Musical memoir chronicles key moments in Bing Pimentel’s life and times

Former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. AFP FILE PHOTO

Through the decades, as Nene Pimentel’s political star ascended from mayor to senator, Cabinet member, senate president and other distinctions and power posts, the wind beneath his wings has been the abiding love of his wife, Lourdes “Bing” dela Llana Pimentel.

And, most uniquely, her support for him and his many advocacies has been expressed in the songs that she has composed throughout their marriage, chronicling highlights of their family’s eventful and dramatic life that have been most meaningful to the Pimentel couple and their children.

They include all of the years Nene was forcibly taken away from them, and Bing had to care for them all by her lonesome.

The Pimentels’ ever-unfolding story has been so eventful and inspiring that people have asked Bing to come up with a more permanent record of her decades-long musical journey.

Finally acceding to their request, Bing has put her music and lyrics in book form, by way of “Buhay, Isang Awit—Memoirs and Melodies,” a compilation of music and lyric sheets with arrangements by professor Alfredo S. Buenaventura, now available at Central Books branches (call 638-1088 for SM Megamall branch, 372-3550 for Quezon City branch, or visit www.central.com.ph).

Compilation

The compilation of songs and lyric sheets will make it easy for music lovers to gather around a piano and sing Bing’s memorable compositions, which listeners can relate to because they sing about key moments in life and love that many can “experientially” empathize with.

Bing dedicates her book of musical memories to her beloved husband Nene, and their children—Gwen and Luigi, Maripet and Sonny, Koko, Jac and Malyn, Teresa, Lorraine and Alain, and grandchildren.

Highlights of Bing’s book include “Only A Moment,” which she wrote when Nene was still courting her; “Hinahanap-Hanap Kita,” when their courtship was interrupted because she had to teach in a distant place; “I Am There, I Am There,” during one of his incarcerations during the martial law; “Itay,” her loving musical tribute to fathers; “Ninoy, Ninoy Pa Rin,” her declaration for her and Nene’s unstinting support for the then beleaguered Ninoy Aquino, and “Mama Mary,” a spiritual bouquet of devotion.

A number of the memorable songs in the compilation are exceptionally emotional and dramatic, because they were written for the musical-theater productions Bing has come up with through the decades.

After “Buhay, Isang Awit,” she collaborated with then Nigerian Ambassador Aisha Jimeua, a composer in her own right, on a Philippine-Nigerian cultural show at the Philam Life Auditorium, followed by the feisty “Huwag Pumayag sa Dagdag-Bawas,” a heavy-hitting tirade against electoral cheating.

Then came the popular “Nasaan Si Hesus?,” about spirituality in today’s challenging times, which was sponsored by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and staged all over the country for more than 80 performances.

Dramatization

Next to be staged was the orchestral concert, “Awit, Pag-ibig, Alay,” followed by “Pag-ibig sa Bayan,” the powerful dramatization of the Pimentels’ challenges during the martial law, the gala performance of which was attended by former President Cory Aquino, who was all praises for the exceptionally powerful production.

When Bing found out later that Cory herself was facing a medical challenge, she decided to pay tribute to the much-admired ex-president’s courage, and composed her inspiring major work, “Cory, The Musical,” which the Aquino family lauded for vivifying their mother’s heart and heroic essence.

The production was made even more memorable for everyone when Cory herself attended its gala production and watched the musical drama in full—her final public appearance before she fell very ill.

“Cory, The Musical” was so well-received that requests for repeat performance continue to be made, both here and abroad.

Thus has Bing Pimentel realized that her songs, like her love for her husband and children, have flown higher and farther than first intended—a gratifying realization that has motivated her to keep on writing—and singing—more meaningful melodies that create even more memories for all Filipino families to feelingly relate to.