Ibinunyag ni legendary Filipino musician na si Jose mari Chan sa “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” nitong Biyernes, Setyembre 1, na si Miss Saigon lead character na si Lea Salonga ay halos naging bahagi ng ‘Christmas in Our Hearts’.
“At that time, Lea Salonga was a hit because of ‘Miss Saigon.’ So I approached her and asked her if she would do a duet with me,” sinabi ni Chan. “And sabi nya, ‘Yes, I’d be glad to!’”
Nagustuhan ni Lea ang melody at lyrics, ngunit hindi natuloy ang pagtutulungan. “Her (Lea) recording company would not allow her to record for a competing label,” kuwento ni Chan.
Ang susunod na pinili ni Chan ay si Monique Wilson, na isang understudy para sa “Miss Saigon.”
“Unfortunately, that weekend, she went to Tagaytay…she lost her voice,” pahayag ni Chan.
“I guess the Holy Spirit was leading me towards my daughter…And so, I went to my daughter’s bedroom,” dagdag pa niya.
Tinanong ni Jose Mari ang kanyang anak na si Liza, Tinanong ni Jose Mari ang kanyang anak na si Liza, “Mabilis mo bang matutunan ang kantang ito? ‘Dahil gusto kong i-record ito sa iyo.” At ang sumunod dito ay naging bahagi na ng kasaysayan.
Sa panayam, naalala ng prolific singer ang pagsulat ng melody ng “Christmas in our Hearts” noong 1988 para sa isang tula na isinulat ng isang kaibigan. “I never thought that two years later, I’d use that melody for a Chrismas song,” sabi niya.
Ayon kay Chan, hindi niya inaasahan ang napakalaking tagumpay ng kanta. “As a matter of fact, the producers of Universal Records said ‘masyadong Christian tong kantang ‘to.’ Why don’t you come up with a romantic Christmas song?”