08/05/2022
Jukebox queen for all seasons
By Maridol Ranoa-bismark
THE jukebox may have long bowed out from the music scene the way typewriters and rotary dial phones did. But the artists whose songs made these music making devices come alive are still making their presence felt.
Take Imelda Papin, whom people called Sentimental Songstress back in the late ‘70s, when baby boomers poured their hearts out in her signature hit songs, Isang Linggong Pag-ibig, Bakit (Kung Liligaya Ka sa Piling ng Iba), Mahal Saan Ka Nanggaling Kagabi and many others.
Millennials give these songs a fresh spin in Spotify, YouTube, TikTok and other digital platforms. Eight-year-olds sing her songs, and fellow politicians use them in campaign sorties. That’s because the masses identify with these songs. Netizens experience the joy and pain of falling in and out of love for seven days, as immortalized in Isang Linggong Pag-ibig. Social media has made feelings and situations so fleeting, you never know what hit you.
In a recent press conference at Marco Polo Hotel Ortigas, Imelda explained why Isang Linggong Pag-ibig strikes a chord among today’s music lovers the same way it still does for their parents and grandparents.
“They say that Filipinos are hopeless romantics and emotional. It is a story given a twist. The interpretation is heartfelt and sincere.”
Jukebox Queens
And so Imelda, 45 years after she entered the music industry, is still as active as ever in the live concert scene. Decades after she first recorded her songs in 1979, Imelda’s paeans to love lost and found still ring true. She will relive these songs as she shares the stage with real-life friends Pilita Corrales (Imelda’s idol) and Eva Eugenio for the first time in Jukebox Queens For All Seasons, a series of shows which kicks off in May 27 at the Los Angeles Church of Scientology of the Valley in Hollywood. June shows are set at the Jamul Casino in San Diego, Las Vegas and Florida.
BG Productions International’s Baby F. Go, producer of the May 27 show, wants to bring out the music of yesteryear, and let today’s generation appreciate it. Show promoter Jackie Dayoha, on the other hand, wants to build up the three music icons as the female counterparts of The Hitmakers, composed of Nonoy Zuniga, Marco Sison and Hajji Alejandro.
“This is the first time Pilita, Imelda and Eva will perform together onstage,” Dayoha says. And since the three are long-time friends, expect a riot of jokes, free-flowing spiels and vintage hits, of course.”
The trio will take the audience back to the ‘70s, the Golden Era of Filipino Music, when former First Lady Imelda Marcos promoted OPM (Original Pilipino Music) and Filipino artists were ruling music festivals the world over. It will also bring back the ‘80s, when original songs ruled the airwaves, and Imelda reigned as queen of songs that made people cry buckets.
Imelda is proud she belongs to the batch of artists who benefitted from this OPM policy which gave Filipino compositions and artists the break they badly needed. It gave their work sufficient time and exposure in the airwaves and even abroad. In that pre-digital era, Imelda did her share in supporting Filipino composers by singing their compositions .
She looked after the welfare of Filipino musicians by creating the Showbiz Industry Alliance. Imelda also proudly waved the Philippine flag in her performances abroad, where she represented her country. This made the multi-awarded perform one of the Philippines’ pioneering ambassadors of music.
Thus, it saddens her that TV networks are not developing new singers and musicians the way they should.
“TV networks make it their policy to create singing competitions at a dizzying pace. Previous winners are immediately replaced by newcomers, even if the older batch has not even warmed their seats, or established a steady, stable rapport with the public,” she notes.
This singing icon longs for the day when OPM enjoyed extensive, frequent radio exposure. She misses the time when OPM, its singers, composers and producers had sustained airplay on the airwaves. And Imelda considers herself lucky she and fellow singers got all the support they needed during the Golden Era of OPM.
Unfortunately, those happy days are over.
Signs of the times
“Today’s singers have a hard time sustaining their career. Music lovers create playlists and choose songs they want to hear from that list,” she observes.
This makes it hard for music lovers to develop loyalty to any singer or song.
It’s not the singers or the musicians’ fault, however. It’s the fault of an irreversible trend that has long changed the music scene all over the world.
Thankfully, the Filipinos’ exceptional musical talent, has remained the same. It continues to shine here and abroad. Among the current crop of performers, Imelda singles out singer-rapper KZ Tandingan for her inimitable style.
“I was bowled over by her performance, plus the fact that she gave an innovative, creative interpretation of Isang Linggong Pag-ibig,” Imelda reveals.
To KZ, and other young, talented singers who want to stay in the business as long as she has, Imelda offers these pieces of advice.
“Be grateful. Always remember those who have helped you in your career.”
Secret of longevity
Part of that gratitude is taking care of those who have watched your shows, sang and listened to your songs, bought your albums, and cheered you on since Day One.
Imelda thinks it is most important for singers to take care of their fans. Imelda’s fans cover more than one generation and includes her initial followers’ grandchildren. This means that long before Facebook, Instagram and TikTok gave the word “followers” a positive spin, Imelda’s long, steady stream of supporters were showing everyone what loyalty and devotion meant.
A long, steady stream of followers, however, can easily get into one’s head. So Imelda reminds young singers to keep their feet planted on the ground, even as they aim for the sky.
Imelda herself has received many titles throughout her singing career. She was Undisputed Jukebox Queen for five straight years, until she was elevated to the Hall of Fame. She has a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aliw Awards Foundation.
Her other titles are Most Charitable Showbiz Personality, Queen of Music, Asia’s Queen of Sentimental Songs, Internationally Acclaimed Filipino Singer/Entertainer, Woman of the World Ambassador, OPM Queen and Best Talent Show Host (Pasikatan and Star Search Philippines). She is president of the Actors’ Guild of the Philippines (Katipunan ng mga Artista sa Pelikula at Telebisyon).
She is the first recording artist to perform at the 55,000 seater Philippine Arena in Bulacan, where her 45th anniversary show, Imelda Papin Queen @45 Anniversary Concert drew a jampacked crowd of 50,000 people in late 2019.
She has recorded 50 albums produced by top recording outfits.
The late King of Philippine Movies, Fernando Poe Jr. was such a big fan, he produced the blockbuster comedy movie Mahal, Saan Ka Galing Kagabi, inspired by the title of Imelda’s hit song.
She starred in several Las Vegas casino shows for years and hosted the radio show Imelda Papin Voice of the Heart in the said state. The radio program was aired as KLV in Las Vegas
She is the first Filipino recording artist to have a weekly TV show in Los Angeles, California dubbed as Imelda Papin in America.
Imelda paid it forward by mentoring budding singers in GMA’s talent show Protégé.
Since she wanted to give hope to everybody, Imelda the mentor was extra liberal in choosing talents who made the cut.
“Candidates with the correct phrasing, choice of song and singing style get passing marks,” she said in an interview. Of course, those who sing off-key, must go.
Imelda also sat as head judge of Net 25’s talent competition Tagisan ng Galing, and hosted Channel 13’s Pasikatan sa Trese from 1992 to 1994.
Humility
It would have been easy for Imelda to let success get the better of her. But it did not. She remained the simple girl from the remote fishing village of Presentacion, Camarines Sur who is proud of her roots. She never threw her weight around, stood up or showed up late for engagements.
The country girl who took a two-hour boat ride to get to the city in order to perform, still loves eating off heads of fried fish and crying over sentimental things.
This keeps her feet firmly planted on the ground. Imelda knows a sense of entitlement is the shortcut to career downfall.
“I have seen artists whose success have gone to their heads. It eventually destroyed their careers. Stick to your schedule, especially when it comes to promotion,” she advises young performers.
Self-discipline is also a must. It helps one maintain a healthy lifestyle – devoid of from vices like drugs, ci******es and alcohol—that destroy that precious singing voice. That soothing voice that reminds one of a mother’s sweet caress, is the result of discipline, a love for healthy food, an active lifestyle and other habits that boost wellness.
Heart of gold
The Sentimental Songtress’ heart of gold also keeps her feeling well and glowing from within, even after a series of grueling motorcades and other activities in her campaign sorties as gubernatorial candidate in Camarines Sur. Although the rigors of the campaign made her arm swell a bit, she was at the Jukebox Queens press conference early. Composed and unfrazzled, she even cracked a few jokes with Pilita and Eva.
It was Imelda’s father, the late Rosendo Papin Sr., a government official in their hometown, who sowed the seeds of public service in the young Imelda.
“My late father was known for his generosity. He started as capitan del barrio . Then he was elected number one councilor, and became acting vice-mayor. He would go to great lengths to help people,” recalls a teary-eyed Imelda.
Thus, as an elementary student, she gave food and other items to playmates and classmates in their remote fishing village of Presentacion, where she grew up. She sent her siblings to school (five are in the US; four in Manila).
In 2010, when veteran entertainment newsman Justo ‘Jayjay’ Justo required spinal column surgery, Imelda and other Good Samaritans from showbiz extended financial help.
Members of media who appreciate this, and her other good deeds, dub her Darling of the Press.
Her Imelda Papin Foundation channeled part of her concert proceeds to the needy. Perhaps the best proof of her good heart lies in the fact that her current personal assistant Felicidad Antonio was president of Imelda’s fan club, the Solid Papinians.
Antonio has since doubled as Imelda’s constant companion wherever she goes, even as Imelda juggles politics and showbiz with the confidence of someone born to both fields.
Turns out politics is the extension of Imelda’s innate charitable ways.
“It has given me the opportunity to help a great deal of people and improve lives,” she smiles.
But Imelda will not be Imelda without music and showbiz.
“The godly gift of music helped my family. I have reached goals I never imagined possible,” she admits.
Showbiz and politics
Besides helping her reach her goals, Imelda loves the way showbiz and politics “represent life stories and aspirations that need realization.” It’s just that for Imelda, music “is an elevated art form,” while politics is “mundane in nature.”
But make no mistake. This seasoned public servant finds immense fulfillment in improving lives. As presiding officer at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board), Imelda and the board members crafted resolutions to address the province’s concerns and programs. These include projects that empower the marginalized, like young people, women, senior citizens, the LGBTQ (Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Q***r) community and others.
Camarines Sur had its first gay Olympics under Imelda’s watch as Camarines Sur first female vice-governor from 1998 to 2004. Integrated People’s Centers equipped with computers for out-of-school youths who want to continue their online classes but don’t have the means to pay computer fees, mushroomed in all Camarines Sur municipalities. Mobile clinics toured the most remote barangays to give free checkups, medical consultations and medicines.
As a mother (her daughter is beauty queen-philanthropist-singer Maffi Carrion), Imelda’s heart goes out to children. She believes their physical, emotional and mental growth hinges on good nutrition. So she launched a supplemental milk feeding program that has benefitted over 500,000 school children so far.
Thus did she earn the title Most Outstanding Vice Governor of the Philippines.
True warrior
Imelda isn’t resting on her laurels. She believes there are still so many things to do, so many ways to help. One of them is by enhancing her constituents’ God-given artistic talents.
“One of my plans is to create the Imelda Papin Center for Music, Culture and Arts, where I would help people develop their God-given talents and enrich Bicolano culture,” she declares.
She knows some will misconstrue, even her best intentions, since politics teems with backbiters and people who want pull the rug from under her feet. She just shrugs her shoulders, knowing she can’t please everybody, no matter how hard she tries.
“I feel sad that those I consider friends and family have betrayed me and spread false news and information about me. In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests,” Imelda sighs.
So she makes it a point to distance herself from detractors, and like a true warrior, moves on. After all, Imelda’s conscience is spotless, and she can’t fail her kababayan.
On with the show
As gubernatorial candidate, she dreams of a new Camarines Sur—prosperous, progressive and empowered.
“I would like to spearhead the improvement of our province and change its reputation as one of the poorest in the country,” she declares, her voice ringing with determination.
It is a Herculean task. But Imelda, the eternal optimist is undaunted. It’s on with the show.
To achieve this, the first thoughts that crosses her mind when she wakes up center on the positive.
“I remember what the former First Lady (Imelda Marcos) advised me: ‘When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you do good.”
Thus, the singer-politician has never given up on her dreams, even if dirty politics threaten to take away her drive for doing good. She continues to “pray for unity, forgiveness and prosperity for our country” instead. She refuses to entertain negative thoughts that rob her of her will to serve as many people as often as she can.
This God-fearing performer-public servant knows Someone Up There is watching her. She knows she is only answerable to Him. After all, she used to lead the Block Rosary crusade which brought the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary from one home to the next. Then and now, that’s the source of her strength and power.
“I’m so thankful with the blessings I received. I don’t think I should be changing anything. Even the trials and difficulties I experienced have given me valuable lessons,” she explains.
This knack for appreciating what she has, and turning the negative into the positive will see Imelda through the toughest trials that could come her way. It also makes her a living example what an empowered woman can, and should do.
