In the Philippines, no Christmas is complete without the music of Jose Mari Chan. The song Christmas In Our Hearts has become a staple song in the playlist of almost every household in the country. Even A Perfect Christmas captures the essence of the season with the simple message that the ideal holiday is one spent with loved ones.

Christmas in Our Hearts, released in 1990, is still the best selling album of all time in the Philippines, Christmas or otherwise. This was before the age of the internet, when people still got their music through physical cassettes or CDs. It was surprising therefore, when news came that the singer and songwriter was releasing an all-new album of Christmas songs just in time for the holidays this year.

“Most people have only one Christmas album in their entire career,” Chan said during the press conference last Monday. “I wasn’t in any hurry to release a new one. This actually took years to make. Some songs were written 20 years ago, some over the last two or three years.”

The album is entitled Going Home To Christmas. Chan said the idea is that Christmas is a place, a state of mind that people gravitate towards. “It’s the idea of going home to family, so essentially, this is an album especially for Overseas Filipino Workers.” The crooner related how he has traveled all over the world performing for Filipino communities and how much they appreciate hearing the songs they grew up with back in the homeland. Some were even moved to tears every time he started singing “Christmas in Our Hearts.”

There are 22 songs in the new album, coinciding with the number of years since the release of Christmas In Our Hearts. Chan enlisted the help of established names in the music business to help him out, including Ogie Alcasid,Gerard Salonga, Homer Flores, Louie Ocampo and many others. He also sings with artists like CrisVillonco, Tinee Chan, SheilaValderrama and, in a first, his own children.

Present during the launch were four of his five kids—eldest daughter Lisa (best known for singing with her father on Christmas In Our Hearts), Jose Antonio, Michael and Francisco Rafael or Franco. “When my dad called to tell us he was making this album and he wanted us to sing, we were like, game!” Franco said. “We’re all very proud of him.”

“Music style is rapidly changing,” Chan said. “Hip-hop, rap, rock music, I can probably write songs like that, but it won’t be honest. This is my niche,” he said about love songs and Christmas songs. “This genre of music doesn’t change. I’m not getting any younger. I was 45 years old when Christmas in Our Hearts came out, and I’m celebrating my 45th year in the music business this year. I think it’s only appropriate,” he said.

Going Home To Christmas will be available in all Astrovision outlets and will be distributed online via iTunes, cdbaby.com, opm2go.com and mymusicstore.com.

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Platinum-selling singer-songwriter and musician, Greyson Chance has sent his Filipino fans into an online frenzy with the announcement of his Truth Be Told Part 1 launch happening at the Ayala Malls this November 11. The highly-anticipated EP will be released nationwide starting October 29. Entitled Truth Be Told part 1, the EP will be released exclusively under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) and will contain five tracks. Catch Greyson at Market! Market! Activity Center at 2:30 p.m. and TriNoma Activity Center at 6:30 p.m., and get a chance to meet and greet him after every show. The new EP Truth be Told Part 1 will be available in CDs at Astroplus and Odyssey Music & Video or online via iTunes or MyMusicStore.com.ph

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