Lance Joseph Martinez

Why Basil Valdez Was the Missing Piece in Ryan Cayabyab’s Valentine Concert ‘Love Letters’

Article (news)

<p>This February 13, 14, and 15, <strong>Valentine’s</strong> weekend will be steeped in romance and nostalgia as some of the biggest names in<strong> OPM </strong>reunite for a concert series that promises intimacy, history, and timeless love songs.</p><p>But according to<strong> National Artist Ryan Cayabyab</strong>, fondly known as Mr. C, the formula for a truly perfect Valentine offering only came together when one name was finally confirmed: <strong>Basil Valdez.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768554186941Copy of JB__4017_11zon.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Basil Valdez | Photo courtesy of Proscenium Theater</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Mr. C is set to mount the second chapter of his &quot;<strong>MaestroClass Concert Series</strong>,&quot; titled <strong><em>Love Letters,</em></strong> and while the project already carried the weight of legacy, it reached another level when the OPM legend Basil Valdez agreed to be part of the lineup.</p><p>“It would be perfect if you could join us for this concert,” Cayabyab told Valdez when he first extended the invitation.</p><p>For Valdez, the answer was an easy yes. After all, working with Cayabyab has been a constant in his life for nearly five decades. Cayabyab has served as Valdez&#x27;s musical director for the past 48 years, a partnership that has grown from professional collaboration into deep friendship.</p><p>Reflecting on their long history together, Valdez jokingly described their working relationship as “<strong><em></em></strong><em></em><em>mahirap</em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong>” during an interview with<strong> Metro.Style. </strong>He was quick to clarify, however, that the difficulty comes from the high standards they both uphold.</p><p>“We’re best of friends. Good friends. I really learned a lot from him, and I think somehow, you know, I’m always on my toes when I’m performing with him. It’s really a pleasure. You have to be, as I said, <em>kailangan magaling ka.</em> That’s how we started,” Valdez shared.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768554226341Copy_of_JB__4372_optimized_3000.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Basil Valdez, Ryan Cayabyab, Celeste Legaspi, and Ogie Alcasid</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Their story began in 1977, when Cayabyab personally asked Valdez to interpret his composition <strong>“Paraisong Parisukat.”</strong> The song, which was used as a movie theme song featuring <strong>Christopher de Leon</strong>,<strong></strong> went on to win <strong>Best Movie Theme Song</strong> at the <strong>FAMAS Awards</strong>—marking the beginning of what would become one of the most enduring partnerships in OPM history.</p><p>For <em>Love Letters,</em> Valdez will be sharing the stage with fellow OPM icons <strong>Ogie Alcasid </strong>and <strong>Celeste Legaspi</strong>.<strong></strong><strong> </strong>Together, they will interpret the works of three revered composers—<strong>George Canseco</strong>, <strong>Jose Mari Chan</strong>, and <strong>Willy Cruz</strong>—some newly arranged by Maestro<strong></strong> Ryan Cayabyab himself.</p><p>Among the three composers, Valdez admitted that he has been assigned what he considers the most demanding set. “[Ryan] wants me to take the songs of George Canseco. It’s really very taxing.<em> Mahirap ang</em> songs <em>ni</em> George,” he said.</p><p>Because of the challenge, Valdez revealed that he plans to suggest a slight adjustment to the program. Since he is set to perform five songs, he hopes to replace two Canseco pieces with songs composed by Mr. C. But at the time of the interview, their lineup of songs was still up for discussion, adding to the excitement.</p><p>Still, despite the vocal and emotional demands of Canseco’s compositions, Valdez said he would gladly take on the challenge—especially given his deep personal connection with the late songwriter. For him, performing Canseco’s songs is a tribute, particularly to one of the most iconic OPM love songs of all time, <strong></strong>“<strong>Ngayon at Kailanman</strong>.”<strong></strong></p><p>“<em>Noong binigay sa akin ni</em> George <em>[ang Ngayon at Kailanman], </em>a wedding song, every time I sing that song for 40 years,<em> talagang</em> subtext <em>ko</em> for this is a wedding song,” Valdez told <strong>Metro.Style</strong>.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768554265659Copy_of_JB__4155_optimized_3000.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Over the years, however, the song took on a deeper meaning for him, one that transcended romance. Valdez recalled a life-changing moment when he was about to undergo surgery and unexpectedly heard the song playing from a neighbor’s house the night before his operation.</p><p>“But after doing it for 40 years, <em>parang</em> I had some health issues. I was to be operated on, at the night before my operation, I heard someone from my neighbor playing this song. <em>Sabi ko,</em> ‘Why am I hearing that song?’ <em>At &#x27;pag sinuri &#x27;yung </em>song is<em> &#x27;yung</em> inspiration <em>niya</em>, it was really the Lord Jesus Christ singing this song to me.”</p><p>He then recited the second verse of the song, which, for him, perfectly reflects his relationship with God:</p><div style="margin-left:20px"><br/></div><div style="margin-left:20px"><em>“Dahil kaya sa &#x27;yo</em></div><div style="margin-left:20px"><em>Ng maitadhanang ako&#x27;y isilang sa mundo</em></div><div style="margin-left:20px"><em>Upang sa araw-araw ay siyang makapiling mo</em></div><div style="margin-left:20px"><em>Upang ngayon at kailanman</em></div><div style="margin-left:20px"><em>Ikaw ay mapalingkuran, hirang</em></div><div style="margin-left:20px"><br/></div><div style="margin-left:20px"><em>Bakit labis kitang mahal?</em></div><div style="margin-left:20px"><em>Pangalawa sa Maykapal</em></div><div style="margin-left:20px"><em>Higit sa &#x27;king buhay”</em></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768554316361Copy of JB__4024_11zon.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Aside from “Ngayon at Kailanman,” Valdez also hopes to perform another Canseco composition that holds special significance for him—<strong></strong>“<strong>Salamin ng Buhay</strong>.”<strong></strong> According to him, the song was written specifically with him in mind.</p><p>“So <em>nalaman niya kasi that</em> I took up AB Philo in college.<em> Sabi niya,</em> ‘Basil, <em>ito, p&#x27;wede ka mamilosopo sa kantang ito</em>,’” he shared with a laugh. “So <em>&#x27;yan</em>, I really enjoyed doing that ‘Salamin ng Buhay.’”</p><p>As excitement builds for <em>Love Letters</em>, Valdez said what makes the concert even more meaningful is that he will be sharing the stage with fellow OPM veterans Legaspi and Cayabyab, both of whom he considers family.</p><p>“We’re most senior,<em> kami ni </em>Ryan, Celeste, and myself. <em>Sabi nga namin ni </em>Celeste, we met before Christmas, <em>kaya pa ba natin ito?</em> I mean, three shows, three consecutive shows. And I really am looking forward to performing again with Celeste,” Valdez said.</p><p>The concert series also marks Valdez’s first time performing alongside Alcasid, a detail he finds both refreshing and exciting. “It would be nice <em>kasi siya &#x27;yung bata. </em>So, <em>siya &#x27;yung, ano na kami</em>, we’re in our 70s, and he’s not even a senior citizen, so it’s new for us. I’m glad that he’s with us,” Valdez shared.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768554338961Screenshot_2026-01-14_at_12.49.13_PM_optimized_3000_11zon.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Rockwell&#x27;s Proscenium Theater</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Set to unfold at <strong>Rockwell’s Proscenium Theater</strong>, <strong></strong>the second chapter of the &quot;MaestroClass Concert Series,&quot; <em>Love Letters, </em>will run on February 13, 14, and 15, 2026. Designed as an intimate Valentine’s weekend offering, the concert promises more than just performances; it offers a journey through memory and music.</p><p><em>Love Letters</em> aims to revisit and celebrate classic OPM compositions that once defined entire eras but are now rarely heard on mainstream platforms. Through the voices of Basil Valdez, Celeste Legaspi, and Ogie Alcasid, and under the musical direction of National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, these songs will find new life, reminding audiences why they fell in love with OPM in the first place.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768554376022Screenshot_2026-01-14_at_12.49.23_PM_optimized_3000_2_optimized_1000_11zon.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><em>Tickets for Love Letters are now available via </em></strong><a href="https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx?sh=LOVELETR26"><strong><em>TicketWorld</em></strong></a><strong><em>, both online and at the Power Plant Mall Cinema outlets.</em></strong></div><div><strong></strong><br/></div><p>Photos courtesy of <strong>Rockwell</strong> and<strong> Proscenium Theater</strong></p>

<h4>National Artist Ryan Cayabyab is set to mount the second chapter of his "MaestroClass Concert Series," titled <i>Love Letters,</i> and while the project already carried the weight of legacy, it reached another level when OPM legend Basil Valdez agreed to be part of the lineup.</h4>

National Artist Ryan Cayabyab is set to mount the second chapter of his "MaestroClass Concert Series," titled Love Letters, and while the project already carried the weight of legacy, it reached another level when OPM legend Basil Valdez agreed to be part of the lineup.