Jose Mari Chan reminds people to ‘find joy in the everyday’ this Christmas

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Christmas icon Jose Mari Chan has been a constant figure in the country’s Christmas celebrations, with his songs ushering in the joyous season, blasting from speakers in every corner of the archipelago. But the singer-songwriter has another reminder to his listeners aside from the messages in his Yuletide ditties: “Find joy in the everyday.”

“With so much negativity around us, so much war and violence, we have to find joy in the everyday. Whether you find joy with your parents, or with your children, with your loved ones, find joy in the everyday,” he told a group of his fans at his “meet-and-greet” event hosted by a Japanese clothing brand at a mall in Mandaluyong City on Dec. 13.

It also happens to be the title of his recent collaboration with the folk-pop band Ben&Ben, an upbeat anthem for the holidays that Chan recorded with the group, who wrote the song for this year’s Christmas celebration.

“I find joy in looking for things that I can give to my children or to my friends. So, do the same. Find joy in the everyday. Spend time with your family, with your grandparents,” he said, sharing that he just watched his granddaughter perform in school.

“This morning, I had to wake up early because my granddaughter, who’s seven years old, is going to have a show in her school. So, I woke up very early in order to be there. And I find joy watching her sing. And she also finds joy in seeing her ‘lolo’ is watching. Those moments count in your life,” Chan shared.

He also took a passage from one of his timeless classics to encourage the people to take the time to build memories with their loved ones. “As my song ‘Constant Change’ goes, we don’t really know what the future holds. Today, here and now, this moment is more important,” he said.

Chan also asked his supporters during the meet-and-greet to “close your eyes and make a wish, for good health, joy in your family, or even have children. Some of you have been working to have a child, make a wish, and then make it a perfect Christmas.”

He treated his fans to three songs, and then gladly posed for photographs with each one of them, handing out autographed copies of his record, with personal greetings he wrote himself. Chan is also promoting another Christmas song titled “A Child Again at Christmas,” which he wrote “because every time Christmas comes around, I feel like a child again.”

He continued: “My best memories of Christmas are those of my childhood years. And I’m very happy that you’re all here today to share in that moment. Finding joy in the everyday should also be your motto.”