Star ng Pasko

"Star ng Pasko" (lit. 'Star of Christmas') is a Filipino-language Christmas song produced by the television network ABS-CBN for its 2009 Christmas station identification titled "Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko" (lit. 'Bro, You Are the Star of Christmas').^[2]

Concept[]

Written by lyricist Robert G. Labayen and composers Marcus and Amber Davis, it serves as a Christmas message of hope, unity, and thankfulness to God for Filipinos in the wake of the disasters caused by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.^[2][3] The use of the nickname "Bro" to refer to God comes from the dialogue of the lead character Santino, portrayed by Zaijian Jaranilla in the television series May Bukas Pa,^[2] which was the most popular program in the Philippines in 2009.^[4] The song has some musical similarities with 2004's "Sabay Tayo" (lit. 'Let's Get Together') which was released five years before the release of Star ng Pasko.

Danie Sedilla, who supervised the production for the station ID, disclosed that the original concept for the station ID was “Dumadaloy Ang Liwanag”. But the management had to revise it since it wasn’t suitable anymore to what was happening in the country during that time and for them to be able to still give inspiration to everyone who got affected by Typhoon Ondoy. Creative Account heads and Station ID producers Kathrina Sanchez and Edsel Misenas recalled how they immediately huddled and how their boss, Creative Communications Management Head Robert Labayen was able to compose a new song in two weeks. The husband-and-wife tandem of composers Marcus and Amber Davis also had to do alterations in the melody of the song, and was also the first ABS-CBN Christmas station ID to use a Contemporary R&B beat. ^[5] Labayen was also preparing the lyrics to the song when the two typhoons struck the Philippines in late September 2009. Due to the resulting devastation experienced by the Filipino people, he eventually rewrote the song to make it more inspirational, recalling that "I was crying while writing the song on the roof deck".^[6]

"Star ng Pasko" was unveiled as part of the station ID on November 4, 2009, and became an immediate success among Filipinos.^[3] Approximately 200 personalities who are under ABS-CBN were involved in the production of "Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko," including KC Concepcion, Piolo Pascual, Billy Crawford, Aiza Seguerra, Nina, Mark Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go and Sarah Geronimo among others. Shooting for the station ID lasted for seven days, and some scenes, including the opening, were shot in Brgy. Banaba, San Mateo, which was one of the areas affected by Typhoon Ondoy.^[1]

This station ID also marked Dolphy's last ABS-CBN station ID appearance, and the first time John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin appeared together in one frame (during the bridge part).^[7]

Legacy[]

In the years since the song's release, it is often considered the most popular Christmas station ID song of ABS-CBN.^[8][9][10] In 2010, the station ID won a Silver Award for Best Media Initiated Campaign at the 4th Tambuli Awards.^[11] Labayen himself considers the song to be his career's best work.^[6]

Some of the network's Christmas station IDs following the release of "Star ng Pasko" has musical similarities with it, which are its immediate successor 2010's "Ngayong Pasko Magniningning Ang Pilipino" (lit. 'This Christmas, the Filipinos will Shine'), 2017's "Just Love Ngayong Christmas" (lit. 'Just Love This Christmas') after the first bridge, and 2020's "Ikaw ang Liwanag at Ligaya" (lit. 'You Are the Light and Joy', which also has the same message of faith in God). Star ng Pasko was also sampled on 2010's "Ngayong Pasko Magniningning Ang Pilipino" and 2019's "Family is Forever" (along with 2017's "Just Love Ngayong Christmas" and 2018's "Family is Love").

In 2020, an acoustic rendition of the song was performed by Vivoree Esclito and Patrick Quiroz.^[12][13]

References[]

Further reading[]

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