May maagang pamaskong matatanggap si Paolo Contis mula kay Jose Mari Chan para maalala raw ng aktor ang namayapa niyang ama na isang Italyano.
Sa online talk show na "Just In," nagkaroon ng pagkakataon si Paolo na tanungin ang itinuturing "Father of Philippine Christmas Music" na si Jose Maria Chan, kung saan namana ng huli ang hilig sa musika.
"Actually it was my lola that was playing music all day in the house, so parang na-imbibe ko 'yung mga music in my head. She was a radio listener and so music was very much a part of our home and so it was impossible not to be musical because of my lola," kuwento ni Jose.
Ang ina naman daw ni Jose, mahilig itugtog sa piano ang "Clair de Lune" ng French composer na si Claude Debussy.
Ibinahagi rin ng mang-aawit ang kuwento ng kaniyang ama na nakipagsapalaran noon sa Pilipinas mula sa China sa edad na 14 lamang.
Mahirap daw ang buhay noon sa China kaya nagpunta ang kaniyang ama sa Iloilo sa tulong ng kaniyang tito.
"He migrated here and then he started to work and then eventually started a business. He's a self-made man. When I look back, I really respect him, I can never accomplish what he accomplished," saad ni Jose tungkol sa kaniyang ama.
Sa pagkakataong ito, si Jose naman ang na-curious kung saan nakuha ni Paolo ang apelyidong "Contis."
"My father was Italian sir, pure Italian, but he's in heaven now," sagot ni Paolo. "My dad went to the Philippines, nag-aral siya ng Tagalog, ang teacher niya 'yung mom ko. Hindi niya ako masyadong naturuan with Italian culture because when I was growing up super Filipino na 'yung dad ko."
Sa edad na 66 nang namatay ang tatay ni Paolo sa cancer. "Very young, he had a good fight. He fought for about eight years."
Kasabay nito ay inilahad din ni Jose ang malaking impluwensiya ng Italian music sa kaniyang mga awitin.
Dahil dito, naisipan ni Jose na regaluhan si Paolo at para na rin sa kaniyang ina.
"Paolo this is what I'm gonna do, you and your mom. I'm going to put together maybe two or three CDs my favorite Italian Canzone, Italian songs. I will give that to you, and I want you to invite your mom while you're having dinner, while you're together, play all those songs, in memory of your late father," sabi ni Jose.
"Thank you! thank you! She would love it, she would love it definitely. Kinikilig ako!," natutuwang pasasalamat ni Paolo sa batikang mang-aawit. --FRJ, GMA News