Jose Mari Chan 'immensely proud' of Christmas musical featuring his songs, inspired to create one about his father
As the holiday season approaches, it's almost impossible to imagine Filipinos celebrating without the enduring music of Jose Mari Chan. And what better way to cement the Christmas spirit in our hearts than going to an upcoming original jukebox musical that pays homage to Chan’s beloved songs?
Presented by Repertory Philippines, Going Home to Christmas: A Jose Mari Chan Musical will warm the hearts of audiences through a tale about different people as they journey home for the holidays. Their narratives are all weaved together by Chan’s well-known songs.
Through the musical, the “King of Philippine Christmas Carols” certainly had his wish come true this holiday season.
“I can’t express the joy that I feel, seeing the cast, the director, the musical director putting my songs into a musical. I cannot tell exactly the joy that I feel, but to me, it’s a fulfillment of the dream that I’ve had as a young kid. I said that one day, I would like to make a musical,” Chan said in a media launch attended by PhilSTAR L!fe.
“I’m speechless. When the idea was broached five years ago, I thought that maybe one day, it will happen. But look, it’s happening now and it’s going to be presented, so I’m immensely proud and honored that Repertory Philippines is going to do this,” he added.
What is the musical about?
Going Home to Christmas is an original story by writers Robbie Guevara, Luna Griño-Inocian, and Joel Trinidad. It centers on the lives of 24 characters as they strive to celebrate Christmas amid all the drama and turmoil they’re facing.
It will follow four narratives about a father and his son, a married couple, and two lovebirds. Through unexpected encounters amid Chan’s beloved melodies, they discover that Christmas isn’t just a place—it’s found in the love they share and carry within their hearts.
@philstarlife The cast of 'Going Home to Christmas: A #JoseMariChan Musical serenades the crowd with one of their songs in the play, which will open this Nov. 29. #RepertoryPhilippines #ChristmasInOurHearts #Christmas ♬ original sound philstarlife
Initially, the story was going to follow a vignette route, but as the writers collaborated and made 12 grueling versions, they were able to craft a cohesive plot that ties all the characters with a single setting.
“The heart or themes of the songs are in the residence of the beautiful music themselves. The melodies are timeless,” said Jeremy Domingo, the artistic director of Repertory Philippines.
“They are comforting, they are soothing, and I’ve come to the conclusion that Mr. Chan’s music is a love language on its own in the way that he has touched and inspired the lives of Filipinos here and abroad and all over the world,” he continued.
The cast members include Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Noel Rayos, Lorenz Martinez, Neomi Gonzales, Floyd Tena, Mayen Bustamante-Cadd, Carla Martinez, and more.
Will Jose Mari Chan play a part in the play?
While many might expect a stage appearance by the man himself, Domingo confirmed that Chan won't be in the musical. However, he assured fans that Chan's “presence is felt from the very first lyric all the way to the curtain call.”
“His spirit, his melodies, his music has guided us every step of the way,” he added.
Going Home to Christmas will highlight 22 songs from Chan’s expansive career as a music artist, including Beautiful Girl, Tell Me Your Name, and Christmas In Our Hearts.
Music Director Ejay Yatco admitted that it wasn't easy translating Chan’s songs for the play. He had to carefully select and arrange songs to create a full theatrical experience.
“Jose Mari Chan’s work expands decades. It’s a lifetime of work that you have to make sure you sit through, so there was a long time that I was listening to all his songs,” Yatco said. “The writers chose which songs to assign in the story, but I also made some suggestions like songs to be matched up or medleys just to make it more musical and to thread all of them together.”
“It’s quite challenging because you have to know the essence of the artist, you have to know what he’s about. You have to pay tribute to the years of work that they did,” he added.
However, Chan isn't totally out of the picture in the project, as the draft required his approval, as well as that of his three sons, Jose Antonio, Michael Philip, and Franco.
Cooking up his musical
The 79-year-old veteran singer shared that he still has plans to make a musical about his father, Antonio, an immigrant from Fujian, China who came to the Philippines during his teens.
“I would like to give honor to my father that he came [to the Philippines] penniless. He came at the age of 13 years old and he worked hard all his life, and he started a family,” Chan said. “That is my dream. Going Home to Christmas is an appetizer. When I hear the voices of the cast, I’m more inspired now to compose that musical about the Chinese immigrant. [That’s my goal] before I turn 90.”
Going Home to Christmas is scheduled on Nov. 29 and 30 and Dec. 11, 12, and 15 at 8 p.m. at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of the RCBC Plaza in Makati.
Tickets are available on Ticketworld, with prices ranging from P1,545 to P3,090.
