“Kung tayo’y matanda na, sana’y ‘di tayo magbago…Kailan man nasaan ma’y ito ang pangarap ko…
Makuha mo pa kayang ako’y hagkan at yakapin…hanggang sa pagtanda natin…
Nagtatanong lang sa ‘yo ako pa kaya’y ibigin mo… kahit maputi na ang buhok ko…”
“Huwag kang mag-isip ng ano pa man…Mga paliwanag mo’y ‘di na kailangan…
At kahit ano pa ang iyong nakaraan… mamahalin kita maging sino ka man…
Mahal kita, ‘pagka’t Mahal kita…Iniisip nila ay hindi mahalaga…
Mahal kita maging sino ka man…”
Simple words with unfussy notes that were smoothly intertwined in an uncomplicated melody made strong with the insistence of assurance and total commitment. Such is Rey Valera’s style in songwriting and composing. His thoughts are naturally expressed through sublime pathos and unadulterated emotions. He sings out what he actually feels. He could effortlessly find a way to interpret the sort of fragility dawning on him, the pining emptiness when yearning pervades, the unbearable pains of frustration each time he’s jilted or lost, or the wide range of deep emotions encompassing his soul when reality sinks in.
Born Reynaldo Valera Guardiano, a middle child among three siblings, on May 4, 1954 in Meycauayan, Bulacan, Rey must instinctively had a guitar, a piano, and writing tools by his side upon seeing the first light of day. “Music” could convincingly be his middle name since even at an early age, young Rey efficiently breathed music to any verse or poetry. Writing expressively emotional lyrics and creating suitable music are distinct talents Rey was inherently born with.
It’s constantly education that matters when given a choice between school and getting a job but for Rey, opportunity knocks only once and he instantaneously grabbed it when it came upon his doorsteps. During his 4th year as an Accounting student at the Far Eastern University he decided to quit school to work in Japan as a singer-performer. Although successful in his Japan stint, Rey returned to Manila aptly equipped with much broader performing experiences but still persistently in search for that elusive break for the realization and full development of his musical creativity.
His foray into mainstream recording was manifestly marked by “Ako Si Superman” which he first wrote and recorded as a solo artist after spending seven years with his rock group, the Electric Hair Band. Actually the said song, which was originally penned in English with the title “I Will Try To Make You Smile,” was supposedly written for Rico Puno, then a newcomer establishing his name in the industry, but Vicor Records gave him the chance to record it that opened doors for more projects.
With his total persona beaming of talents it didn’t take long for Vicor Records’ big bosses to recognize his potential bankability and in 1979 offered him to join the company as an in-house producer and was later appointed Vice-President for artists and repertoire of Vicor’s newly opened sister company, Blackgold Records.
One of the most challenging episodes of his early songwriting career and as one of the heads of the newly established recording company was when he was commissioned to write and compose a signature song for a debuting 12-year old singer named Sharon Cuneta, youngest daughter of then Pasay City mayor Pablo Cuneta and stewardess-turned-socialite Elaine Gamboa Cuneta.
Initially, Rey couldn’t grasp the correct music genre where the aspiring new comer will fit in since, considering her young age, she would be too juvenile to sing and seriously deduce love songs…but considerately grown-up to be given nursery rhyme pieces… and it was her debut single so it must be something really remarkable.
One afternoon while in his daily commute from office to home, Rey’s prolific mind started to activate upon listening from the jeepney’s radio . Without wasting a single second he composed a song that gave birth to “Mr. DJ,” the song that introduced Sharon Cuneta ‘s moniker to the already long roster ofrecording artists in the tin pan alley.
While “Mr. DJ” directly made Sharon Cuneta an instant star, the same song simultaneously bolstered Rey’s career as a songwriter and composer.
Just like Fil-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Bruno Mars who has undeniably contributed to the rise-to-fame of super singers, Rey Valera was also instrumental to a number of Filipino recording artists’ famed status after writing songs for Rico Puno (“Sorry, Pwede Ba,?” and “Daigdig Ng Ala-ala”), Geraldine (“Pangako”), Pol Enriquez (“Ayoko Na Sa ‘Yo”), and many others.
Rey Valera’s talent wasn’t confined solely to songwriting and recording but in musical scoring, as well. He did the scoring, theme song and movie title of “Strangers in Paradise (a Lloyd Samartino-Snooky Serna starrer), “Hello Young Lovers” (starring Gabby Concepcion and Snooky Serna), “Cristal” (Lampel Cojuangco’s launching movie), “Exploitation” (starring Alma Moreno), “Annie Sabungera” (a Nora-Aunor-Ace Vergel-Rey Valera triumvirate), “Sinasamba Kita” (a Vilma Santos-Phillip Salvador award-winning movie), “Burgis” (a Gabby Concepcion movie), and “Abigael” (which featured Cherie Gil, Alma Moreno, and Gabby Concepcion).
Among the movie theme songs Rey Valera had written and composed are: “Maging Sino Ka Man,” “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” “Kahit Wala Ka Na,” and “Tayong Dalawa” for Sharon Cuneta’s movies; “Sinasamba Kita,” “Romansa,” and “Hiwalay” for Vilma Santos’ films; “Carnap King,” “Barumbado,” and “Baby Ama” for Robin Padilla’s action flicks; “Tampisaw” for Aleck Bovick’s launching movie; and “Tirad Pass, the Gregorio del Pilar Story” for Romnick Sarmenta.
To prove that he’s capable of delivering anything that challenges his musical proficiency, Rey took with undiminished pride in doing even the music theme of R18-rated movies, which during those times were deemed either too bold, classified for mature audiences, or sexually explicit. A few knew that Rey composed “Ambon” for the movie “Tampisaw” (2002) which starred Aleck Bovick, John Apacible, and Ana Capri; “Nagpapanggap” for the film “Kerida” (2003) which starred Gardo Versoza, Via Veloso, Aleck Bovick, and John Apacible ; and “Sa Gitna ng Buhay Ko” for Nora Aunor and Yul Servo’s “Naglalayag.”
While establishing his name in the industry awards and recognitions came in handy: In 1993 the Filipino Society of Composers, Arrangers, and Publishers (Filscap) elected him as one of its Board Members after Viva Records lucratively released Sharon Cuneta’s “Sharon Sings Valera” in connection with the company’s all-out drive to revive its most-prized talent’s dwindling career.
Rey Valera’s name never failed to make it to the list of every existing award-giving body: Most Popular Recording Artist of 1981, Jukebox King of the Year (1981), Presidential Award as King of Tagalog Songs (1982), Entertainer of the Year (1982-83), Most Outstanding Recording Artist (1983), and Most Popular Singer / Entertainer (1983).
He was bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 18th Awit Awards Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino by the Philippine Association of Recording Industries and received another Lifetime Achievement Award for Music during the 8th Tinig Awards from the National Press Club.
Justifiably dubbed “Mr. Hitmaker,” the singer, songwriter, musical director, film scorer, and multi-faceted musical instrument virtuoso joined forces with Freddie Aguilar, Mike Hanopol, and Vehnee Saturno and came up with SAGA (Songs and Generations After), a supposedly promising collaborative performing group but got disbanded after only a few months following their major Canadian tour and an album recording .
Undaunted by failure and impervious of challenges, Rey hopped aboard on another bandwagon…this time with his contemporaries who were equally certified hit-makers in their own right: Rico J. Puno, Hadji Alejandro, and Marco Sison, then lately, Nonoy Zuñiga, collectively, The Greatest Hitmakers. The veteran singers, touted as the package with the biggest cluster of total performers, had extensively toured Europe, Canada, the USA, and Asian countries.
But life for Rey wasn’t at all smooth sailing and unstinted for a sudden blow momentarily damaged his burgeoning career when an impostor, who unfortunately had a perfect mirror-image of him, committed multiple crimes of carnapping, rape, embezzlement, polygamy, and other maliciously intended cases at his expense. His inevitable hiatus of four years was an unimaginable nightmare but Rey was able to spring-back armed with a much sterling firmness and unyielding determination to resume his aborted career.
Now father to a son and 3 daughters who obviously inherited every bit of his musical ingenuity, music plays a dynamic binding power to the family’s solidarity. Aside from his distinct vocal sound and almost patented singing style, Rey plays the guitar, electric bass guitar, piano, and keyboards…and the same talents run in his children’s veins. In July 2005, together with his children’s band, Saling Ket, he recorded an album aptly titled ”Panghabang-buhay,” which literally paved way for them to consistently perform jointly.
Since Rey Valera has lived breathing music to his life for life is his music, it is almost certain that writing songs and composing are the last two things he will try to vociferously accomplish before breathing his last.
Catch the man who was innately born with the ultimate in musical cleverness and skill… either in songwriting, singing, composing, arranging, and scoring… with absolute mastery of guitar, piano, keyboards, and related instruments. Watch Rey Valera and tread down memory lane as he serenades you with his unfading love songs and unforgettable movie themes during his New York City Tour on Friday, July 24, 2015 at 8 PM at Sheraton La Guardia East Hotel along 135-20 39th Avenue, Flushing, New York 11354.
The most-awaited event, brought to you by AFP Productions, Queens Asia Fest, and AsiaWest Entertainment, has an impressive line-up of talented local talents as curtain-raisers: Tiffany Viray, Rhus Diño, Edlyn Peregrina, and Nodie Dalton.
General admission tickets for Rey Valera’s concert are pegged at $85 and VIP @ $125. For ticket reservation and more information, please call: Arnel Piamonte @ (646) 623-3294; Myrna Gutierrez @ (917) 502-9887; Chris Bautista @ (914) 309-9564; & Hazel Dilla @ (646) 327-4183.
Incidentally, Arnel Fortuna Piamonte, the man behind AFP Productions, (one of Valera’s producers), has been in entertainment production since its naissance five years ago via its maiden offering: a musical concert at Bistro Pilipino which featured the father and daughter tandem of Dr. Bernie and Golda Dela Merced, Miss Philippines-USA 2010 Armi Piamonte, and the Circle of Five Band. He also participated in behind-the-scene in small-budgeted productions like shows that featured Sankaterba Band, the Circle of Five, Florante, and Rico Puno, with friends DRB Management, Nel Castellvi of Perlas, and Vince Gesmundo of VYNZ-NY Productions.
For comments and suggestions, please email to: [email protected].
