Lolita Carbon. Photo provided by author

MANILA -- “This is something different for me.”

Thus said Lolita Carbon about her upcoming Valentine’s Day show, "Himig ng Pag-ibig," at the Manila Hotel.

“For one, I haven’t performed there so you know it will be special and in such a historic place where many famous people stayed,” said Carbon who grew up in nearby Malate. “Second, I will perform songs that are different from my usual repertoire.”

It is easy to peg Carbon as a folk singer. That is in large part due to her time with legendary group, Asin. However, when she first started performing professionally, she sang the songs of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Carole King and Burt Bacharach, as well as other famous acts from the 1960s and early '70s when Carbon was growing up.

Then in 1981, she released what is acknowledged to be the first Filipino reggae recording, “Usok” which she released as a seven-inch single under Lolita and the Boys. And today, with the “super vocal group” of Tres Marias (with Bayang Barrios and Cooky Chua), they perform folk pop.

“Wide naman 'yung aking influences and inspirations,” she explained over some wine at Balay Kalinaw inside the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman. “Even when you get older, you also listen to what is around you. Pero siyempre, hindi lahat, kasi ang dami at wala rin naman time.”

During last year’s "Full Blast Pinoy Super Bands" concert at the Cuneta Astrodome, it was widely acknowledged that Carbon’s set was one of the evening’s best, if not the best. The energy, passion and the brilliance of her musicianship were on display that evening. She beams at the accolade.

For the "Himig ng Pag-ibig" show, Carbon will be reunited with her former Asin bandmate Noli Aurillo on guitars. And for this multi-awarded singer, there is nothing like performing alongside gifted musicians.

“Hindi marunong magbasa ng nota yan,” she bared. “Kahit magsulat, hindi marunong. Kapa-kapa lang 'yan at magaling 'yung tenga niya. But to play with Noli, especially some songs like ‘Himig ng Pag-ibig’ (from Asin’s second album), excited ako. Lalo ako na-enganyo.”

She refused to mention her set list for the show simply saying, “I might even go back to my roots.” If she was alluding to Gaye, Ross, King, Bacharach, and others, she left it to my imagination with a twinkle in her eye.

Carbon did acknowledge that when one gets older, one sort of yearns for the good old days or in her case, the music she grew up listening to. “I am not saying 'yung mga tugtog ngayon ay hindi okay. Meron din naman maganda. Ngayon nakikita mo how 'yung old songs stand the test of time. Kaya classics ang tawag sa kanila. Iba talaga. Very different from today.”

Different?

She laughed, took a sip from her wine glass then tossed her curled locks back. “That is why, the Valentine’s Day show will be something different for everyone.”