Image: Facebook/Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga gave her own rendition of the 2002 OPM hit “Kailangan Kita” for the “Bayanihan, Musikahan” fundraiser last Friday, May 29.
The Tony Award-winning singer and actress posted a clip of her online concert on her Facebook page on the same day.
The song was written by Ogie Alcasid and became the theme song of a movie of the same title, which starred Aga Muhlach opposite Claudine Barretto. While it was launched 18 years ago, Salonga revealed that Alcasid told her he had originally written the piece for her to sing.
“I guess after how many years of this song just existing, I have a version of it!” she said before singing her own version.
Salonga collaborated with composer Ria Osorio for her rendition’s musical arrangement. The two then worked with Osorio’s brother, Louie Villena, to produce the video of the performance, which showed Salonga singing both the main and secondary voices for the tune.
Along with Salonga, other seasoned singers such as Gary Valenciano, Piolo Pascual, Angeline Quinto and Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez have also performed their own renditions of the OPM hit since it was released in 2002.
National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab launched the “Bayanihan, Musikahan” fundraiser last March to help those in need during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to its site, as of May 22, the initiative has raised over P89.9 million for relief efforts. JB
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