Songs for God

Jonathan Manalo once said that his goal as a producer and songwriter was to create songs that are not against the laws of God. His latest project Life Songs (a commemorative album released to mark Maalaala Mo Kaya’s 25th year on the air) definitely falls in that category.

?The album is comprised of inspirational songs sung by some of today’s top vocalists, all of whom gladly lent their time and talent to this project. Aiza Seguerra, Charice, Darren Espanto, Gary Valenciano, Janella Salvador (who did a duet with her mother Jenine Desiderio in Iingatan Ka, which was originally recorded by Carol Banawa some years back), Jed Madela, Jona, Kyla, KZ, Lani Misalucha, Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Noel Cabangon and Piolo Pascual.

?Jonathan is no stranger to inspirational songs. He’s a former choir boy who realized he had a talent for songwriting when he began penning gospel songs at 13 years old. He continued songwriting as he grew up and entered the Himig Handog sa Makabagong Kabataan competition in 2001. Despite the fact that he was a relative newcomer to the music scene at the time, his composition Tara Tena — a musical call-to-action geared towards kids and teenagers and interpreted in part by a young Kyla — won the grand prize.

In 2003, Jonathan joined forces with Kyla again for the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival (Metropop). He wrote a song called Buti Na Lang which she interpreted. Although he didn’t win the grand prize that year (it went to Malayo Man, Malapit Din by Bayang Barrios), his career took off shortly thereafter.

He caught the attention of people at Star Music, who hired him. Jonathan says he was thrilled to have been offered that opportunity, which is why he didn’t have to think twice about it.

Jonathan spent the next several years producing and writing for Star Music’s artists. As of 2013, he had produced over 100 albums and written around 150 songs. Those include gold and multiplatinum-selling releases by Aiza, Angeline Quinto (yes, he wrote her career-making hit Patuloy Ang Pangarap), Erik Santos, Sam Milby and Yeng Constantino, to name a few.

As a songwriter, Jonathan reveals that he doesn’t know when or where inspiration will strike. He has also stopped trying to figure it out and just lets his muses guide him. He finds that more fulfilling.

“Songs come to me everywhere I am. Sa gym, sa kuwarto, habang kumakain, habang naliligo,” he said in a previous interview. “I just keep on writing and producing because I really don’t know where music will lead me. That’s the exciting part, when you just let it lead you. Gusto ko gumawa ng kanta at hindi ko alam saan ako dadalhin ng craft ko.”

So far, his craft has brought him to the upper echelons of ABS-CBN. Jonathan is the current A&R/Audio Content head of Star Music. In that capacity, he oversees the young guns the company has brought in to produce and write hits. But for really big projects like the Life Songs album, Jonathan remains the label’s go-to-guy.

Jonathan spoke excitedly about the album’s lead single Desiderata, for which he worked closely with ABS-CBN Chief Content Officer (and Maalaala Mo Kaya host) Charo Santos-Concio. Jonathan has never listened to the song before beginning work on Life Songs, but when it was first played for him, he realized it was right for the album.

“Bagay na bagay yung song sa panahon ngayon, na change is coming everywhere and kailangan talaga ng mga Pinoy ng inspirational message na mahahawakan.” — With reports from Almed Garcia and Julian Mauricio