Old-fashioned love song spawns heartfelt music video
Perhaps many don’t remember that it was Rafael Centenera who sang “Ang Dahilan.” It is the first song Vehnee Saturno wrote that was cut into a record. Vehnee, of course, is now an institution in the music industry.
Note that it was Rafael who suggested to Vehnee to focus on writing love songs. One of them, titled “Be My Lady” and sung by Martin Nievera, became Vehnee’s first big hit.
Because he was leaving the country then for singing stints abroad (Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia), Rafael promised to Vehnee that when he returns he is going to record an album with him. It took him 20 years to fulfill that promise.
Rafael is back and has recorded a mini-album with six songs, all composed by Vehnee, of course. The songs are “Andrea,” “Basta’t Ikaw,” “Ako Pa Rin Sa Yo,” “Bakit Ikaw?” “Sa Kanya Ba,” and “Sumayaw Ng Salsa” (a duet with Pilita Corrales).
“All the songs are beautiful, mostly ballads that cater to the romantic side of Pinoys,” Rafael said.
Out now is the heartfelt music video of the single “Sa Kanya Ba?” Rafael described the tune as an old-fashioned love song “unadulterated by distracting music trends and technology.”
“That’s why the music video of this song is unhampered by dizzying computer-generated effects,” he shared.
All the songs in the album are good, but Viva, the distributor, picked “Sa Kanya Ba?”
“The song is about heartbreak but there is no condemnation in its lyrics. The persona in the song may be in pain, but he is simply confused about the turn of events: Not condemning, not denouncing, not desperately bitter,” Rafael explained.
Spoken like a true romantic. Rafael is “Mr. Romantico” after all.
A bakeshop named Amor (Bread You Love) opened recently along España Blvd., near UST, and cutting the ceremonial ribbon were Sunshine Cruz and Gretchen Fullido. It wasn’t only their radiance as celebrities that brought customers to the place that early morning – it was the exciting array of breads (about 60 kinds) and dessert items.
Said Andrew Peng, manager: “We decided to name our store Amor because we want to provide a lovely, warm place for customers to stay and have a cup of coffee or tea while eating delicious desserts. We make sure to make our breads with love so people would feel loved and healthy.”
Andrew also said they hired bakers from Taiwan who also worked in Australia. And that “no chemicals and preservatives were used in our breads, just natural ingredients like honey...”
Situated near the University Belt, about 80 percent of their customers are students, Andrew noted.
Owner Kenneth Dong envisions to put up more branches of Amor within the year.
Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, May 30, go to Ricky Davao, Rene Austria, Glenda Barretto, Roxanne Lapus, Narciso Talampas, Jr., Chito Chavez, Marlene dela Peña, Ferdie Villar, Dr. Jose Syquia, Teresa G. Martinez, Ronalisa Cheng, Pocholo Malillin, Leslie Lomeda, Mary Grace V. Macahindog and Rep. Bingbing Crisologo... Happy 25th wedding anniversary to Fr. Carlito and Leticia Jimenez of Parish of San Isidro Labrador, IFI, Napindan, Taguig City… May 31: Alex Ricketts, William Martinez, Adel Almontero, Ruby Be- lasco, Desiree Kate A. Silan and Jojo Gaela... June 1: Ping Lacson, Rhea Santos, Alicia Alonzo, Max Ricketts, Eva Abesamis, Froilan Antonio, Angela Andal, Nita Magat, Janelle Avanzado, and Gina Pajo... Happy wedding anniversary to Eric and Shirley Cruz (née Halili)...