Me: So was your Valentines Day extra special because it was spent here in Iloilo?d

Rj: Oo naman. Pag nag show ka kasi na may special occassion, kumbaga mahirap na makalimutan yun. Kasi yung show bigayan yan eh. Its not just about the artist or the performer. Kung gaano rin mag respond yung audience, mas dun yung outcome yung saya ng show. SO Sakto Valentines Day, special occasion, memorable na siya, mas naging memorable pa kasi nakiki saya yung bawat isa sa SM. Kahit nasa likod na, sa taas, kumakaway, nakikinig, nakiki kanta.

Me: What is the your album “Kabanata” all about?

Rj: So kabanata is basically Chapter. I always belived kasi na lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay natin is just a chapter. Like what what happened kanina, its just one chapter of SM to have an artist like me this Feb.  Sa bawat kanta sa album is a chapter. There’s a song about courtship, being inlove, love lost, having friends, having problems, relationship with family and friends. Yun, basically lahat ito  is a chapter.

Me: So from your songs in the album “Kabanata”, which is your most favorite?

Rj: Ah, super hirap sagutin. Kasi yung five songs na yan, salang sala. Kasi when I do an album, parang three albums ahead ako. Maraming pinipilïan na songs. So itong limang ito, favorite ko lahat. Kung pipili ako ng isang pinaka paborito, siguro yung “Makapangyarihang Barkada” kasi it talks about life. Its not just about love na madalas natin naririnig sa mga songs. 95% kasi ata  sa buong mundo is about love eh. Pero itong Makapangyarihang barkada, na surprise din ako na nasulat ko siya.  lumabas kasi dun yung love for country, pagmamahal ko sa pamilya, pagmamahal ko bilang tao at pagmamahalko sa kaibigan. 

Me: What or who inspires you to write songs?

Rj: A very nice question kasi yung inspiration for me madalas hindi ko na hinihintay eh. Kasi by profession, ginagawa ko na yung song writing. Pag meron kasing may mga deadlines, I can’t wait for inspiration to come. Pero most of the songs na talagang nagugustuhan ko yung mga nagagawa ko na lang bigla. My songs basically depends on kung ano yung nangyari sa buhay, what I have observed, mga bagay na kina tutuwaan mo o pag malungkot ka. Inspirations kasi for me is everywhere. Kahit saan ka pumunta, anung ginagawa mo, kahit wala kang ginagawa its always there, pipitasin mo na lang. 

Me: What message do you want people to know about life?

Rj: Unang una,  sa buhay natin. friends do come and go. Meron kasi akong pinaniniwalaan na dito sa mundo, we are meant to be connected. We can be all friends. Iba kasi yung power ng friendship. Katulad ng sabi ng Apo Hiking Society, anu ang pinaka magandang samahan? Kaibigan.  Lahat tayo connected o pwedeng maging kaibigan. Kung lahat tayo magiging kaibigan, makakapag tulungan tayo. Kung lahat tayo magkaibigan, lahat tayo uunlad.

Me: How do you find the Ilonggos?

Rj: For me they are very extreme. Yung first time ko dito the audience was wild tapos nung second time naman medyo mahiyain.  Ang dami ko kasi naging friends dito. Para sa akin okey talaga ang mga taga Iloilo. Ang warm ng pagtanggap nila sakin dito. Kagaya ng sa SM City Iloilo, hindi ko naman sinasabi na hindi warm ang pagtanggap sa akin sa ibang SM malls pero iba lang talaga yung sa Iloilo. Honestly na impress ako. Ang ganda ng pakiramdam. Ang sarap kasi  na kahit hindi sinasabi pero nararamdaman mo kaagad na totoo.

Me: So any message to your Ilonggo fans?

Rj: Sa lahat ng Ilonggo kong kaibigan at barkada, sana maging masaya tayo lagi. Tangkilikin natin ang musikang Pilipino. 

So i’m inviting everyone to buy a copy of Rj Jimenez digital album titled “Kabanata”for only P99 in all leading records bars. Please do get a copy and support our own OPM music. You can also like Rj Jimenez’ fan page on facebook and follow him on twitter @rjjimenez.  Keep in touch with him with Kapamilya text. Just type rj (space) on and send to 2366.