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Article (news)

Jose Mari Chan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17576587298551757658728082.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">YouTube/@KongversationswithFrancis</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- OPM icon Jose Mari Chan urged aspiring artists to nurture their passion despite the challenges of the industry, saying Filipinos’ natural gift for music should never be wasted.</p><p>In the latest episode of &quot;Kongversations with Francis,&quot; hosted by inspirational speaker Francis Kong, Chan said that as an artist you must nurture your gift in music. And since the journey to succeed in the music industry is hard, you must have the passion to pursue it. </p><p>&quot;Filipinos are gifted with musicality, don&#x27;t reject it, don&#x27;t waste it -- harness it. But even if it means a lot of struggles before you become popular, you have to do that journey,&quot; said Chan, dubbed as the Father of Philippine Christmas Carols.</p><p>&quot;But at the same time if your parents tell you that there&#x27;s no money in music but that is your passion, God has given you that gift, you can not just throw it away, you can not reject it. So, do your business. If you are a doctor, do your medicine well, your profession, but at the same time never neglect that musical gift that you have. And you can use it, you can sing in church, you can sing in school, you can sing for other people and you can also become your own musical artist, singer,&quot; he said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757656959670JoseMariChan.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>YouTube/@KongversationswithFrancis</em></span></span></span></div><p>Even with all the changes in the music industry, Chan said that there will always be space for a talented artist.</p><p>&quot;Things have changed, but there&#x27;s always room for someone with a good voice and a song to proclaim to the world,&quot; Chan said.</p><p>Last week, Chan kicked off &quot;ber&quot; months as he opened ABS-CBN&#x27;s noontime program &quot;It&#x27;s Showtime,&quot; ushering in the country&#x27;s extended Christmas season as he performed &quot;Mary&#x27;s Boy Child&quot; and his ubiquitous holiday hit &quot;Christmas In Our Hearts.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/9/1/jose-mari-chan-kicks-off-ber-months-on-it-s-showtime-1514" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jose Mari Chan kicks off &#x27;ber&#x27; months on &#x27;It&#x27;s Showtime&#x27;</a></div><p>In his interview with Kong, Chan once again shared the story behind his Yuletide hit “Christmas in Our Hearts.” </p><p>The song was first conceptualized in 1988 when he was asked to provide a melody to a poem to be performed at a high school reunion. Chan had no idea then that the same melody would later anchor his first Christmas album. The song was a collaboration between Chan and songwriter Rina Cañiza. Recorded by Chan and his daughter Liza, it went on to become one of the biggest selling OPM songs in history.</p><p>&quot;God has given me the talent and God did not want me to waste that talent, God did not want me to put that on the side and do something else. So I hope my songs will continue to inspire people long after I&#x27;m gone,&quot; Chan said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/96cxEl_5Cqo?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cBqwtFWwyM0?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s8waUEkQMPE?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7cf2nk6FQzQ?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>OPM icon Jose Mari Chan urged aspiring artists to nurture their passion despite the challenges of the industry, saying Filipinos’ natural gift for music should never be wasted.</p>

OPM icon Jose Mari Chan urged aspiring artists to nurture their passion despite the challenges of the industry, saying Filipinos’ natural gift for music should never be wasted.

Jose Mari Chan shares advice to aspiring artists

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Jose Mari Chan shares advice to aspiring artists

ABS-CBN News

Published September 12, 2025 02:32 PM PHT

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Jose Mari Chan

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