It’s not every day that you find a compilation album featuring top recording artists, namely, Noel Cabangon, Side A, Joey Generoso, Sitti, and Ebe Dancel. Add to this pack of icons a host of talents excelling in today’s generation, writing and performing songs, and expertly toiling over their own recordings like they were born to do it.
That pool is what Pagmamahal Ngayong Pasko Vol. 3 offers to listeners. The fact that they’re packaged as one makes this album worth streaming and downloading.
The said album was made available in digital stores last week by Widescope Entertainment who signed all the marquee artists mentioned above and which made it possible for them to appear on one volume. Widescope sublabels Icons Music and Bandido Rekords assisted in compiling the tracks comprising four new songs, with the rest culled from the two previous editions of the Christmas compilation.
Cabangon’s “Mapayapang Pasko,” one of the freshly released numbers, opens the album on a high note. Arguably it has what it takes to serve as lead single. The popular singer has focused on his songwriting after his new label gave its blessing towards such a direction. The result is a bunch of strong songs featuring a voice out to prove his mettle as a tunesmith. No wonder the track delivers its universally appealing message with self-assured acoustic guitar strumming that complements Cabangon’s tried and tested vocals.
“Maligayang Pasko ang pagbati ko sa inyo / Masaganang Pasko ang dalangin ko sa inyo/ Mapayapang Pasko ang maghari nawa sa buong mundo,” sings Cabangon in a style that made him among the most admired and respected singers in Philippine music history.
The other three new tracks feature rising acts whose promise should brighten further with every new single out: Helena (“It’s Christmas Time”), Meds (“Paskong Black and White”), and Jam Quijano (“Blue Christmas Night”). By virtue of his previous entry to the Christmas album series, called “Pag-ibig Ngayong Pasko,” Quijano has two songs on this Volume 3 edition.
Pagmamahal Ngayong Pasko Vol. 3 is an album three years in the making as contents from Volumes 1 and 2 ensure that it has 14 tracks all in all – the usual number of songs filling up an album in the old days.
Once again, the combo of Widescope executive producer Vic de Vera and supervising producer Neil Gregorio, with Dancel as A&R, teamed up using their long experience and strong vision to come up with a project reflecting the solidarity of their roster of artists in this season of gift giving. Here’s a special gift from a label that arose despite the COVID pandemic and amid the changing times in technology and mentality.
In addition, topnotch mix and master engineers Angee Rozul and Dante Tanedo had worked on multiple tracks included in the album.
The other seasoned acts singing for the holiday season appear with their past output sounding beautifully present: Side A with “Jingle Bells”, Generoso with “Silent Night”, and Sitti with “Malapit Na Ang Pasko.” Dancel is featured on the ensemble title track that closes the album.
Completing the list of Widescope artists on PNP Vol. 3 are signees due to recommendable talent and significant social media following. They are Yhuan (“Pabalik Sayo”), Soultary (“This Time”), Letrang Norte (“Ngayong Pasko”), 46 Hope St. (“Reason For The Season”), and Catharsis (“Deck The Halls”).
“Let’s fill our hearts with Christmas tunes,” says Helena on the pretty pop piece “It’s Christmas Time,” echoing the underlying message of a music label that orchestrates a meaningful show of force and love during the year’s most awaited season.