Out na sa mga digital music stores nationwide ang kauna-unahang Christmas song ng singer-actor na si John Rendez titled “Baby I’m Comin Home (On Christmas)” na sinulat ni Jonathan Manalo. Apat na beses nang nakipag-collaborate si John kay Jonathan bilang arranger at composer. Their first work was with the song “Start All Over Again” na sinundan pa ng “Think About It”, “Not Superman”, at dito nga sa kanyang first Christmas song.

“Yung kanta ko tamang-tama lang for those people who haven’t been able to see their loved ones this past pandemic. I think this is the best time to release a song that reminds us to be with our loved ones during Christmas after what we had experienced during pandemic,” kuwento ni John tungkol sa mensahe ng kanyang kanta.

Bilang isang artist, aminado si John na nakatulong nang malaki ang Star Music sa kanyang growth as an artist at para magkaroon siya ng identity.

Aniya, “As a human being we all have to grow and through this experience that I have working with Star Music, ABS-CBN, I’d be able to get another identity aside from what I was doing before. And it’s just part of growing up and becoming a ‘complete’ artist.”

John Rendez takes on the ‘Song Association Challenge’ | PUSH Bets Highlights

Wala namang pakialam si John kahit hindi siya sikat katulad ng ibang mga singers. Inihalintulad pa niya ang sarili sa mga pintor na hindi man sikat pero nire-recognize pa rin ang kanilang mga likhang obra kahit wala na sila sa mundo.

“Other peope are more popular than me because that’s their marketing, that’s their personality. Ako kasi I have a very, very closed world, that’s why. This is my personality. I’m a very shy person,” reaksyon niya.

Sa exclusive interview namin kay John ay napunta ang usapan tungkol kay Superstar Nora Aunor na matagal nang nali-link sa kanya. Dito ibinida ni John na suportado ni Ate Guy ang kanyang bagong single.

“Of course… of course. Yung friendship namin ni Nora spans over three decades. Thirty years na kaming magkaibigan. Ang joke ko nga, eh, ako yung nag-iisang anak ni Nora Aunor na wala akong kapatid,” bulalas niya.

“Pero siyempre joke ko lang yon. Dahil yon sa samahan namin, para ko na siyang mother,” sabay bawi niya.

Patuloy ni John,“Our friendship is like… ba’t mo iiwanan yung tao na matagal mo nang kasama because of what other people think? They’re not important, ‘cause they’re not there when you know…

“They’re not really important. What’s important is your friendship, and so yung friendship namin walang iwanan. Hindi ko siya puwedeng pabayaan.”

‘I’m trying to be a happy person now’: John Rendez shares how pandemic has changed him | PUSH Bets Highlights

Dumating rin si John sa point noon na pagod na siyang i-defend ang kanyang sarili sa nagsasabing he is just using Nora to gain popularity and for other personal reasons.

Katwiran ng singer, “Nakakapagod din yung laging you need to explain yourself, eh. Matagal na akong napagod do’n kaya bahala na sila sa buhay nila. Kung ayaw nila sa akin, eh, di huwag, di ba?”

“Alam mo, if I’m not there by Nora’s side she’s so kawawa, because everyone, not everyone naman, but those people who want me out of the picture they just wanna feed upon her. Ako as a person and being your friend, hindi kita iiwan and if they keep on attaking you. If I leave you to the wolves what kind of friend whould I be, di ba?

“Sasabihin nila, ‘Ah, John Rendez, he’s just ganyan,’ eh kung talagang user akong tao matagal na akong nag-goodbye sa kanya. Pero hindi ako ganun, eh. Kahit siraan n’yo ako okey lang yan, basta nandiyan lang ako, poprotektahan ko siya through ups and downs. Kaya lang naman nila ako sinisiraan para sila ang makapasok, eh,”
diin pa ng singer-actor.

“Pero natatawa na lang ako. Alam din kasi namin ang totoo. Nora is a very smart person. Hindi mo siya puwedeng diktahan, turuan o uutu-utuin. Matalino siya, sobrang galing niya kaya nga idol ko rin siya,” huling pahayag ni John sa PUSH na kamakailan lang ay binigyan ng Gintong Parangal Award bilang Notable Filipino Music Artist of the Year para sa taong 2021.