MANILA — Many first-time listeners of ABS-CBN’s 2022 Christmas ID “Tayo Ang Ligaya Ng Isa’t Isa” did not expect where the song would take them—a ride that went from an acoustic opening to a soaring ensemble anthem repeating till the end.

The peak of that ride was a choir-led refrain of “Praise our God, Hallelujah!” capped by Regine Velasquez hitting the tune’s highest note.

The exclamations are more common to hymns and to church than to contemporary holiday jingles like ABS-CBN’s annual offerings.

But for the song's composers Robert Labayen and Jonathan Manalo, this “surprise” gift to Kapamilyas was very much by design in both its message and sound.

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Their inspiration: the hiphop track "Joyful, Joyful" from the movie "Sister Act 2”, with a contemporary hit of praise-and-worship music.

“Consciously, ‘yon ang peg, na parang ito ang part na 'Joyful, Joyful'… Let’s bring everyone to church sa part na ito,” Manalo, creative director of ABS-CBN Music, told ABS-CBN News in an interview.

“Hindi siya ang typical na kung ano ang formula na in-establish natin in the past Christmas IDs that we have released. Ano siya, something that is different.

“And at the same time nandoon pa rin ‘yong puso, and ‘yong pagbabalik natin ng meaning of Christmas sa totoong meaning ng Pasko, which is ‘yong pagkapanganak ni Jesus Christ which is our Lord and Savior,” he added.

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REASON FOR THE SEASON

Labayen said the divine has always had a place in the Kapamilya Christmas repertoire, which he first began producing as head of ABS-CBN Creative Communications Management (CCM) in 2004.

“When you talk about family and hope, there has to be God there,” he said in a separate interview.

ABS-CBN’s biggest Christmas hit in the past 20 years—“Bro, Ikaw Ang Star Ng Pasko” from 2009—used an endearment for Jesus Christ popularized by the teleserye “May Bukas Pa”.

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But the 2022 theme full-on leaned into the reason for the season with the gospel-styled bridge.

It’s also Labayen’s personal favorite portion of the song, which he said always gets him teared up.

“Ang message ng bridge natin ay ‘yong summary ng song. At ngayon ang summary ng song ay pasasalamat sa Diyos na pinagmulan ng lahat,” he said.

“Naisip ko naman para surprise sa audience, hindi pa nila narinig before sa [station ID] natin, gospel ang approach.”

He likened the idea to the well-received 20-language bridge conceived for the 2020 Christmas theme “Ikaw Ang Liwanag At Ligaya”.

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FULL CIRCLE

The 2022 Christmas ID served as Manalo’s debut in the genre and also coincided with his 20th anniversary as a music producer in ABS-CBN.

He said he became emotional as he first read what Labayen wrote—particularly the allusion to ABS-CBN’s challenges and the crises many Filipinos have faced in recent years.

“Nakaka-relate ako bilang isang Kapamilya, ‘yong lyrics na ‘Anumang hadlang, ito’y pagsubok lang, we do what’s good and pray’,” he said.

“After sabihin ‘yon sa lyrics, binabalik natin lahat kay Lord, ‘di ba, parang, ‘OK Lord, ikaw na ang bahala. And we will just worship you’… At the end of the day, Siya naman ang may hawak ng lahat.”

The song also came full circle for Manalo, who started out writing gospel songs before his break into the mainstream after winning the “Jam: Himig Handog sa Kabataan” songwriting contest in 2001.

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While having worked behind the scenes for the recording of previous Christmas IDs, he said he was not originally tapped for this year’s song.

He recalled he was only asked to come in after none of the early compositions had been approved.

“Sanay ako gumawa ng theme songs ng shows natin, pero sa totoo lang, sobrang pressure for me to tackle, to handle ‘yong Christmas ID natin kasi alam ko kung gaano siya inaabangan at gaano napamahal sa maraming Pilipino ‘yong mga previous IDs natin,” Manalo said.

“Pero na-excite ako at the same time, finally magkakaroon ako ng chance na gumawa ng Christmas ID.”

The varying flow of the music, which Manalo described as “progressive” and “unpredictable”, came about as an offshoot of the lyrics’ “unusual” structure.

Labayen said ABS-CBN chief operating officer for broadcast Cory Vidanes, who wanted a catchy, emotional, yet upbeat Christmas theme, liked the chorus and hook from Manalo’s first study and approved it at once.

Three more revisions were made to the lyric portions before the full song was given the go, Manalo said.

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GRATITUDE TO AUDIENCES

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At first, the 2022 Christmas theme planned to center on bringing back the joy of Christmas after 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Labayen said.

But he said ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak wanted the company’s message to focus on gratitude, especially to loyal audiences.

“So ang ginawa namin, may pasasalamat—hindi lang sa audience, kundi pasasalamat sa lahat ng taong naging mabait sa atin at siyempre sa Diyos,” Labayen said.

“Kaya nabuhay ‘yong theme na ‘Tayo ang Ligaya ng Isa’t Isa’, kasi tayo ang nag-aakayan, hindi tayo nag-iiwanan.”

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While they leave it to audiences to rank “Tayo Ang Ligaya” in the hall of iconic ABS-CBN Christmas jingles, both composers see this year’s song as still inclusive and relatable even for non-Christian viewers.

“We’re just telling the story of Christmas,” Manalo said.

“Hindi mo naman kailangan maging Christian to appreciate the love and the message of Christ na gusto nating ikuwento at i-share sa buong mundo.”

Labayen said he is buoyed by the positive reception the Christmas songs still receive.

“Nakakatuwa, kasi hindi pa rin kumukupas ang appeal nito sa kapwa Pilipino natin,” he said. “Na-o-own nila ‘yong kanta kasi it’s not about ABS-CBN, kundi tungkol sa kanila ‘yon.”

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