‘Lahat Tayo’: Danny Javier records last song
Musician Lorrie Ilustre, who had worked with the Apo Hiking Society, posts on YouTube what would be Javier's 'own sendoff song'
Danny Javier, 6 August 1947 – 31 October 2022
Daily TribuneMusician Lorrie Ilustre, who had worked with the Apo Hiking Society, posts on YouTube what would be Javier's 'own sendoff song'
Danny Javier, 6 August 1947 – 31 October 2022
Danny Javier and his music lives on.
The singer-songwriter, one-third of one of the country's best pop vocal groups, the Apo Hiking Society, managed to write one last song, which his colleague, Lorrie Ilustre of Hotdog, managed to record with a video (below).
Ilustre recounted on Facebook the circumstances and how he completed the song's recording:
"Last year he called me and said he was sick. I visited him right away. We were together the whole day talking about everything from our past to the present. He kept a positive outlook on life even though he was suffering from several medical conditions.
"I wanted to ask for prayers three weeks ago when I learned that he was rushed to the hospital and was in bad shape, but due to the family's wishes, I refrained from posting. I decided to arrange and record instead a tune he roughly sang on his Facebook page.
"Through family, I was able to get the recording with his original vocals to his hospital bed. The nurse played the music to Danny and he would nod to acknowledge that it was ok. That's good enough for me.
"I know Danny's writing style and ideas, so I just had to make this music arrangement for him to bring along to his journey home. I took his vocals from his FB post and recorded. His video I synced to audio. I just tweaked a note and rearranged the song structure but I kept everything the way he would have wanted it.
"Danny Javier, a man fully aware of his mortality, expressed himself in music with lyrics infused with humor. He sang in a way that only he could deliver, singing his own sendoff ahead of its time.
"The man who coined Original Pilipino Music (OPM) left us with this song, 'Lahat Tayo.' He wanted to share this with all of you — family, friends and loyal fans.
"Danny… my friend, my brother, wanted his sendoff to be happy so let us celebrate his life. Bring out those 'Iba Ang May Pinagsamahan SMBs,' the pulutan, and let's party! Share his music, and let us make this Danny's last big hit song!
"Music will also be available on Spotify and other streaming platforms."
Javier died at age 75 on 31 October at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City.