Love actually

by Diana A. Uy

George Sison may be unfamiliar to the young. But if we had lived some years earlier, we would have known that he is a composer, lyricist, novelist, actor, producer, and most importantly, one of the foremost musical talents of his time. He is well respected and famous for his song “What Name Shall I Give You My Love.” The Platters recorded the song some decades ago. Pilita Corrales included the same song in her album, Pilita Sings George. Frank Sinatra almost sung another one of his songs, “Love From a Distance.”

Be that as it may, Sison composes songs and ballads that speak from the heart. His arias are easily relatable, strike a chord, and are simply, pure compositions narrating one singular message: Love. So what generation can be unfamiliar and alienated by such universal language?

The album

Sison spoke that language yet again, reminiscing the romance of his youth, when he released his double CD album, Only Love Remains, at the Conservatory of Peninsula Manila on Monday. Classicist, composer-arranger Raul Sunico and balladeer Bo Cerrudo lent their Apollo’s gift, both masterfully interpreting Sison’s poignant, humming poetry of love, in the 19- (Sunico) and 12- (Cerrudo) track CD compilation.

“The album is an appreciation of the love experience because love is not all sunshine,” reveals Sison, “It has all the spectrum of emotions that people should understand. I felt I just wanted to share. How people will take to it, whether they will react positively to it or not so positively, I guess that doesn’t matter as much as my desire to be able to share.”

Sison wrote the 12 songs many years ago. Aside from The Platters’ song, three of which, have been published and recorded previously like “Little Black Coffee” (theme song to Ysmael Bernal’s first film, Pagdating sa Dulo), “ “I Have Loved You,” and even “Love from Distance.”

“I wrote these songs at a time when I was going through what you call ‘youthful love.’ Now, that I am ‘younger,’ I know better. I have sat down with a lot of people, [and I found out that when it comes to love] there’s no exception. Everybody goes through the same experience: pain, the tears, misunderstandings, high today, down tomorrow. And when you are young, there are many questions you want to ask about love. There are no answers. You have to go through it. So it becomes a haunting experience. It becomes many times a painful experience. Nevertheless it is still love. That’s why the record is called Only Love Remains. After all is said and done, that’s still all about it [love]. It is love and still love. Whatever it is that you felt, whether you felt hurt, or whether you felt that life didn’t treat you well. It is still love. It is still part of the love and life experience. I wrote the songs not hoping it would be recognized but simply because I had to. To me it was a sad expression. And I think that’s so important to any human being to be able to express himself in a manner that can reach out [and hopefully inspire].”

“I think George is the epitome of a heart that is always in love, [love] that is unrequited,” says Nedy Tantoco, Rustan’s matriarch, one of the co-sponsors of the recording, “His songs may have been written many, many years ago, but it is even sung today. They are terrific and touch my heart. Maybe I am just a romantic at heart.”

Lessons of love

Through the CD, Sison hopes listeners can not only express themselves with him, but have fond memories of love’s triumphs, found or lost. His songs are not meant to preach, not even a go-to-guide for the heartbroken. They are intended to be an experience, a journey.

“I think they will have memories for sure,” says Sison. “You recall what happened in the past. You get it out of your system. You shed a few tears. And then you hear a song [that speaks your love’s encounter], you know you have loved. I think that it is more important for people to realize that there’s nothing wrong with it. Even if it’s sad, it’s ok.”

But Sison does have good advice for those experiencing unrequited love: It may not necessarily be more romantic than some of us were led to believe. It can be something we can gain from and use to make us better persons, at the end of it all.

“It is more painful,” confesses Sison, “But at the end, for as long as you grow as a result of the pain, it is absolutely alright. I will not go on telling people that they should go through a positive life but when you go through it, no matter how painful, just grow. Just be a bigger person by it. Then it is worth something. That you don’t collapse, you don’t despair. And you don’t kill yourself. If you manage to overcome, then you can see life in a different, nicer perspective.”

Sison is no stranger to love’s many mysteries that much is true. And though his experiences may no more be special than anyone of us had combined, he speaks of a language we can all understand—something that comes from the heart and transcends generations.

And did you know that Sison is also an astrologer? And didn’t they say love is written in the stars?

“Only Love Remains” is produced by TOPP Rated Productions and co-sponsored by Tantoco-Rustia Foundation, The Peninsula Manila, Via Mare, Visions and Expressions, Ralph’s Wines and Spirits and Shopwise. The album will be officially launched on March 24, 6 p.m., at the Little Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.