groundbreaking quartet, was written from the perspective of someone who found dignity after having lived in a garbage dump.</p><p>At the Department of Finance, Lambino is at the forefront of explaining to the public government measures to uplift the poor and shield them from rising consumer prices.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s still staying the course. In my head Smokey Mountain was a mission-driven group,&quot; Lambino told ANC&#x27;s Headstart</p><p>&quot;We wanted to sing about social issues, environment issues, issues about poverty and hope,&quot; he said.</p><p>Lambino was a founding member of Smokey Mountain, along with Geneva Cruz, Jeffrey Hidalgo and James Coronel. Led by music maestro Ryan Cayabyab, the group&#x27;s other hits include &quot;The Coconut Song,&quot; &quot;Kailan&quot; and &quot;Can This Be Love.&quot;</p><p>The finance official said he studied public policy after leaving the entertainment business. In his current role, Lambino said he was always reminded of his Jesuit education.</p><p>&quot;We were told there should be a preferential option for the poor. I thought, at that time, that was such an important part of my formation,&quot; he said.</p><p>Helping the poor by growing the economy is &quot;the reason I joined government,&quot; he said. &quot;This is the mission. This is the vision.&quot;</p><p>&quot;What do we need to do? We need to keep investing, we need to stay the course,&quot; he said.</p><p>President Rodrigo Duterte has not heard him sing, Lambino said.</p><p>Told that he should one day sing with the President, Lambino said: &quot;That would be something.&quot;</p>

<p>The song, one of the signature hits of the 90s quartet, was written from the perspective of someone who found dignity after having lived in a garbage dump.<br /> </p>

The song, one of the signature hits of the 90s quartet, was written from the perspective of someone who found dignity after having lived in a garbage dump.