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Metrospective: What Raymond Lauchengco Has Learned From His Career Journey

In an exclusive interview, actor and singer Raymond Lauchengco talks about the insights he has gained throughout his career in show business, as he celebrates his 4

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Bambi Camus

<p>Growing up in the 80s, the movie <strong><em>Bagets</em></strong> is what a Gen Xer like me would consider a Filipino cult classic. The 1984 film revolved around five teen boys, their misadventures, fashion, music, dancing, and love life. For <strong>Raymond Lauchengco</strong>, it was the movie that launched his career in show business.   </p><div><br/></div><p>In forty years, Raymond has continued to evolve to become the performer he is today. His journey involves his different passions that include being a photographer, a visual artist, and a director. Yet, his first love will always be singing.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d502d679-c54b-474b-91fe-7f82c46a51b4_img_8332.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><strong>“Anything that enriches you as a person will make you a better storyteller.” </strong>Raymond is thankful for the different endeavors he has taken. He will never sing a song the same way as he did at 18 today, but this is what he believes in: “It’s because of those creative detours that have given me a deeper understanding of what life is about.”</p><div><br/></div><p><strong>It is important to take little breaks.</strong> This is how he stays passionate after 40 years. Stepping back allows him to discover more and see a different perspective. He shares, “For me, nowadays, I’ve come to realize that what I really love is the people I sing for.” This is what matters to him more than the singing and the performing.  </p><div><br/></div><p><strong>“I don’t think we can accomplish all our dreams in one lifetime.”</strong> Raymond reveals as he pursues other dreams, one of which was to become a professional photographer. “My dream was to do exhibits, have a studio, and so I gave myself time to explore that creative restlessness,” he shares. As an accomplished photographer, he did numerous album and magazine covers.</p><div><br/></div><p>During the pandemic when the world came to a standstill, Raymond channeled his energy into the Japanese art of repairing broken objects, <em>Kintsugi</em>. He explains, “Restoring something every now and then still serves as a powerful reminder to me that it’s okay to have imperfections.” The pandemic lockdowns afforded him the time to “unbreak” things. He was also a sculptor inspired by the same Japanese aesthetic, but using different materials and methods.</p><div><br/></div><p>On becoming a director, he takes inspiration from his mentors. “Bibot Amador, Roxanne, Freddie, all of them are directors. I wanted to experience what it would be like stepping into their shoes,” Raymond says. It took him 20 years to get there where he had the chance to direct over 500 projects that included film, theater, and many concerts.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d296d1eb-219f-4f0e-bd16-e3ea1353bf78_img_8646.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><strong>Artists should learn to appreciate the journey as much as the destination.</strong> Nowadays, everything is fast. People want things fast; the sooner, the better. He advises the opposite, “Have time to smell the flowers along the way. I think you’re going to get there, some of us faster than others. Some of us, slower than others, were all different people. But you’ve got to treasure the journey.” </p><div><br/></div><p><strong>Having other artists remake your songs is the ultimate form of flattery.</strong> Songs are meant to be sung. Raymond proudly states, “I’m honored every time somebody tells me, we heard that person singing your songs.” He adds, “I love it when people remake my songs. Lea Salonga did ‘I Need You Back,’ Piolo Pascual did ‘Shadow of Time,’ Angeline Quinto did ‘Saan Darating Ang Umaga’ so beautifully, and ‘So It&#x27;s You’ has been done by Christian Bautista.”</p><div><br/></div><p><strong>Music is indeed universal.</strong> When Raymond went to Guam for a show, he had to visit a local International School. He was surprised when, “All of a sudden, I heard in the gym, they were playing &#x27;Farewell&#x27; because they were rehearsing the graduation. I experienced the same thing in LA, two public schools that were using the song &#x27;Farewell,&#x27; and these are Americans.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/1519abda-0f8e-423d-9ab4-fef24b17f047_raymond photo jgl.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Raymond has gotten to a point in his life where most of the restlessness has settled. He has done the major things he wanted to try. So, he thinks, “It&#x27;s time to go back to my first love again, which is singing because I think it&#x27;s time to say thank you. At this point in my lifetime, I’m just full of gratitude. All I want to do is sing for as long as I can while I still can.” </p><div><br/></div><p>To mark Raymond’s 40th year in show business, a concert celebrating his music and art will be held at <strong>The Theatre at Solaire</strong> on <strong>November 23</strong>. This concert is his way of taking people back to their happy place, the 80s. A more laid-back and less formal Raymond is expected as he trades his tuxedo to a more casual tune. “This one is going to be something none of my shows have been known for before. It’s gonna be fun,” he hints. “And the reason why this concert is called ‘Just Got Lucky,’ is because that&#x27;s exactly how I feel every time I go back to singing. I feel that I&#x27;m just so blessed that audiences continue to welcome me and embrace me without question, without judgment.” </p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAkUGIhT8PI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAkUGIhT8PI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div> <div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 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C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top:8px"> <div style="color:#3897f0;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:550;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"> <div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAkUGIhT8PI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Raymond Lauchengco (@raymondlauchengco)</a></div></div></blockquote></div><div><strong><em><br/></em></strong></div><div><strong><em>Get your tickets to Raymond Lauchengco’s “Just Got Lucky: The 40th Anniversary Concert” at <a href="https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx?sh=RAYMONDL24" target="_blank">TicketWorld</a> now!</em></strong></div><div><br/></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

In an exclusive interview, actor and singer Raymond Lauchengco talks about the insights he has gained throughout his career in show business, as he celebrates his 40th anniversary in the industry with a concert