No doubt that the song "Christmas In Our Hearts" by Jose Mari Chan is the most played OPM holiday song in local public places.
The song is lifted from the biggest selling album in the Philippines, which sold more than 800,000 copies so far.
And because of this, Chan became known as "The Father of Philippine Christmas Music."
"I do not deserve that title. There were others, like the late Levi Celerio or Francisco Santiago, who had many beautiful compositions like Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, Pasko Na Naman, etc. I really do not deserve the title, maybe only as ‘the current flavor,' " says Chan during an interview with Good News Pilipinas then.
Here are some interesting facts about this monster hit which you will surely hear in the country during the BER months. Let the Christmas countdown begin!
- "Christmas In Our Hearts" is the first Christmas album of Chan.
- Released on Nov. 17, 1990, the holiday tune will be 31 years old this year.
- The song was based on a poem written by Chari Cruz-Zarate.
- It was intended as a silver jubilee song for the Assumption High School Class of 1963.
- Chan decided to turn it into a holiday tune after he realized it was too precious to use it only as a homecoming song.
- Record producer Bella Dy Tan initially thought the song won't become a hit.
- The song was certified triple platinum by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry weeks after its release in 1990.
- It is also the biggest OPM Christmas album of all time.
- The duet part was originally offered to Lea Salonga, who at that time was at the peak of her career in ''Miss Saigon.'' However, her record label abroad won't allow her to do it.
- After Lea, the duet part was also offered to Monique Wilson. She agreed to do it. But she lost her voice when it was time for her to record the song.
- Chan's daughter, Liza, was only 19 when she sang for the holiday tune. She was preparing for her exams when her father asked her out to help her with the song.
And the rest is history!