Spreading The Love

Moy Ortiz, Founding Member and Artistic Director of Asia’s Premiere Vocal Group – The CompanY

Within our fondest memories, lie a song that strikes a chord in our hearts where we find ourselves singing that special tune repeatedly. For many Filipino yuppies in the 90’s era, songs by The CompanY will likely be top of mind. Multi-awarded composer, record and concert producer Moy Ortiz, founding member and artistic director of Asia’s premier vocal group - The CompanY, had written and co-written many all-time Philippine favourite songs such as Everlasting Love, Now That I Have You and Muntik Na Kitang Minahal (I Almost Loved You).

Talent, creativity and genius are extraordinary aptitudes Moy was simply born with. But what sets this current president of OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Archive miles apart from many of us is his genuine desire to help people in need. Moy does not hesitate to reach out when he feels he can make a difference in someone else’s life – a trait we can only selectively find in the busy and fleeting world of show business.  

As the blessed season inches its way into one very challenging year, we hear the calming and inspiring presence of Moy who had won us over with his kind of music – one that gladdens the heart, nourishes the soul and spreads love wherever it mattered.

FMAG: How does it feel to enjoy your popularity, career longevity and recognition with The CompanY for the last 35 years? 

MO: In my case, I do not really “feel” the popularity. I treat this career like a standard job and business. I guess this is because the climb to success of my vocal group, The CompanY, was a slow and steady journey. In fact, we were the opposite of the overnight success phenomenon. We were more of a slow burn. 

This year, The CompanY celebrates its 35 years in the entertainment industry. The current members: Annie Quintos (fellow-founding member), Sweet Plantado (joined in 1998) and Oj Mariano (joined in 2015) find ourselves in the most unusual and peculiar situation – what we call a “beautiful anomaly”. 

The CompanY from L-R: Moy Ortiz, Annie Quintos, Sweet Plantado and Oj Mariano.

Groups or bands never really last this long. Groups usually end up as a stepping stone of the prominent singer’s solo career. Another thing that surprises us is the fact that despite our age and being considered as not classically or industry grade physical beauties, we have somehow survived the test of time and trends. This is quite unusual in a cut-throat and youth-driven industry. We owe it all to our Lord God who all along had a master plan for our group and, of course, our audience who have supported our music and shows throughout these three and a half decades. We are happy and stunned that our story turned out this way. 

FMAG: What had been key to the harmony and friendship within The CompanY? 

MO: The interpersonal relationships of the members of The CompanY can be rightfully compared to a marriage. It is a long-time commitment to each member of the group. We have authentic relationships. There are ups and downs, just like any other real bond. Keeping and cherishing people in one’s life for a very long time requires open lines of communication but always done in the context of kindness, respect and love. 

Of course, the “magic” ingredient in any “marriage” is FORGIVENESS. Each of us had messed up (in varying degrees) in our life journey together. The ability to acknowledge and accept one’s humanity (warts and all); to see not only the public persona but also each other’s ugly parts; the deliberate decision to forgive and move forward together - these are the most important ingredients in keeping a functioning and loving relationship. 

FMAG: If there is one song to pick as a theme song of your life, what would that be? 

MO: I would choose the song from the 1970’s - “Traveling Boy”, written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams. Recorded by several artists like Art Garfunkel, Paul Williams and Rumer. In this earthly life, we are all passing through. This is a pit-stop to our eternal destination. Everything in life is temporary. Careers, looks, power, wealth, health, people and pets - everything is in your life for a finite amount of time. Best to have that mindset when making big and small decisions. 

FMAG: In your many years of travelling as a performer to different countries, what holds true about your Filipino audience or Filipinos you meet far and wide? 

MO: When we do performances abroad, the exchange of feelings between us onstage and the audience in the theater is magnified and very intense. Both artist and audience know that this is but a mere moment in time, so we want those three hours to be very special and memorable. We know our paths may or may not cross again but for now, this is all we have. The NOW. 

Whether these are feelings of homesickness or patriotism, hilarity or nostalgia - everything is just so intense. Many times, both us onstage and the audience end up emotional and start to cry. It is truly special. 

FMAG: Share a tough moment in your life that you managed to overcome. 

MO: That year was 2005. The CompanY was celebrating its 20th anniversary. That year, I was also celebrating the big milestone of hitting 40. I was getting on in years and that was deemed as a liability in the business of entertainment.

Unfortunately, that was also the year when I lost two members of The CompanY at the same time for different reasons. This had never happened before. Usually, if and when we lose a member, it would be one at a time. It was very scary because losing two members at one time could mean the end of one’s group, of one’s career. After our 20-year run, we asked ourselves if we had the strength to start from scratch. It almost seemed back to square one.

Instead of being paralyzed by the enormity of this gargantuan task ahead of us, compounded by the anxiety of an uncertain future, we just took it a day at a time.

We did the dirty work piece by piece and little by little. We relentlessly searched and auditioned for our new members. Not only should the replacement be able to sing group harmonies well, but they should also be strong soloists. Not only should these new members perform onstage well, but we should also genuinely get along well-off stage. It was a tall order. When we found our tenor, we had to teach every single song in our active repertoire; note for note, measure by measure; song by song. We also had to teach the choreography for the live performances. Patiently, we took it a day at a time. 

Thankfully, by 2006, The CompanY became part of a 16 -week talent search/reality program called Pinoy Dream Academy at ABS-CBN. This stint on television expanded our audience and our market globally. Things were never the same since then as we even gained more exposure and “brand recognition” on an international scale. 

So the point of this long story is, no matter how long and far you have traveled, in our case it was 20 years, it is still possible to go back at the beginning, rebuild and ultimately,  succeed! The difficulties and hardships of one’s journey can either make you bitter or stronger. We made a deliberate choice to pick the second option. 

FMAG: Tell us more about where and what you teach. 

MO: I have been teaching at Meridian International College (better known as MINT College) since 2013. For the first four years, I taught the elective - Vocal Technique and Performance. This year, I am teaching a new course - Songwriting and Music Publishing.  

Teaching and performing, at first glance, may seem to be two different and non-related activities but upon further examination, they are quite similar.  In a way, the teacher (especially with this year’s online learning) entertains the class of students. A good teacher must keep the students entertained, stimulated, interested and challenged. In performance, one never really arrives at perfection so there is life-long endeavour to improve one’s craft in search of excellence. A performer who is committed to the pursuit of excellence must be a life-long student, an eternal learner. That is the only way one grows as a performer; otherwise – rigor mortis sets in. 

Both teaching and performing are also about legacy building. In the academe, you pass onto the next generation the skills and lessons you have accumulated through the years. Onstage and in music, you contribute the cannon of Original Pilipino Music. You add to the catalogue of the Philippines’ original music. 

FMAG: With the ongoing pandemic, how will you celebrate Christmas differently? Do you feel a new meaning to this Holy Season compared to previous years?

MO: We have a family bubble and we make sure everyone wears masks and observes social distancing protocols. In my family, we have parents who are octogenarians, so they are at high risk to the virus. We just take all precautions to keep that family bubble virus free. I am sure we will attend Christmas Midnight Mass but this year it will be online. There will be the usual Noche Buena (Christmas Eve feast in the Philippines, literally means – good night) at my sister’s home which is the unofficial base of our family. Even when it is just us, we respect and honour Jesus’ birthday by dressing up in our Christmas finest. The King of Kings deserves nothing less. 

Christmas 2020 will have a bittersweet pang to it because my two siblings who live abroad cannot come home for the holidays. My sister, Lilli, lives in Singapore. My younger brother, Ado, lives in Australia. We are not complete this year. It is sad but there is always Zoom to make up for it. Plus, comfort in the knowledge that the vaccines are on the way and this pandemic is not a permanent way of living. 

FMAG: Many people in our country hunger for many things, for many different reasons. I know you reach out and encourage the spirit of bayanihan (being a hero in a spirit of communal unity).

MO: Every member of my immediate family supports a charity. That support is long-term, deliberate and focused. My older sister, Lynette, supports an orphanage in Tarlac on top of her civic social responsibility activities in her corporate job. I involve myself in fundraisers like Bayanihan Musikahan or smaller fund drives to help friends in need. Aside from the charities we are dedicated to, we also practice charity and generosity from within our household. We start with the families of our household staff. We take care of them in more ways than one. 

Some very important and lovely women in Moy’s life L-R: sisters Lynette and Lillibeth with mom Myrna.

FMAG: What is your fervent wish for our country?

MO: My ultimate wish for our country is that we may have enlightened voters who will elect to office people with integrity, good hearts, skills, expertise, tact, diplomacy and generosity. I hope our democracy matures enough to put people into public office with those edifying qualities. 

FMAG: What can we look forward to The CompanY? To Moy Ortiz?

MO: In 2021, I will be releasing a masterclass series on songwriting entitled - Songwriting from a Songwriter. The episodes will be marketed online per episode to make it financially accessible to most. I also hope to finally release my magnum opus entitled - Mass Pop, a contemporary a cappella Latin Mass featuring The CompanY, The Philippine Madrigal Singers, Acapellago, Pinopela, The Ryan Cayabyab Singers, legendary studio singers - Babsie Molina and Sylvia Macaraeg and The Ateneo Chamber Singers.

The CompanY will also release their 29th full length album under Star Music Philippines (a subsidiary of ABS-CBN).

FMAG: What would you have to say to your 18-year-old self?

MO: RELAX. It will all work out in the end.