Singer Iwi Laurel revisits her classic hit 'Special Memory' with daughter Nicole Laurel Asensio

It was in 1983 when a 19-year-old Iwi Laurel stumbled on a melody that would change the course of her life.

“It was during a rehearsal for a play we were doing with Repertory Philippines when a friend of mine, Raymond Lauchengco, asked me if I could sing one of the songs on the soundtrack of a movie he was working on with Gary Valenciano called 'Hotshots,'” Iwi looked back.

“It was a song meant to appear in the dream sequence of the movie. I said yes, and immediately they gave me the study material on cassette tape.”

Things happened so fast and Iwi found herself inside the recording studio the day after listening to the demo material.

Present inside the studio were songwriter Cecile Azarcon and arranger Homer Flores.

The song was “Special Memory,” which became a massive hit in the '80s and is now a classic OPM track beloved by many.

“This song really took me by surprise because way back in 1983, I was singing, working, and studying at the same time,” mused Iwi.

“So when I was offered this song, I thought my mind was set on becoming a lawyer, but then the film became a hit and the song garnered awards, and so I guess I became a singer, not a lawyer.”

Iwi became a mother three years after her big hit. She raised her kid, Nicole, all by herself with music serving as a constant backdrop in the lives.

Nicole would follow in her mother's footsteps as a singer, fronting the all-female rock group General Luna and as a solo artist.

“Growing up I was familiar with 'Special Memory' because everyone knew my mom for it and I would constantly run into people who would ask me, 'So, you are Iwi's daughter. Can you sing her song?'” Nicole said

“I grew up around that beautiful melody, but it was only as I got older that I realized how much more 'Special Memory' meant to me than a song my mother once sang.

“It was the last song she recorded before changing her life entirely to raise me. I saw how tough things were for mom when I was growing up around her, how she worked tirelessly making ends meet, how she made countless sacrifices to ensure me a better life.

“I relished every home-cooked meal and home-baked cake.”

It's only quite fitting then that Iwi and Nicole record a duet version of the song that has served as a soundtrack of their lives.

Nicole reached out to Cecile Azarcon to ask permission to remake the song as a duet with her mom.

Cecile gave her blessing and that paved the way for the project to come to fruition.

The song's original arranger, Homer Flores, also came on board and agreed to assemble the remake with Nicole's keyboardist and arranger Nikko Rivera.

Mixing the track was award-winning studio engineer Angee Rozul. Mastering took place at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in the United Kingdom.

The result is a touching tribute both to the classic song and of a daughter to her mother.

“It was my mom who encouraged me to be independent and move out when I turned 21,” Nicole looked back fondly.

“I found that like her, I also had aspirations to be a lawyer, grew up doing a couple plays with Repertory Philippines, spent my college days doing bar gigs at night, and even worked part-time in a restaurant just like her.

“We never talked about it, but it seems that so much of her was ingrained in me.”

Nicole poignantly added, “I wish there was more I could do to thank her, but for now, I hope this simple celebration of love will do. I love you, mom. Happy Mother's Day.”

Iwi and Nicole Laurel Asensio's duet of “Special Memory” will hit Spotify on May 9, Mother's Day.

The song's music video will be launched on May 14 via Facebook Live.

Watch the teaser here:

Meanwhile, revisit these sweet messages from celebrities to their moms to celebrate Mother's Day: