Rey Valera reveals most favorite and least favorite songs he wrote

FROM LEFT: Rey Valera, director Joven Tan and RK Bagatsing (Facebook)

Award-winning Filipino composer Rey Valera is excited to share some highlights of his colorful life in the biopic "Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko (Rey Valera's Music)," an official entry to the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. During a grand media conference held at the Gateway in Araneta City on March 25, Valera said the film looks forward to inspiring young people in its exciting and memorable career. "Ang iniisip ko sa pelikulang ito ay para maka-inspire sa ating mga kababayan at sa mga susunod na herenasyon." (What I'm thinking about this movie is to inspire our countrymen and future generations.) "Sa mga kabataan ngayon, ang impact nito ay inspiration. Masasabi mo rin na intellectual ang pelikulang ito. Hindi siya sosyal at hindi rin naman siya pang-masa. Yung balancing act na ginawa ni direk dito, yun talaga ang malaking magagawa namin sa pelikulang ito - ang maka-inspire. Yun lang naman talaga ang mahalaga - na may maramdaman ka rito," Valera also said. "I want to inspire people." (For today's young people, its impact is an inspiration. You can also call this movie intellectual. It's not for the higher class, and it's not for the masses. The balance that the director did here is really the big thing. All we can do with the film is inspire. That's the only thing that really matters - that you feel something in it.) "Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko" is an anthology and original film of the life and career of Valera, focusing on the inspirations behind his Original Pilipino Music chartbusters. Playing the role of Valera is Ramon Khino "RK" Bagatsing, who relives the inspirations that spurred the artist to compose some of his most popular and deeply meaningful OPM hits across the decades.
"I watched a lot of his music clips and video. I also studied his mannerisms," said Bagatsing when asked about his preparations for the iconic role. Asked to comment on RK's acting, Valera said: "Magaling siya rito." Valera, 68, shared more information about the movie, produced by Sarangola Media, and directed by Joven Tan. "Iba ito sa usual na Tagalog movie. Halu-halo siya. Hindi sya musical, hindi siya biography. Pero pag-uwi mo, saka mo siya ma-re-realize at sasabihin mo sa sarili mo, paano niya nagawa yun? Kung paano na-execute ang pelikula, magugulat ka." (This is different from the usual Tagalog movie. It's mixed. It's not a musical, it's not a biography. But when you go home, you'll re-realize and say to yourself, how did he do that? How the movie is executed, you will be surprised.) "Wala akong tinago sa pelikulang ito pero siyempre may mga hindi na sinama na sa palagay niya ay hindi naman kailangan," said the "Ako Si Superman" singer.

FROM LEFT: Director Joven Tan, Dennis Padilla, Lloyd Samartino, Rey Valera, Shira Tweg, Rosanna Roces, RK Bagatsing and Eric Nicolas

(I didn't hide anything in that movie, but of course, there are things that haven't been included, which our director doesn't think is necessary.) While still discussing the star of the movie, Rey joked and said: "Baka si Piolo Pascual na lang. Joke! Joke! Joke! Palagi kong joke 'yan sa entablado." (Maybe it's just Piolo Pascual. Joke! Joke! Joke! I always joke that on stage.) Valera added that he had not asked for any special requirements for the main star. "I put my full trust in our director and the creative team. Although nakakanerbyos dahil pagnagkamali siya, damay ako.(Although it's nerve-wracking because when he makes a mistake, I'd be affected.) In the film, Valera immerses in why and how he was able to create "Kahit Maputi na Ang Buhok Ko," "Malayo Pa Ang Umaga," "Mr. DJ," "Pangako Sa'Yo," "Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo," "Maging Sino Ka Man," "Kung Kailangan Mo Ako," and some of his greatest hits. While the song "Malayo Pa Ang Umaga" always means a lot to him, he said he was sorry he wrote "Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo" because of its negative connotation. Rosanna Roces, who also appears in the film, said she was happy to finally meet Valera in person. "Ang namamayagpag po noon ay OPM. Sinabi ko nga sa video na sinabi ko, pag-sinabing Rey Valera, hindi pa tapos yung No. 1 song niya, may isa na agad kasunod. Idol ko yan noong bata ako at ngayon lang kami nagkita ng personal. Naging inspirasyon ko sa paghanap ng asawa yung mga kanta niya," she said.

(The popularity of OPM was at its peak. I said in the video, Rey Valera delivers No. 1 songs. He was my idol when I was a child, and I just met him personally. His songs inspired me to find a husband.) Valera's two unforgettable songs for Roces were "Tayong Dalawa" and "Sinasamba Kita." "Pansinin ninyo. Hindi ako mahilig sa mayaman na lalaki. Di ba yung line sa kanta na 'hindi ko na hinahangad ang yaman sa mundo.' At naniwala talaga ako sa kanta niya. Hindi pala tutoo yun. Kailangan ko ng pera. Meron pa yung 'Sinasamba Kita.' Pagsinabi sa akin ng lalaki  yun, pakakasalan ko. Kailangan talaga ngayon background check," said the laughing Roces. (I don't like rich men. There's a line in his song, 'I don't want the riches of the world anymore.' And I really believed in his song. It's not true. I need money. There's even 'Sinasamba Kita.' If a guy tells me that, I'll marry him. I really need a background check now.) "Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko (Rey Valera's Music)" will be shown in cinemas nationwide on April 8.