3 weeks ago
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February 21, 2025 | 12:00am
Celeste sits down for 'The Talk' segment of 'Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.'
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Behind every song is a story that is either based on real-life events or pure imagination creatively put together by the composer complemented with a perfect melody.
Seasoned singer, actress and film and theater producer Celeste Legaspi shared some interesting tales of her Original Pilipino Music (OPM) classic hits like Saranggola ni Pepe, Mamang Sorbetero and Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal when she sat down for “The Talk” segment of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” a couple of months ago.
Celeste is indubitably one of the country’s top singers, having produced albums and singles that reached gold and platinum marks in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Her vocal prowess won her trophies and recognitions from various award-giving bodies.
According to the OPM icon, Saranggola ni Pepe was written by her husband Nonoy Gallardo, culled from their experience during Martial Law.
“My husband wrote lyrics talking about how he felt about the times that we were living in,” began Celeste, the daughter of National Artist for Visual Arts Cesar Legaspi and Vitaliana Kalugdan. “Meron din siyang environmental concerns doon sa song na ‘yun, but he put everything in a childlike situation.”
Seasoned singer, actress and film and theater producer Celeste Legaspi says Saranggola ni Pepe was written by her husband Nonoy Gallardo culled from their experience during Martial Law, while Mamang Sorbetero was composed by Jose Mari Chan which turned out to be a hit as well. Celeste affirms that it was the beauty of the song and the beauty of the lyrics that made Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal a hit.
“Eddie Munji, si Lakay, was the one who arranged it. He was asking Nonoy, ‘How do I approach this song? Hindi ko maintindihan ‘yung lyrics.’ Nonoy told him to only use a ukelele. That’s why the arrangement is like that,” she added.
No one expected Saranggola ni Pepe to hit it big because Celeste revealed they were pushing for another beautiful song written by Ernani Cuenco “but the DJs were so intrigued by the title (Saranggola ni Pepe), so they started playing it over and over again until it became a hit.”
Meanwhile, not many people know that Mamang Sorbetero was composed by Jose Mari Chan, which turned out to be a hit as well. The song was written right after Celeste transferred to another recording company, which requested her to do another song similar to Saranggola ni Pepe.
“You know, Mamang Sorbetero, there’s a ‘budots’ version. It’s used in all Zumba classes, probably in the entire Metro Manila.”
What came as a big surprise for the singer-actress was when Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal, equally turned out so successful. The song was composed by Ernani Cuenco and Levi Celerio.
“That was a surprise hit for me. I didn’t expect it because that was in the same album where Saranggola ni Pepe and Tuliro (were included).
“Saranggola ni Pepe was already a hit. So, I said to myself, ‘Siguro ‘yun na ang hit nung album na ‘yun. Then about a year later, I would be performing for parties and I would be requested to do Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal, and I would ask the audience, ‘How do you know that song?’ and they told me that it’s been played. ‘Yun pala, it became a hit that I didn’t even know.”
Celeste affirmed that it was the beauty of the song and the beauty of the lyrics that made Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal a hit.
Asked if there are singers, especially in today’s generation, whom she finds impressive, Celeste declared that some of them are very good.
“Stell of SB19 is absolutely fabulous. Napakagaling niya,” she remarked. “And Julie Anne San Jose is very, very good. She’s excellent.”
Celeste also has nothing but good words for young actors.
“I just got to work with a lot of young people in a series and everybody was focused, committed and disciplined.”
