Filipino Stars
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Jose Mari Chan

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Profession: Singer, Songwriter
Birthday: March 11, 1945

Jose Mari Chan is a legendary Filipino singer-songwriter and one of the country’s most beloved musical icons. Best known as the “Father of Philippine Christmas Music,” his timeless songs like Christmas in Our Hearts and A Perfect Christmas have become part of every Filipino’s holiday tradition.

 

Beyond Christmas classics, Chan is celebrated for his heartfelt love songs, gentle melodies, and poetic lyrics that have shaped generations of OPM (Original Pilipino Music). With a career spanning more than six decades, he remains a symbol of warmth, artistry, and Filipino family values.

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Notable Songs

  • Christmas in Our Hearts
  • A Perfect Christmas
  • Beautiful Girl
  • Please Be Careful with My Heart (with Regine Velasquez)
  • Can We Just Stop and Talk a While
  • Deep in My Heart
  • Constant Change

Christmas Legacy

  • Christmas in Our Hearts (1990) – One of the best-selling Filipino albums of all time.
  • His songs are annually revived and streamed during the holiday season, earning him the affectionate title “King of Philippine Christmas Carols.”
  • His music bridges generations and continues to define the sound of the Filipino Christmas spirit.

Awards & Recognition

  • Multiple Awit Awards for Songwriting and Performance
  • Lifetime Achievement Award (Philippine Association of the Record Industry)
  • OPM Icon Awardee
  • One of the best-selling Filipino recording artists of all time

Fun Facts

  • A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University and a successful sugar businessman.
  • His musical career began in the 1960s with the album Deep in My Heart.
  • Married to Mary Ann Ansaldo Chan; they have five children, several of whom are also musically inclined.
  • Known for his humility, discipline, and advocacy for preserving Filipino music heritage.
  • His songs often top charts again every “Ber months,” becoming a cultural phenomenon online.