Nica enjoying second wind

Since the 1940s, movie and TV soundtracks have breathed new life into songs that have been around the block a few times. That’s exactly what Star Cinema’s How to Be Yours did for Ambon, a song written by Nica del Rosario for the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs songwriting contest early this year.

Ambon was covered by singing duo Migz and Maya. Their version served as the theme song of the Bea Alonzo-Gerald Anderson blockbuster starrer.

All this wouldn’t have happened if Nica hadn’t had the guts to join Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs a second time. She first tried her luck in 2014 with the song Hindi Wala. It managed to make the Top 15, but only after one of the original 15 finalists was disqualified.

By that time, Nica had already made peace with the outcome and returned to her day job as a songwriter for hire — she composes commercial jingles — only to get a phone call from Star Music informing her of the change.

“Last year, when I got the call that my composition would replace one of the entries, I was so speechless,” Nica recalls. “I was speechless for about a week. Because it was Sir Roxy Liquigan himself who called me. I was in total disbelief while we were at Star Music, having a meeting with them about my song.”

Nica told her family about what happened but kept the news from the rest of her circle for fear of jinxing things. “I did not want to tell them for fear it might not push through. But my parents were very excited and proud. They are supportive of my dreams.”

?She had dreamed of becoming a hit songwriter since she was just a student learning to play guitar. Nica is 26 years old now, but she still can’t quite believe her good fortune. That was partly why she decided to enter Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs again, so she could prove to herself — and anyone who doubted her after what happened during her first time at the songwriting rodeo — that she does have what it takes. Luckily, Ambon made it to the Top 15, this time without having to wait for another songwriter’s entry to be disqualified.

“I am so very happy I made it to Himig,” Nica says of her reaction to making the Top 15 this year.

According to her, Ambon talks about the dynamics of a romantic relationship in today’s times. “Ambon has an underlying meaning. It’s about how relationships work in this generation. Most young people think of dating or relationships as kind of a game, like if you fall for someone, you can’t show it or else you’ll lose the game.”

?Nica politely declines to specify if the song is autobiographical or not, saying instead that she tried to make it as universal as possible. “I think it’s safe to say some people have experienced the situations depicted in the song. I’ve heard stories from other people about how they’ve been on one side or the other — side ng ambon or bagyo — at different points in their lives, so I’m sure it is relatable.”

?Nica adds that she was thrilled when she found out that Barbie Almalbis would be her interpreter.

“When I was in high school, I dreamed to be like her,” Nica says. “When I learned she was my interpreter, I was very excited. She was really nice and very professional. She even added live bass and guitar to the song, making it sound even better.”

?Nica says she’s grateful to Star Cinema and Star Music, as well as Migz and Maya, for giving her song a second wind. Also, for making her long-held dream of becoming a hit songwriter come true — not just once, but twice.

“I’m happy this is legit now,” she beams. — With reports from Almed Garcia and Julian Mauricio