She’s been in the industry for more than three decades but singer Geneva Cruz said it was only last year when she felt inspired to come up with her very first Christmas song. The talented singer recently released her first holiday single “When Christmas Comes” this month with a music video directed by her good friend and fellow Smokey Mountain alumni Jeffrey Hidalgo.
“I guess si Jeff is one of those people na alam kong nasa past ko rin. Siguro nung past life nandun na siya. Kahit anong mangyari we just click. We get each other. We respect one another. Kaya namin kulitin ang isa’t isa pero kaya rin namin lauyan ang isa’t isa. Yun respecto nandun. And we have fun together all the time. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Help me kasi ikaw lang talaga yung makakatulog sa akin.’ He gets me because I’m one of his best friends.
"So I wrote this song and then pati yung mga ginagawa dun sa music video medyo idea ko rin that he put into life. Sabi ko gusto ko may snow, gusto ko may sleigh, so gumawa talaga ng sleigh. We made it snow in Quezon City where we shot it (laughs),” she shared during her presscon held last December 11 in Quezon City.
More than just about her singing talent, Geneva was proud to also come up with her own original songs.
“I’ve composed some songs that have been part of my past albums, starting from my first solo album when I was 15. Some of the songs I did include ‘Love Can Wait,’ ‘To Manila,’ ‘Love Is Here,’ ‘Set You Free,’ and ‘Peace.’ Writing has always been an outlet of mine. I’ve written more and composed the melodies on my unused files.”
Her new single "When Christmas Comes" is a song about a woman who is catching feelings for her ex, who is currently far away. She eagerly awaits his arrival and is giddy with excitement about seeing him again for the holidays.
“I’ve always been a huge Christmas fan! I love the traditions, movies, music, and what it stands for — love, peace and joy for everyone! What motivated me was love. I discovered the perfect inspiration, and along with my passion for Christmas, everything just came together,” she said.
Geneva id she was so full of inspiration that she composed the song in just one hour.
“I wrote this song in an hour. And then from there, nung nasulat ko yung kanta, my good friend Dan Hill who's i one of maestro Ryan Cayabyab’s students, made the melody based dun sa sinulat ako. So nandun rin ako. Hinintay ko siya na matapos niya. I’m inspired. It just feels good that I wrote it myself and I’m in love and I think that when it comes, hindi mo rin alam na darating di ba? I guess inspired talaga ako na magsulat.
"Sabi ko nga hindi ako method writer, I’m no Mr. C (Ryan Cayabyab). I write when I’m inspired. I write about my experiences or yung contrast ng pinagdadaanan ko. I guess in a way, it’s a gift. I’ve always been into writing. I have journaling since I was 11 years old and pag binalikan ko lahat ng journals ko, puwede pa rin ako bumuo ng mga kanta based dun sa mga pinagdaanan ko simula nung 11 ako (laughs). So ang sarap lang na ang dami kong mga kanta na naka-standby kumbaga. Pero ito yung isa sa mga proud ako na sinulat ko,” she admitted.
For the music video, Geneva said she was inspired by Christmas in cold weather countries.
“We were all able to do it in the span of a week to make that happen. Gusto ko kasi ma-feel ng mga Filipino around the world yung pasko. I feel really, really happy and kuntento ako dun sa kinalabasan nung isa sa mga proud creations ko. Gusto ko talaga ng medyo upbeat and very positive, yung nakakasigla, nakakasaya.. Kasi ang pasko para sa akin talaga nakakapasaya ng puso ko. Very important sa akin ang Christmas time. Whenever I’m feeling low, nanunuod ako ng Christmas movies at nakikinig ako ng Christmas songs. Ganung klase akong tao. I’m just so happy and grateful that God gave me inspiration to be able to write this song,” she said.
As for her holiday gift giving plans, Geneva said she likes doing last-minute shopping.
“Lagi akong late mag-shopping, medyo ganun nga (laughs). Very Pinoy ako eh in that sense. Siguro kasi gusto ko rin yung adrenaline rush na malapit na ang Pasko kaya puwede na ako mag-shopping ng pang-regalo. Pero may mga times naman na bumibili ako in advance since meron namang mga online na ngayon. Sobrang I take it seriously talaga yung Christmas time,” she shared.