‘Ngayong Pasko’y Ikaw Pa Rin’ enters the playlist of heartfelt Filipino holiday songs

October 26 ------ With the ‘'ber months in full swing, a new OPM holiday ballad steps into the season’s sentimental soundscape. Titled “Ngayong Pasko’y Ikaw Pa Rin,” the original Christmas single is performed by Jojo Mendrez, written by award-winning songwriter Jonathan Manalo, and released under Star Music.

Known in the industry as the “Revival King,” Mendrez has long been recognized for breathing new life into classic Filipino hits. His renditions of “Magkabilang Mundo,” “Somewhere in My Past,” and “Handog” earned him the 2018 Revival Song of the Year award from the PMPC Star Awards for Music and established him as a distinct voice in the ever-growing landscape of OPM. But this time, Mendrez isn’t reinterpreting an old favorite. “Ngayong Pasko’y Ikaw Pa Rin” is a new composition crafted specifically for his voice — and its emotional heft is already drawing comparisons to perennial Christmas staples like Ariel Rivera’s “Sana Ngayong Pasko” and Gary Valenciano’s “Pasko Na Sinta Ko.”

“I’m honored,” Mendrez said, reacting to the feedback. “The songs of Gary V and Ariel are timeless. They stay in people’s hearts and are played every Christmas. So for me, this is truly one of the biggest honors of my career.”

True to its lineage, the new single is deeply evocative. Built around the ache of longing during what’s supposed to be the most joyful time of year, the song leans on Manalo’s hallmark lyricism and Mendrez’s emotive delivery. Listeners who have previewed the track have described it as an instant heart-tugger — not because it tries to reinvent the Christmas genre, but because it goes back to the basics: memory, distance, love, and loss.

In a season anchored on nostalgia and connection, “Ngayong Pasko’y Ikaw Pa Rin” finds its place as this year’s fresh offering for anyone who’s ever missed someone during the holidays. And with its October release, the track sets the tone for a Christmas playlist that honors tradition while embracing the new — one heartfelt note at a time.

Source: manilatimes.net