Asia’s Timeless Diva Dulce hadn’t thought of waxing a commercial recording of the theme song of internationally acclaimed Filipino director Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s prizewinning film on paraplegic Japanese athlete until we suggested on her the idea in a virtual talk recently.
“Oo nga, ano (Oh! Yes, come to think of it),” exclaimed Dulce as her eyes rolled in excitement on its probability.
“Laylay,” the theme song of “Gensan Punch”—aforay into the life of Nao, a Japanese pugilist with prosthetic leg who won in bouts in the professional boxing in the Philippines but never got a license in his own country—was interpreted by Dulce to the delight of its main actor, Okinawan thespian Shogen and director Mendoza.
“Si Shogen, nasa studio nang kantahin ko ang (Shogen was inside the studio when I recorded the) theme song,” said Dulce.
When asked about the reaction of the international action star (“Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist,” “Zero: Black Blood,” “Dangerous Cops: Final 5 Days” etc.) on her singing the score, she simply quipped, “hanga raw siya sa isang Asian na nagbigay-buhay sa theme song ng pelikula (he said he appreciated an Asian who interpreted the theme song of the film).”
“Gensan Punch” has just bagged the prestigious Kim Jiseok Award at the recently concluded the 26th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. Jiseok was the founder of Busan film fest, one of the world’s leading cinema events.
“Bakit nga ba hindi namin pag-usapan nina Brillante na i-record ko nang solo ang (Why don’t we talk about recording the theme song in a solo act?),” wondered Dulce who volunteered that she has done more than thirty film theme songs.
“As a matter of fact, kami ng classical pianist ko na si Daphne Cabaguio Jocson, nakapaglabas na kami ng original compositions namin sa (With my collaborator, we were able to come out with an) album na ‘Piano and Voice,’” informed Dulce.
“Laylay” which means lullaby, was composed by Maria Luisa Matilde for a Cebu Music Festival in the past.