Push Admin

Jonathan Manalo writes Valentine's song for Moira

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/entertainment/02/14/20210214-jonathan-manalo.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Jonathan Manalo. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Jonathan Manalo was barely in his teens when he started stringing lyrics and churning out melodies together. Growing up in a musically-inclined family helped him pursue his passion.</p><p>When he was still a kid, Manalo became part of Pambatang Papuri of the Papuri Music Ministry, the gospel music arm of Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC). His first professionally written song that was published was “Aming Panginoon,” when he was only 13 years old.</p><p>Growing up, Manalo looked up to award-winning songwriter, Jungee Marcelo, as his mentor. “I admire the songwriting skills and the life testimony of Kuya Jungee,” Manalo told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>His all-time local “music heroes” are National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and Gary Valenciano. “I’m so glad that I am able to work closely with my idols now,” Manalo said. “I am literally living my dream.”</p><p>It has been two decades since Manalo first emerged in the local music scene, when he won the Jam Himig Handog sa Makabagong Kabataan for his song, “Tara Tena,” interpreted by Kyla. The song was even used as the theme of a youth-oriented TV program of the same title on ABS-CBN.</p><p>In 2003, Manalo also emerged as one of the major winners in the eighth Metropop Songwriting Festival for his entry, “Buti Na Lang,” also interpreted by Kyla.</p><p>“It has been two decades of non-stop provisions and blessings from God,” Manalo maintained. “He has paved the way for so many doors to open for me. I credit Jesus, my Lord and savior as the one who sustained my momentum in my entire 20-year career, so far.”</p><div><strong>WRITING FOR MOIRA</strong></div><p>As creative director for ABS-CBN Music, Manalo admitted this pandemic has really been a challenge to everyone. Yet, he has to face the music and continue working even in this new normal.</p><p>“This is really a difficult time for everyone, because it forced everyone out of their comfort zones,” Manalo noted. “But the pandemic also helped us creative people to even be more creative.</p><p>“Nothing can stop art. Music can’t be stopped. It will naturally go on and we will always find creative ways to adapt to the new normal. </p><p>“I think as an industry, we are presently thriving and still in a healthy state. We’ll all definitely be better after this [pandemic] is over and we’ll emerge triumphantly stronger in the end.”</p><p>The songwriting genius of Manalo was recently tapped by PLDT Home to create a love song, “Pag-ibig ang Piliin,” recorded by Moira Dela Torre for the company’s Valentine’s Day theme, “Choose to Love.”</p><p>The song talks about love as the blissful feeling and the powerful emotion that binds people together amidst uncertainties and difficulties.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pfKz-INOUGI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></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>With “Pag-ibig ang Piliin,” Manalo works with Dela Torre for the second time. He previously penned De la Torre’s “Hanggang sa Huli,” the theme of the “24/7” afternoon series that starred Julia Montes.</p><p>Manalo produced all of Dela Torre’s discography, from albums, singles, collaborations, TV and movie theme songs.</p><p>“If you’ll look at it, it’s really challenging to write an original for someone like Moira,” Manalo explained. “She can also write really beautiful masterpieces. But going to this point has really been a long process. </p><p>“I have produced mostly all of Moira’s recordings. That gave me the advantage of having a full grasp of the Moira sound and style. So my process of writing something original for an already excellent songwriter like her has that context of my over-all relationship with her as her music producer.”</p><p>Writing a love song, like “Pag-ibig ang Piliin,” for Dela Torre not a tall order for Manalo. The song is a perfect theme for Valentine’s day.</p><p>“This ‘Pag-ibig ang Piliin’ is a love song that puts emphasis on ‘love’ that is worth fighting for,” Manalo explained. “Love against all odds, even if the world seems to disapprove, no one can question the power of a person’s great true love. When you choose to fight for love, it is the ultimate power. Nothing and no one can stand in your way.”</p><div><strong>CHALLENGES</strong></div><p>Through the years that he has been writing songs, there are pieces that posed a challenge to Manalo, while there are some that he finished in merely a breeze. He confessed songwriting is a different process for him every time.</p><p>“The song that I’ve written for Sir Gary [Valenciano] that tells of his inspiring story battling serious health problems was a very emotional process,” Manalo said. “I was so touched hearing about his fears, his feelings first hand; all his emotions going through that entire ordeal and getting healed miraculously.</p><p>“That song was ‘Ililigtas Ka Niya’ that also became the theme song of FPJ’s ‘Ang Probinsyano.’ While I also did the lyrics that I wrote for ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ quite fast, only several hours overnight.”<br/> <br/>In the two decades that he has been in the music business, Manalo has been blessed to work with top OPM artists. “Everyone in the top tier of OPM,” he beamed.</p><p>“I will forever be grateful for that. But I am always on the look out for new talents, those that deserve to have a break. I want to help all these new artists, for their fresh voices to be heard by a large audience, for me to be able to give them songs that will best showcase their gifts.”</p><div><strong>NCAA AWARD</strong></div><p>Recently, Manalo received the first-ever prestigious Gawad Sudi National Music Awards from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, citing him for Outstanding Musical Achievement from 2010 to 2020, along with an esteemed list of recipients. That was another award added to his growing list of music honors.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0oomDgePJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"> </div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"> </div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"> </div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0oomDgePJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:550;line-height:18px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0oomDgePJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"> </div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"> </div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"> </div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"> </div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"> </div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"> </div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"> </div></div><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0oomDgePJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Jonathan Manalo (@jonathanmanalo)</a></div></div></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>“I am always grateful and really humbled by that recognition,” Manalo said. “It’s such a huge blessing to be able to do what I love to do and be recognized for it in a big way. I’ll just continue doing what I do best and let it lead me to wherever good there is in the future.”</p><p>Manalo graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), where he took up Advertising and Public Relations. <br/> <br/>He has written around 400 songs for different artists and various projects, to date, although he actually lost count. Asked, however, about the favorite piece he penned, Manalo mentioned “Patuloy ang Pangarap” for Angeline Quinto.</p><p>“That’s really a tough question,” Manalo said. “But I think if you can say that a song changed a person’s life, it is something remarkable. ‘Patuloy Ang Pangarap’ is a life-changing song for Angeline Quinto. That one is truly special.”</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ufKM-78NMI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></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>With “Pag-ibig ang Piliin,” Manalo works with Dela Torre for the second time. </p>

With “Pag-ibig ang Piliin,” Manalo works with Dela Torre for the second time.