Did you know: Lea Salonga almost sang “Christmas in Our Hearts” with Jose Mari Chan

It’s not a Filipino Christmas without the staples: simbang gabi, bibingka, lanterns, and Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in Our Hearts.”

Since it first came out in 1990, it has become the unofficial theme song of the season, and Chan himself a living symbol of the most wonderful time of the year.

Now, the legendary singer-songwriter lets us in on the story of how the biggest OPM Christmas song in history was written.

We learn about the melody’s roots in another song, and the musical theater icon he considered for the duet.

Fresh from her Miss Saigon stint, Lea Salonga was Jose Mari’s top choice.

He says, “She was the idol, she was the Hidilyn [Diaz] at that time.”

But as we all know now, he ended up singing “Christmas In Our Hearts” with his daughter Liza.

The rest is history.

OG Presents: Jose Mari Chan and Christmas in Our Hearts premieres Friday, September 3, at 8 p.m. only on the OG YouTube Channel.

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