The Goddess' Playlist: 365 Araw ng Eroplanong Papel by MNL48

To continue my blog's fifth year, I will bring back The Goddess' Playlist, this time it's from MNL48, the Filipino sister group of the Japanese idol group AKB48, and the song will be "365 Araw ng Eroplanong Papel."

Originally as a coupling song for AKB48's 42nd single, Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby, the MNL48 version was first revealed during the March 2019 seitansai (birthday concert), followed by a 30-second teaser released on the group's official YouTube channel on April 4, 2019 and finally the official music video, produced by Plan C and directed by Carlo Francisco Manatad, was released on the following day, April 5, 2019.

The song was considered the most emotional and tearjerking of all five singles MNL had, being the last MV to feature all the first generation members, as well as the last single for Sayaka Awane, who announced her graduation in MNL48 Interactive Live due to her family moving permanently in Japan, and Quincy Santillan, who got suddenly left the group due to unfortunate circumstances. Currently, the MV is nominated for MYX Music Awards 2020 as the mellow music video of the year.

The song was centered by Sheki Arzaga, who also centered the first two singles "Aitakatta Gustong Makita" and "Pag-Ibig Fortune Cookie," and notable members who had been in the senbatsu such as Abby Trinidad, Sela Guia, Jem Caldejon, Brei Binuya, Coleen Trinidad, Awane, Kaede Ishiyama, Mari Iyog, Belle Delos Reyes and the also now-graduated Faith Santiago. 365 ANEP also marked the debut of Dana Brual and Dian Mercado as part of the main single senbatsu.

I really don't know how to put words on this, but the song and the MV gave me both goosebumps on my body and tears pouring in my eyes. Nevertheless, it has a beautiful translation, aesthetics and the inner nostalgic thoughts on how the group started. Very recommended for graduations, commemorated anniversaries and even in everyday life because it's a mellow-inspirational song, something we should be motivated and uplifted especially now we're facing an invisible enemy (and the other enemies in our surroundings).

For starters here's the lyrics:

Tumingin sa langit ng umaga Sa araw kung tawagin ay ngayon Umaasang malalagpasan nang may ngiti Tahimik na hinihiling Kung minsan pumapatak ang ulan Ngunit luha ay umaapaw Mga araw na 'di umaayon sa 'ting plano

Bukas, pagsisipagan ko

Pangarap na 'king inaasam May isa pang ako na malaya Nagagawa lahat aking ninanais Ito ang aking hangarin Buhay ay eroplanong papel Dala ang pangarap, ito'y lumilipad Kasabay ng pag-ihip ng hangin Patuloy sa pagsulong

Sa halip, 'di alintana ang layo
Kung sa'n 'to naglakbay At kung saan man mapadpad Ito ang mas higit na mahalaga Tibok ng puso ang gabay, 365 araw Pagkataong makita ang bituin O gabing halos walang makita Kahit nawawalan man ng pag-asa Nakahanap ng sandigan Sa iyong pinagdadaanan Umasa kang hindi ka nag-iisa 'Di mo lang napansin ang kabutihan Ng mga tao sa paligid Buhay ay eroplanong papel Dala ang pag-ibig, ito'y lumilipad Magtiwala sa sarili at ika'y humayo Lahat, titingala sa'yo 'Di man bihasa sa mga darating Bigla kong namalayan, ako'y namayagpag na Mabigyan ng lakas ng loob at pag-asa Tayo'y magsama't magsaya, 365 araw Buhay ay eroplanong papel Dala ang pangarap, ito'y lumilipad Kasabay ng pag-ihip ng hangin Patuloy sa pagsulong Sa halip, 'di alintana ang layo Kung sa'n 'to naglakbay At kung saan man mapadpad Ito ang mas higit na mahalaga Tibok ng puso ang gabay, 365 araw Sige, lumipad ka Subukang lumipad Sige, lumipad ka Subukang lumipad Sige, lumipad ka Subukang lumipad

That's for another edition of The Goddess' Playlist! Comment here or on my FB page or my Twitter @goddessyk13. And please don't forget to vote 365 ANEP on the MYX official website.

The Duchess' Royal Playlist: Christmas in Our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan

The original/regular version

The 25th anniversary version

FOREWORD: This post is made to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Mr. Jose Mari Chan's first Christmas album.

Merry Christmas to all of us! 

We know that we have different styles and trends of the holiday season, but we have the same reason why we're here in this world... The birth of our lord Jesus Christ.

And since Christmas is just around the corner, I'd like to share with you guys a wonderful song coming from Filipino singer-songwriter and businessman that's Mr. Jose Mari Chan, Christmas in Our Hearts. Originally an arrangement titled "Ang Tubig ay Buhay (Water is Life)" that's based on a poem by written by Chari Cruz-Zarate, the former was set the words of the music, intending to make it a silver jubilee song for the now Assumption College Class of 1963. Chan described "Ang Tubig ay Buhay" as a very beautiful poem, which is why he found it easy to compose a tune for it.

"It was a catchy, pretty melody, which I felt was too precious to use only for a Class Homecoming. So I decided to turn it into a Christmas song."

Before production started, Chan had attended Mass at Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati, when songwriter Rina Canizal knocked on his car window. Canizal later wrote the words of "Christmas in Our Hearts" using Chan's melody for Ang Tubig ay Buhay.

Christmas in Our Hearts was released on November 1990 by Universal Records Philippines. The album was sold over 600, 000 copies in the Philippines in 2006, certifying Double Diamond by the Philippine Association of Recording Industry (PARI). It's also considered to be the first OPM (Original Philippine Music) album to surpass the Diamond status and currently the country's biggest-selling album, selling more than 800, 000 copies to date. The album is also making Chan the only Filipino artist to achieve the feat, with two Double Diamond albums - the other one being Constant Change. It makes the best-selling OPM Christmas album of all time. In addition, it always tops album charts during Christmas season.

On October 30, 2015, the album has been re-released in digital format in celebration of its silver anniversary while the physical format was released just last November 11. Among the songs in the album include Chan's renditions of "Mary's Little Boy Child," "Do You Hear What I Hear?," "A Christmas Carol" and "When a Child was Born;" as well as originals like the titular song "Christmas in Our Hearts;" "A Perfect Christmas" and "A Wish on Christmas Night," with two new bonus songs have been included for the silver anniversary re-release album.

Let's smooth our nerves as the cold breeze goes in and listen to the all-time OPM Christmas song that sang by the young and the old alike, "Christmas in Our Hearts!"

LYRICS:

Whenever I see girls and boys
Selling lanterns on the streets,
I remember the Child
In the manger as He sleeps.

Wherever there are people
Giving gifts, exchanging cards,
I believe that Christmas
Is truly in their hearts.

Let's light our Christmas trees
For a bright tomorrow
Where nations are at peace
And all are one in God

Let's sing Merry Christmas
And a happy holiday,
This season may we never forget
The love we have for Jesus
Let Him be the One to guide us
As another new year starts

And may the spirit of Christmas
Be always in our hearts.

In every prayer and every song
The community unites,
Celebrating the birth
Of our Savior, Jesus Christ

Let love, like that starlight
On that first Christmas morn,
Lead us back to the manger
When Christ the Child was born

So, come let us rejoice
Come and sing a Christmas carol
With one big joyful voice
Proclaim the name of the Lord!

Let's sing Merry Christmas
And a happy holiday,
This season may we never forget
The love we have for Jesus
Let Him be the One to guide us
As another new year starts

And may the spirit of Christmas
Be always in our hearts.