Josefino Ymzon Cenizal
Josefino Ymzon Cenizal
Uncle Pepe Cenizal was honoured with the first “Gawad Dangal ng Filscap Award” tonight at the SM SkyDome. He had sat delightedly as the 12 finalists of the Songwriting Competition entertained everyone. But Uncle Pepe didn’t realize he was part of the program till the emcees announced it. Marissa, Maui, Kim and I were teary-eyed as the video highlighted his musical legacy — Hindi Kita Malimot, Lahat ng Araw, Pagsamo, among so many more.
Robert Sena and Isay Alvarez came out in boldly printed outfits singing Pobre, Uncle Pepe’s latest composition which was also a finalist in Filscap’s competition, and ending with his most famous song Hindi Kita Malimot.
When he was asked onstage, Uncle Pepe seemed to be skipping along in a brisk pace with his alalays, his son-in-law Eki Gonzales, and another guy, beaming brightly. He seemed to have regained his youthful vigor and sounded rejuvenated almost instantaneously, perhaps with the excitement of the occasion. (He seemed much weaker the last time I saw him at a morning event just a little more than a month earlier.)
The audience remained standing even when he asked: “How long do you think did I take to write the song Hindi Kita Malimot?” We could only guess. It took me only 5 minutes. He sang the first phrase, in a quite strong though wobbly voice and explained, that he added the second stanza later.
Hindi kita malimot, alaala kita
Hindi kita malimot, minamahal kita
Na ikaw lamang ang tangi kong minamahal
Hindi kita malimot huwag kang manimdiman
Hindi kita malimot manalig ka sinta
At kung ikaw man ay lumimot
Iyong alalahanin mahal pa rin kita
Sa pangarap ko lamang lagi kang nakikita
Dahil sa nawawalay ka sa akin sinta
Ako’y dumadalangin lalo na kay Bathala
Upang huwag kang lumimot
Pagkat mahal kita.
(Repeat the first stanza)
I remember from my childhood that a line in the song included the word ‘Bathala’, and Uncle Pepe had sang it too tonight. When I had searched the net for the lyrics, I realized that the more recent version sang by Carol Banawa had deleted the second stanza. Took me a while to find the complete lyrics, as sang by Rick Manrique.
Momi would drop me off at their house almost every Saturday, after ballet class at Filipinescas, so Moppet and I could play house or theater, sometimes together with Minnie Rualo. We loved donning Moppet’s mom’s shoes and clothes and pretend being princesses or dalagang bukid, or roughing around with the huge dogs. Queenie the gentle Great Dane was my favorite. Other times, we would ruffled and read through Moppet’s collection of Archie comic books.
After a sumptuous merienda of local delicacies or brownies prepared by Auntie Glo, we would lounge in the living room and listen to Uncle Pepe play ditties on the piano. Every now and then, he and Moppet, or he and I, would play a duet. But I remember that he was the very first live pianist I knew that played the timeless Rhapsody in Blue in full. I would always perk up when he played Take Five, so memorable that whenever I heard Lito Molina and his jazz band play the piece years later, I would reminisce those comfortable moments with Uncle Pepe. I was always mesmerized when he played the piano, and would often just lie tucked in a comfortable bean bag, and fall into an afternoon nap soothed by his playing.
Such sweet comforting memories.
