Children, particularly those from prominent families, often yearn to step away from their parents' shadows. They have no intention to rebel necessarily but mainly strive to carve out their paths and establish their own identities, hoping to save themselves from what is sure to become a lifetime of scrutiny and comparison.

Renowned singer and songwriter Cecile Azarcon

If not that, albeit on a deeper level, their compulsion to pursue different passions or professions would most likely stem from a fear of disappointing the very people they admire.

But then there are the likes of renowned and perennial Original Pilipino Music (OPM) hit composer Cecile Azarcon, whose career trajectory suggests she had no qualms following the revered footsteps of her mother, the late Philippine music doyenne Minda Azarcon. To this day, the older Azarcon is regarded as one of Philippine music's foremost voice teachers, who, despite her background in classical music, was responsible for bravely adapting pop into what had long been the strictly structured coverage of singing lessons.

It further seems the younger Azarcon had no problem making a name of her own as she quickly emerged as the musical genius behind many of what was to become the biggest-selling contemporary classics of all time. "Lift Up Your Hands" by Basil Valdez, "Reaching Out" by Gary Valenciano, "One More Try" by Kuh Ledesma, "Special Memory" by Iwi Laurel, "So It's You" by Raymond Lauchengco, "How Did You Know?" by Chiqui Pineda, "Even If" by Jam Morales, and "Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin" by Martin Nievera are but a few of Azarcon's beloved and timeless compositions.

Azarcon is set to perform on the two-night tribute concert and will play a song she composed for her mother after the latter passed.

In a rare media interview, however, Philippine Music's highly respected Cecile Azarcon surprisingly revealed that her storied music career may have never unfolded. Like many sons and daughters of prodigies, she initially grappled with the weight of her mother's exceptional gift and very early on decided she wanted nothing to do with it.

Music as life

"My mother, besides being a voice teacher, was also a music director, concert pianist, and opera singer," the soft-spoken and ever-humble Azarcon related, allowing a hint of pride in her voice as she lovingly remembered the woman who gave her life and the precious gift of music she initially rejected.

Already a longtime resident of California, she shared via Zoom how her core memory of growing up consists only of a single image.

"My mother played the piano all the time, and I thought all mothers were like that," Azarcon sheepishly admitted. "So I did my homework with Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Beethoven playing in the background. That was the environment I grew up in, and it was all because of my mom."

To say music filled the Azarcon home is, therefore, an understatement, yet the highly artistic atmosphere left a young Cecile unimpressed. She even thought nothing of learning to play the piano at the age of three or when she wrote an actual song when she turned six. Again, she thought all of it was normal.

Day in and day out, though, she watched her mom go back and forth to the music room, where she spent long hours teaching her voice students or satisfying her intense passion for playing the piano.

"Back then, I said to myself, 'I don't want to live like that,' and I even thought I would do something else," the daughter declared.

As school inched its way to college, Azarcon practically ran the gamut of possible courses she could pursue. Her list of options hardly made sense and mixed medicine with mass communication, journalism, and fine arts. So long as it had nothing to do with music, Cecile, the "kolehiyala," considered the degree.

"And yet here we are," Azarcon chuckled as she realized she was telling her story so openly for the first time, on the occasion of her 45th anniversary in the music industry, no less.

Never one for interviews since shooting to fame in the '80s, the hit composer finally made it known that music — the way her mother lived and breathed it — was not "her thing" at the beginning. Or at least, she thought, because it wasn't long until the melodious and expressive art form rendered her powerless.

Granted, music is a beautiful thing to surrender to, Azarcon said she still could not believe what happened next.

"As I said, everything about my mom was about music. It was her life, and no matter what I did, that is what shaped me. But finally going into it, I couldn't help but notice that everything that happened to my mom happened to me."

Becoming mom

Genuinely free from regret, Azarcon related how naturally she assimilated everything that connected her mother to music.

"From teaching voice and piano to writing songs, I found myself doing everything she did. People even told me my voice or how I walked became the same. If you met my mother then and saw me next, you would definitely say, 'You are your mother.'

"So, yes, it's true," Azarcon happily conceded. "I am my mother."

Providentially, surrendering to a life of music only brought out the best in Azarcon. At age 19, she practically fulfilled her immense potential as she bravely took over her mother's prominent studio when the latter suddenly decided to retire and migrate to the United States.

Left with a roster of students that comprised the most important recording artists of the time — her mom had been teaching the likes of Nora Aunor, Maricris Vermont, and Celeste Legaspi for context — Azarcon did not doubt her capabilities to carry on but knew she had to be careful in her approach.

Obviously, her young age was her immediate challenge in establishing credibility. While her pragmatic solution to the problem sounds comical today, it nevertheless worked for the very reason that Azarcon had the intrinsic talent in massive amounts to bring her plan to fruition.

"To get by, I would apply thick makeup to make me look older. After all, my mom's students were actual celebrities, so I had to look the part," Azarcon heartily laughed as she narrated the funny yet defining memory.

By the way, while all these life-changing events were happening to a 19-year-old undergrad from the University of the Philippines' College of Music, Minda Azarcon's worthy successor at the famed music studio was also on the cusp of composing her first-ever hit.

Divine intervention

Even the heavens rejoiced when Cecilia Azarcon stopped denying her innate talent for music and genuinely accepted her mother as her inspiration.

For when she tried her hand at composing as her mother did, what she can only describe as "divine intervention" ultimately opened the artist to her life's purpose.

"'Lift Up Your Hands' was more than just a song," said the hitmaker of her first composition, which gave Basil Valdez his most iconic song.

"Who would have imagined that an inspirational piece would grace the airwaves? Or that when I penned that song, both lyrics and melody flowed within just 10 minutes," Azarcon narrated.

"It felt divinely inspired," she added almost in a whisper, still in awe to this day by the gift she received from the greatest Creator of all.

"It was as if I didn't need to consult any source, not even the Bible, though the lyrics are rooted in Matthew 11:28," she recalled.

The song just came naturally to the newfound composer following a call with a troubled friend who happened to be the daughter of her church pastor. After offering the friend her comfort and praying together, "Lift Up Your Hands" simply started flowing out of Azarcon and set her off on her storied and successful journey as a songwriter.

"I firmly believe the success of 'Lift Up Your Hands' was ordained by God. How did I find myself playing the song out of the blue when I tagged along with a cousin who worked at Vicor Records? Why did Basil pass by that exact moment to hear my impromptu performance and, then and there, express his interest in recording it for his album?"

An even more moving story found its way to Azarcon after the song had been released and distributed across radio stations in the hope of being played.

"The DJ who first played it faced repercussions for deviating from the usual playlist and choosing to air an inspirational song. But its instant popularity saved his job.

"So to this day, 'Lift Up Your Hands' remains my most treasured creation. It is a testament to divine timing and intervention and truly led me on a journey beyond my wildest dreams."

Worthy celebration

To consider, even for a second, that the world could have missed out on Cecile Azarcon's gift and immeasurable contribution to Philippine Music is unthinkable. Had she been stubborn and insisted on what she thought she wanted as a young girl — anything but her mother's music-centered life — the careers of many OPM stars may not have become the way they are today. While Basil Valdez was already a hitmaker, it was crossing paths with Azarcon and her incredible composition that sealed his greatness.

Likewise, generations of Filipinos would have never found the perfect songs to accompany them across life's most significant events. Whether finally finding the love of your life ("So it's you, I've been waiting for so long..."); losing love and moving on ("Even if you mean the whole damn world to me, I can forget you, wait and see..."); facing an insurmountable crisis ("Lift up your hands to God and he'll show you the way"); and even saying goodbye to a beloved ("You will always be a special part of me, You will always be a special memory..."), Azarcon has given us the lyrics and melodies to see us through.

On the other hand, Azarcon's unexpected revelation should only make her 45th anniversary as a composer all the more special and meaningful, and in every way worthy of a grand tribute concert Viva Live is currently preparing for her at the Theater at Solaire on May 24 and 25.

Nothing less than an all-star event that will surely make history in Philippine Music, the list of performers who are profoundly honored to be part of "Cecile Azarcon: A 45th Anniversary Concert" features Kuh Ledesma, Janno Gibbs, Jam Morales, Fe de los Reyes, Jackielou Blanco, Mark Bautista, and Timmy Pavino on both nights, with Martin Nievera, Iwi Laurel, and Nicole Asensio joining them on May 24, and Ogie Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Katrina Velarde on May 25.

Azarcon, who last visited the Philippines in 2017 long before the pandemic, said she cannot wait to return for the musical event. Truly touched and overwhelmed to receive such importance from the industry, she is also eager to express her undying gratitude to everyone who has played a part in her remarkable musical career.

"This concert is also my way of thanking Boss Vic (del Rosario of the Viva conglomerate), who gave me my break and recorded 'Lift Up Your Hands' under Vicor Records; Homer Flores, who arranged most of my hits and all my arrangers; all the artists who sang my songs; and all the DJs, as well as the media, for all their support in the past four and a half decades."

Saving the best for last before ultimately thanking God for blessing her with 45 prolific years in the music industry, Azarcon also revealed her plans to honor her mother during the concert.

"I composed a piano piece for my mom called 'Memories of You.' I wrote it a year after she passed away. My mom passed on November 19, 2021. It has no lyrics; it's just a melody, and I will play it in public for the first time at my homecoming."

When she does, Cecile Azarcon, who triumphantly established a name, identity, and legacy for herself outside her mother's shadow, wouldn't mind if anyone mistakes her for Minda Azarcon on stage.

"Like I said, it was my mother who shaped me, and it is because of her that I am who I am today, and I will always be grateful for that," she ended.