If there’s one painting that impressed songwriter Jonathan Manalo among visual artist Kristine Lim’s interpretation of his 20 songs, it was “Tara Tena”.
“Favorite ko talaga ang “Tara Tena” kasi it’s out of the box the way it’s done. ‘Yung creative direction ni Kristine is very faithful to the intention of me going out of the box when I was writing that song. Ginawa din ni Kristine na out of the box ang mga ideas,” Manalo said during the formal launching of “Kuwento ng Alon” exhibit at the main lobby of the Cultural Center of the Philippines last September 27.
(My favorite was “Tara Tena” because it’s out of the box the way it’s done. Kristine’s creative direction is faithful to the intention of me going out of the box when I was writing that song. Kristine also made out of the box ideas.)
“Tara Tena” won top prize for 2001’s “JAM: Himig Handog sa Makabagong Kabataan”.
Lim interpreted 20 songs by Manalo which include, aside from “Tara Tena”, “Pinoy Tayo”, “Raise Your Flag”, “Sikat Ang Pinoy”, “Ililigtas Ka Niya”, “Beautiful Days”, “Unbreakable”, “Pagbigyang Muli”, “Hanggang Sa Huli”, “Paano Ba Ang Magmahal”, “Till The End Of Time”, “Para Lang Sa Yo”, ” Patuloy Ang Pangarap”, “Kabataang Pinoy”, “Pangarap kong Pangarap Mo”, “Unlove You”, “Nasa Puso”, “Hardin”, “Boom Panes” and “It’s Ok Not To Be Ok”.
Additional songs that were interpreted were “HEAL” and “Kuwento Ng Alon” (The Official Theme Song).
Manalo’s friendship with Lim started when Academy of Rock Philippines, of which they were both shareholders, was relaunched.
“Napag-usapan naming ang passions namin. (We talked about our passions.) She’s very much aware of the music that I do. At the same time, doon ko na-discover na visual artist si Kristine. (I discovered that Kristine was a visual artist). I told her, ‘Alam mo ba, Kristine, dream ko na maging painting ang isa sa mga songs ko? (Do you know, Kristine, that it’s my dream to have one of my songs be painted?)” Manalo narrated.
To Manalo’s surprise, it was also Lim’s dream to interpret a song into a painting.
Manalo shared that while he chose the 20 songs to be interpreted by Lim, he gave her artistic freedom to execute her paintings.
“Meron siyang freedom. Hindi ko siya pinakialaman kung paano niya gagawin ang mga artworks,” he said. (She has free hand; I did not meddle with how she will do her artworks.)
To culminate his celebration of his 20th year in the music writing business, a concert in his honor titled “MR MUSIC: The Hits of Jonathan Manalo” will go onstage on October 15 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. EDV
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