Fil-Am orchestra honors composer Odette Quesada

ODETTE Quesada Facebook

LOS ANGELES—“I’m looking forward to hearing again my songs played by a full orchestra,” said Odette Quesada, who is now based in Los Angeles and whose popular compositions, “Till I Met You” and “Give Me a Chance,” will be played by the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (Faso) in its concert, “Faso Goes Pops!,” on Nov. 14 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. “We do not realize how rare an opportunity that is.”

Stressed Odette, who is one of several US-based Filipino composers being honored by the only Filipino orchestra outside of the Philippines: “No matter how many years you have been in the music industry… getting to hear your songs played by a 55-piece orchestra is still a rare treat.”

The two hit OPM songs launched Odette’s composing career in a spectacular fashion. “Give Me a Chance” and “Till I Met You,” sung by Ric Segreto and Kuh Ledesma, respectively, in the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival, won awards for the teenaged talent in the early 1980s. Odette just turned 17 when she placed second for “Give Me a Chance” and was 18 when she topped the competition for “Till I Met You.”

I first met Odette, whom I remember as a young mestiza with striking large eyes always being chaperoned by her maternal grandma, Dorotea Quesada, at the office of Vicor/Blackgold which signed her up as a singer-songwriter. They made quite a wonderful sight—a promising young music artist and her perennially smiling lola.

American father

Odette was born in the Philippines to the late John Flewelling, an American originally from New Jersey, and Thelma Quesada, of San Juan, Metro Manila. Her full name is Odella Vania Quesada Flewelling. “I used Odette Quesada because it was easier to pronounce,” she explained.

She spent her childhood years abroad, traveling with her mother who was a jazz singer and pianist. Odette recalled, “When it was school time, I was shipped back to my lola in the Philippines. When my mom remarried, she lived in Hawaii. I lived there on and off until I decided to stay put in Manila in 1982.”

The permanent move proved fortuitous to Odette who studied music composition at the University of the Philippines but did not graduate. She went on to become one of the Philippines’ youngest and most prolific singer-composers whose other credits include “Don’t Know What to Say (Don’t Know What to Do),” “Farewell” and “Friend of Mine.” She released six albums.

In April 1993, Odette married Bodjie Dasig, also a singer-songwriter, whom she met through a mutual friend, fellow songwriter Christine Bendebel. The two have a son, Darian.

The popular songwriting couple and Darian moved to Los Angeles for good in 2001. “It was Bodjie’s idea,” Odette said. In March 2012, Bodjie passed away from cancer. Her lola died in January 2000.

Odette has stayed in LA with Darian, who is now 20.

It will be a special night on the 14th when mother and son hear “Give Me a Chance” and “Till I Met You,” as interpreted by Daryl Ogalino and a surprise singer, respectively, and Faso led by its musical director and conductor, Robert “Bob” Shroder.

Other songwriters being saluted by Faso are Oscar winner Robert Lopez (“Let It Go”), Cecile Azarcon (“Lift Up Your Hands”), SJ Gandia (“Tayo ay Pilipino” and “Hanggang Huli’y Ikaw”), Aaron Paul del Rosario (“Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin”) and Dodjie Simon (“Tatak ng Pilipino” and “Ikaw Lamang”).

Tickets to the show, which features talented singers who will be given the major exposure that they deserve, on Nov. 14,

7 p.m., are now available online: www.alextheatre.org/event/faso-presents-faso-goes-pops.

What do you remember about the early years?

I remember thinking how cool it was to be realizing my dream at such an early age. I was 15 when I decided to be a songwriter and in less than two years, I was.

How different or the same are you from those Vicor/Blackgold days?

Oh wow, so different in so many ways. I’ve been married, been widowed and raised a son who is now in college.

Faso will honor you along with several US-based OPM composers by performing two of your songs. What memories do these two songs bring to you to this day?

“Give Me a Chance” is very memorable if only because it was my very first song ever recorded. My winning second place (for the song) in the amateur division of the Metro Pop back in 1982 opened doors for me in the music industry.

“Till I Met You” was my entry in the professional division of Metro Pop the following year. And this time, I got the grand prize.

“Give Me a Chance” is poignant because it was sung originally by our friend who passed away in 1998, Ric Segreto.

What do you remember most about Ric?

Ric always made my songs sound more special than they were. I miss him dearly. He and my late husband Bodjie became  friends fast. He even sang at my wedding reception back in 1993.

At that time, Ric was working as a high school teacher in Guam and was itching to record again. I told him that Bodjie and I would gladly write and produce his comeback album.

What are your fondest memories of Bodjie?

He was very smart and funny. He always cracked me up. Dogs and kids love him. They gravitated toward him.

What was your recent concert, “OPM Then and Now with Odette Quesada” like?

I had a 50th birthday concert in a smaller venue back in January of this year.

A few months after that, (line producer) Annie Nepomuceno came to me with the idea to do the show in a bigger venue and call it “OPM Then and Now.”

Both times were bittersweet because I would have loved to have Bodjie there. He tried to convince me for years to do a concert and I always seemed to find an excuse not to do it.

Do you plan to perform more after that show?

It depends on the schedule. I do work in an office and weekends are my only available time.

What were your first few years like in the US?

It was not easy. Moving to Los Angeles was not my idea. I never saw myself living the American Dream.

RIC SEGRETO and Odette Quesada at the Metro Pop in 1982

Have you adjusted to life in the US?

After having raised a child here, now it’s different. Now, I can’t see starting life anew in the Philippines. But who knows?

What do you enjoy, music career-wise, about being in the US?

I have enjoyed doing those two concerts this year and guesting in a few of my friends’ shows.

What do you miss about the Philippines?

My friends.

Is your son Darian interested in following in his parents’ footsteps?

I don’t think so. He has opted for a career in a different field.

What else is next for you? How do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Right now, I’m taking it one day at a time.  I just let the tide bring me back to the shore when I swim too far into the ocean.

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