Marisa Montelibano Apuan: Giving us wings to fly through music
On Februry 14, Marisa will showcase her compositions as well as play with local singers and the Iloilo Youth Orchestra in order to raise funds for pediatric cancer patients here in Iloilo. The show will take place at 6 pm at the La Isabelita Hall, Jaro Cathedral Compound
The young Marisa
In 2000, "Wings to Fly", a composition by an Ilongga won first place during the First American Songwriters Competition held in Los Angeles, California. "Golden Moments", immortalized by Ilonggo Farle Luchan was written by the same Ilongga. Now, these compositions and seven others, comprise an album called "Wings to Fly."
She is no less than Marisa Montelibano Apuan, a composer, a pianist, who despite having polio, was not hindered in inspiring others with her compositions.
This coming Feb. 14, 2008 Marisa will showcase her compositions as well as play with local singers and the Iloilo Youth Orchestra in order to raise funds for pediatric cancer patients here in Iloilo. The show, produced by the Mga Kaibigan ng Kabataang May Kanser (KKK), will take place at 6 pm at the La Isabelita Hall, Jaro Cathedral Compound, Jaro, Iloilo City.
Learn more about Marisa in this interview.
Marisa Montelibano Apuan
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): What is "Wings to Fly" all about?
Marisa Montelibano Apuan (MMA): This is an inspirational song and thanksgiving for those who have helped me rise above my disability and gave my spirit wings.
KMV: How did you come about composing music?
MMA: I was stricken with polio since I was four years old. I used to watch my classmates play with other kids. Then, a nun advised me to write some poems instead of just watching them. That's how I started writing poems. I composed songs for our school (Assumption) and later on, love songs.
KMV: How about playing musical instruments?
MMA: When I was five years old, I studied piano and played classical music. Then, I learned pop. I bought chord books and song books and taught myself how to play popular songs. I can handle impromptu, actually, as long as I am familiar with the song.
KMV: What other musical training did you have?
The Apuan family
MMA: When I was in the United States, I took some classes in Music Therapy at the University of Minnesota. I also studied songwriting at the Los Angeles City College in California.
KMV: And your two famous compositions, I heard you made them while you were in the US.
MMA: Yes. I was working there as a legal and medical transcriptionist. I composed songs and two of them made it big. There's Golden Moments sang by Farle Luchan and the other is Wings to Fly, which won first place during the 1st Asian American Songwriters Competition in Los Angeles, California, in 2000. I was also in a band which played for Filipino associations there. I lived in the US for almost 30 years.
KMV: I heard your album Wings To Fly. Your songs are very inspirational.
MMA: I like my songs to be an inspiration to those who are feeling down. It's sort of my contribution to society.
KMV: How do you reconcile your musical ability and polio?
MMA: Because of my disability, I was able to develop my musical gifts. When God takes away something, He gives you back double. I feel that music is the gift that I got back for losing my legs.
KMV: How would you like to be remembered?
MMA: To be someone who overcame her disability through music; a pianist, singer and songwriter who inspired and brought joy to others, for the glory of God. What we are is God's gift to us; what we become is our gift to Him.
Marisa is married to Ador, who manages Balbis, famous for its palabok and dinuguan. Their children are Brendan Joseph and Anthony, both music lovers, too.
Love Heals, the February 14 dinner and musical show featuring Marisa is sponsored by The News Today, Tatak Ilonggo and Beauty Essentials. Dinner ticket is at P500 while the non-dinner ticket is at P200.