“WHENEVER I see girls and boys selling lanterns on the streets…”
Started hearing this song again?
If the rest of the world has Santa Claus, here in the Philippines, we have Jose Mari Chan!
Photo courtesy: Jose Mari Chan via Facebook
The iconic singer, songwriter, and businessman has been a fixture in social media, especially at the start of “ber” months. Various memes featuring Chan in various predicaments.
Now a part of the Philippine Christmas Culture, we often hear Christmas songs, in particular that of the iconic singer in shopping malls, radio, and households.
THE MEMES
Jose Mari Chan’s memes had been a constant fixture on social media, with the singer acknowledging the fact that he is happy to have crossed generations.
“I am happy that even the younger people are getting to know me, because of my songs through these photos,” Chan was quoted as saying.
Here are some of the most entertaining Christmas memes of Chan that had been popular on social media and it had been a reminder to us that the ‘Ber’ months season has now started.
Kapamilya Online World (@kowalerts) posted saying “Hoy! Malapit na akong kumanta, may love life ka na ba? -Jose Mari Chan”.
“Kaway-kaway sa mga single diyan”
Another user Hapie (@myhappytots) posted a funny meme stating “Malapit na mapaos si Ser Jose Mari Chan”.
Ching (@Chess_mosa) uploaded her meme version of Chan with Taylor Swift indicating in the caption “The Coronation night of Jose Mari Chan from salt air to ber months real quick”.
Since it’s the start of September, Newkky (@jooyeonistas) posted a meme ‘greeting’ from Jose Mari Chan “Imaginary reaction of Jose Mari Chan”.
Meanwhile, Kami.com.ph also posted on Facebook captioned, “Malapit na ang Ber months. Handa na ba kayo sa Ber months? Mapapansing pasilip silip na ang veteran singer na si Jose Mari Chan sa ating Facebook dahil muli na naman natin maririnig ang kanyang tinig sa mga establisyemento para kumanta ng Christmas songs” with Jose Mari Chan peeping over the edge of the Christmas Tree.
Another Facebook post from a famous Coffee Shop page joined the meme trend and uploaded a photo of Chan holding their cup of coffee saying “Wheneve…..ay wala pa ba sorry sorry. Just warming up with my coffee”.
Leonel posted on Facebook a meme showing Jose Mari Chan throwing Taylor Swift as his songs now will be talk of the town since the ‘Ber’ months started.
Several photo memes of Chan were also posted on Facebook by Enson Dee Mercado where he is restrained in a chair to prevent from frightening everyone with his Christmas carols. Another photo where Jose is peeping through the window as a sign that he is ready to sing again.
A duet cover of Kween Yasmin and Jose Mari Chan was posted on her Facebook account as they sing the iconic song “Christmas in our Hearts”.
Behind the singer
So, who is the man behind the memes?
Chan is a famous Filipino-Chinese singer songwriter who was born in Iloilo on March 11, 1945.
He is also known as the Filipino Jimmy Web because of his unique lyric writing.
One of the five children of Antonio Chan, and Florencia Chan has five siblings, Jose Mari He graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with a degree of Economics in 1967. In the same year, he released his first single Afterglow on Vinyl records.
Upon entering the mainstream music industry in 1970, Chan became famous in 1980 when his songs gained more listeners because of how fascinating his music was. He is also the first Filipino musician to use a full orchestra for his recordings.
He had composed numerous songs that earned awards and recognitions in FAMAS awards. One of his album Constant Change was recognized by the Awits Awards at the Album of the Year in 1989.
One of his singles, Christmas in Our Hearts, also reached triple platinum status in 1990, and he became the first recording artist who achieved a double diamond record award. He is also the singer, composer and producer that achieved the Philippine Association of the Record Industry’s Awit Awards, the composer’s group Katha Awards and Aliw Awards.
Chan is truly a remarkable singer of all the generations. From his debut, until today, his iconic christmas songs are really treasured among all the filipinos.
Other works
Whenever I see boys and girls, and the boys and girls see me…
Apart from this meme-born modified lyrics of the popular song “Christmas in Our Hearts” by Jose Mari Chan that marks the early breeze of Christmas, there are also a number of songs that just perfectly set the moods of the Filipinos when ‘Ber months’ come. For others who are only starting to explore Chan’s work here are some you may want to check out:
1. A Perfect Christmas
2. Mary’s Boy Child
3. Pagdating ng Pasko
4. A Child Again at Christmas
5. It is the Lord!
6. Song of the Firely
7. December 25
With reports from Alyza Santos, Daniela Cabawatan, Joan Virata, Veronica Amparoo
