Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Many may not know it but the 1988 poignant monster OPM hit “Sana Maulit Muli” by Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano was inspired by the late teen actress Julie Vega.
During a media conference for his upcoming “Pure Energy: One Last Time” concert held in Quezon City on March 1, Gary revealed the song was initially written in English when Julie passed away in May 1985.
Gary said he found himself writing the song in English when he saw a tabloid that featured a picture of Julie in bed with Fernando Poe Jr. beside her.
“I was just moved by the picture I saw in the tabloid. The picture showed Julie in bed and FPJ was beside her with his head down. I wish I kept that tabloid. I was just moved by how a young and fresh performer could have an impact on someone as seasoned as FPJ,” Gary recalled.
“At that time, I was affected by that and I used to tell that story on stage. And this is the song I ended up writing. But in Tagalog, she (Angeli Pangilinan) wrote that song,” he said.
“The song ‘Sana Maulit Muli’ was written by Angeli Pangilinan. In fact, nahanap ko yung original na English version which was written for Julie Vega when she passed away.
“The line goes, ‘Kung kaya kong iwanan ka.’ With Julie’s song, ‘But why’d you close your eyes so soon?/Why’d you leave us all behind?’ That’s what it was.
“And then in the part ‘Ito, ang tanging nais ko.’ At that time in the English version wala pang lyrics yun. It was only the late interview I had with the late Kuya Germs and Kuya Ike Lozada,” Gary said.
Gary V promised Julie’s parents that he would never release the English song.
“I promised the parents I would never release the English version. Never. I don’t want to make money from that,” he said.
Angeli, Gary’s wife, wrote “Sana Maulit Muli” under a new concept but with the same background when Universal Records asked him for a ballad song.
“When Universal Records said, ‘Wala ka bang ballad that you can come out with na Tagalog? Hindi naman ako marunong magsulat ng Tagalog at that time. But she (Angeli) could. She said, ‘Give me that song of Julie I’ll write it in Tagalog.’
“Sabi ko, ‘Hindi puwede kasi it’s about kamatayan eh.’ And then she said, ‘No. I’ll make a whole new set of lyrics.’ Pero Angeli knows na nangako ako sa parents ni Julie na I will never release the English version. And sabi nya, ‘No. I will make an entirely new song. It has no connection (with Julie’s death) except the background. So sabi ko, “Okay. sige.”
Gary said he never met Julie in person but he was aware of the rivalry of fans between Julie and Janice De Belen who both starred in popular television series in the 80s.
Of all the songs he wrote and sang, Gary admitted “Take Me Out of The Dark” and “Sana Maulit Muli” were closest to his heart.
“It would probably be the song “Take Me Out of the Dark.” Among all my inspirational songs, that’s the one. But among all my pop songs, a ballad. It’s “Sana Maulit Muli.”
Gary V said the song “Take Me Out of the Dark” makes him cry. “Many times when I sing it, not because I’m reflecting on it, but suddenly, I’m feeling what the people are feeling.”
“When I’m on stage, you’re watching me. You’re seeing me. But when I’m on stage, I look into their eyes, which is the soul of people. That tells a story. I don’t just see one or two. That’s saying everything to me. They’re telling me a story without telling me a story. So that’s the one that’s meaningful to me. And during the pandemic, that song went worldwide. You get instant reactions from different people. That’s probably why that song really means a lot to me,” Gary V said.
Tickets for Pure Energy: One Last Time, which will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on April 26 and 27, are in high demand, and to make tickets available for the fans, the SM MOA Arena team reconfigured the venue seat plan six times to better accommodate the requests of ticket buyers.
SM Tickets sold out all the premium seats on the weekend the tickets were released online. The Manila Genesis team, Gary’s production and management group for 38 years, together with SM MOA Arena’s ticketing team, has requested the fans to be patient as they try their best to adjust the massive stage design and video screens to open up more seats for sale. For more information and exciting updates, follow Gary Valenciano on Instagram and TikTok. — Robert Requintina
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
