Christmas in Our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan is probably one of the most popular Christmas Carols in the Philippines. It was part of this artist’s first Christmas Album.
This iconic Filipino Christmas song was released by Universal Records in November of 1990. In 2006, Chan’s Christmas in Our Heart Album sold 600,000 copies in the Philippines alone. It is the first Filipino album to reach the Diamond status. As of 2008, sales for the album reached 800,000 copies. Today, you can find this album being sold in Amazon.
According to Chan, the song Christmas in Our Hearts was originally meant for another song called, “Ang Tubig ay Buhay”, or Water is Life, based on the poem by Chari Cruz. He said that it was a beautiful poem, and he incorporated a beautiful melody for it for a Jubilee song for a high school class. He also said that it was probably one of the catchiest melodies he ever wrote, so he thought of using it again in one of his songs in his first Christmas album.
Rina Caniza wrote the words of Christmas in Our Heart and paired it to the melody of Chan’s “Ang Tubig ay Buhay” song to make it the popular Christmas song is is today, Christmas in Our Hearts.
The song Christmas in Our Hearts was performed by Jose Mari Chan together with his daughter, Liza. The Christmas album, Christmas in Our Hearts contains 16 tracks namely:
- “A Wish on Christmas Night”
- “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
- “Mary’s Boy Child”
- “Christmas in Our Hearts“
- “A Christmas Carol”
- “A Perfect Christmas”
- “Give Me Your Heart for Christmas”
- “This Beautiful Day”
- “The Sound of Life”
- “Christmas Children”
- “Little Christmas Tree”
- “When a Child Is Born”
- “It Is the Lord!”
- “The Lord’s Prayer”
- “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)”
- “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You”
At the start of the ‘ber’ months, it is without a doubt that the name ‘Jose Mari Chan’ and the line ‘Whenever I see boys and girls selling lanterns in the street…” will trend in the Philippines. This album and the carrier single gives every Filipino, wherever he or she may be in the world, that unmistakable reminder and feeling that Christmas is near.
Check out the LYRICS of CHRISTMAS IN OUR HEARTS here.
Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon from World Christmas Traditions!