JoAnne Lorenzana’s loving tribute to her husband, “My Everyday Valentine” took on a deeper meaning after an accident that nearly took his life.
In 2016, JoAnne wrote the lyrics to “My Everyday Valentine.” It’s a love letter to her husband, Brant Blower, who has been her companion, friend, lover since they wed in April 2005.
“My husband and I did not have a child — iba ang plano ng Panginoon for both of us…,” she shared, “He’s my world, so I really wanted to come up with a song na sa kanya.”
It was made with friends Jimmy Borja, who took care of the melody, and Jimmy Antiporda, who made the arrangement, and recorded under JoAnne and Brant’s Neomonde Productions. JoAnne recorded it on January 21 and a day after, she and Brant decided to go on a road trip.
“The following day after the recording, nag mini road trip kami ng husband ko dito sa may California, sa Pacifica, and nagkaroon sya ng accident that needed surgery,” she related.
“Fast forward February 1st, nag surgery sya, tapos something really happened na I thought I was going to lose my husband. It’s good the Lord really guided me na na-CPR ko sya.”
“My Everyday Valentine” was set to be released on JoAnne’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, but naturally, her thoughts were with her husband. Jimmy Borja, learning about the incident, assured her “the song is going to have its time” so she should focus on him. Thankfully, Brant showed visible signs of improvements after being in the hospital for three days.
“Because there is a pandemic, mahirap maospital. So from the time na na-CPR ko sya at dinala sya ng paramedics at ambulance sa hospital, hindi kami nagkita,” said JoAnne, “Nagkita kami three days after so it was a very emotional reunion for us. Sabi ko nga, ‘Lord, wow, he really is my everyday valentine.’ And the Lord is my everyday valentine, He gave back my everyday valentine.
“It was as if he blessed the song na para sa ‘kin, so when I hear it, I want people to know na every moment counts. When you have an opportunity to express your love, make it every day.”
It was with Brant’s encouragement that the release of “My Everyday Valentine” pushed through on JoAnne’s birthday.
“Sya nga nag encourage sakin na February 14 i-upload ‘yung kanta,” she revealed, “Sabi niya, you know it’s your birthday, so it’s also a gift for us and your gift to me also.”
JoAnne’s message of expressing love everyday has extended even to strangers this pandemic. After noticing that pharmacy workers did not have their own masks, she decided to make masks for these frontliners and even distributed these for free to neighbors.
“It was the early part of the pandemic, nagkakagipitan pa sa PPE, so wala pang masyadong masks. Tinanong ko ‘yung isang pharmacy worker, are you provided masks? Sabi nya they are not getting enough stocks. I got so touched so nung umuwi ako, I said we have to do our part and contribute,” she related. “So I was given that opportunity and may mga neighbors also reached out to me. Nakakatuwa, mga masks ko they got it from our house.
Sabi nila, ‘I need six for this seniors place,’ ‘I need ten for this other home,’ ‘I need it for my children.’ That was really one of the most worthwhile endeavors na makatulong.”
Armed with a deeper reverence for life and love, what is a songwriter to do? JoAnne said she wants to made more uplifting music, similar to Gerry Paraiso’s composition, “You,” a song which she wished she penned.
“You give me hope, the strength the will to keep on,” she sang the familiar lines of the song popularized by Basil Valdez. “I love that song. Anything that is encouraging and positive, especially at this time. ‘Yun pala ang isa sa mga goals ko in writing now — to be able to write songs that’re going to be encouraging and have a positive message. Lalo na we’re in the pandemic. It would be nice if we would have more songs that will encourage us and that are going to uplift our spirits. ‘Yun ang hope ko, to write more songs that would be positive and encouraging.”
