Si Jesus, ang Pulubi,at ang kaaway

May isang napakayaman na babae na nagngangalang Melinda relihiyoso siya at may takot sa Diyos, laging nagbibigay ito sa chuch nila ng donation, pera man o gamit na pwedeng gamitin ng church. Halos yata ng Employees ng Church ay kilala na siya dahil sa mga ginawa niyang kabutihan.

Isang gabi nagdasal siya at kinausap niya ang Diyos, "Diyos ko siguro naman sapat na sa iyo ang mga ginagawa ko, para ibigay mo sa akin ang aking kaligtasan at mapasama sayo sa iyong kaharian." Nang makatulog na ito narinig niya ang isang tinig sa panaginip, isang napakahiwagang tinig na hindi niya alam kung saan nanggagaling. "Melinda di pa sapat ang ginagawa mo sa akin para ibigay ko ang iyong hinihiling." pagkasabi ng mahiwagang tinig bigla siyang nagising at natakot. Nag-isip siya kung bakit ganun ang napanaginipan niya sa gabing yon.

Maaga pa lang nakabihis na si Melinda at papunta na ito sa kanyang service Honda civic ng tumunog ang kanyang cellphone. banayad na kinuha niya ang cellphone sa loob ng kanyang shoulder bag at sinagot ito. Isang tinig ng lalaki ang tumawag, nakilala niya agad ang boses ng lalaki, Si Reymark isa sa mga staff ng office nila. "Bakit ka nakatawag?" agad tanung niya sa kausap. Umiiyak ang boses ng lalaki, "Maam kagabi may natanggap po akong tawag galing sa pamilya ko sa probinsya, namatay daw ang aking ina at kelangan makakauwi ako agad," sabi ng lalaki. Hindi pa natapos ang pagsasalita ni Reynark, "Alam mo naman kong ano ang proseso ng pag-file ng absence of leave sa opisina natin, at isa pa marami tayong dapat tapusin ngayon kasi kelangan next week matapos natin yong hinihinging documents na nirerequest ng Customer natin kaya kaylangan ko ngayong tao." Pagkatapos pinatay agad ang cellphone na di man lang niya inantay ang susunod pang sasabihin ng kausap.

Mainit ang ulo ni Melinda na pinaandar ang kanyang sasakyan. Mga ilang minuto tumigil siya sa isang parking area ng isang church at pumasok siya doon. May inabot itong sobre sa secretary doon. Paglabas niya sa kumbento may isang ale na may dalang anak at himihingi ng limos. "Pwede po bang humingi ng kahit kunting pambili ng makakain naming mag-ina" saad ng ale na mukha nga itong nanghihina dahil siguro wala pa itong kain. Hindi pinansin ito ni Melinda at tuloy ang paglakad. Dahil dito kinulit siya ng ale, sinundan hanggang sa kanyang sasakyan. Dahil sa sobrang init ng ulo ni Melinda naitulak niya ang ale at bumagsak. Umiyak ng umiyak ang ale pero di pinansin ni Melinda.

Isang gabi nagdasal si Melinda " Panginoon napakahalaga ka sa akin kung pwede lang sana dalawin mo ako sa aking tahanan at ipaghahanda kita ng masasarap na hain at gagastusan kita ng kahit magkano" Pagkadasal nito biglang may isang tinig na sumagot sa kanya, Bukas Melinda dadalawin kita sa iyong tahanan" saad ng napakahiwagang tinig. Pero ng imulat ni Melinda ang kanyang mga mata saka niya lang ito nalaman na isa lang palang panaginip iyon. Pero nag-isip siya, bakit nga ba di niya subukan gawin na ipaghahanda niya iyon pagdating ng bukas.

Maagang ginising ni Melinda ang kanyang kasambahay para ipaghanda ang araw na iyon, magluluto siya ng maraming masasarap na pagkain at gagawin niyang bongga ang araw na iyon para sa Panginoon. Mga ilang oras ang nakalipas bago natapos ang lahat ng paghahanda. Pinaganda niya ang buong bahay, di na siya pumasok sa opisina at ipinagtiwala nalang niya lahat sa secretary niya ang mga bagay na dapat niyang tapusin doon, dahil isinakripisyo niya ang araw na iyon para sa kanyang panginoon.

Pagdating ng tanghaling tapat, may kumatok sa kanilang pintuan at siya na mismo ang nagbukas. Pagkabukas niya isang kaibigan, na naging kaaway niya dati ang nasa pintuan. Biglang nagalit si Melinda at isinara agad ang pinto. Pagdating ng alas-dos ng hapon may narinig na naman itong kumatok sa pintuan, at mabilis na tinungo ang pinto at pagkabukas niya isang pulubi at humihingi ng makakain, sinara agad ni Melinda ang pinto at mas lalo na naman nadagdagan ang galit nito. Nagdasal siya sa Diyos, "Panginoon sana naman huwag mo akong biguin, sinabi mo na dalawin mo ako ngayon". Pagkadasal niya iyon biglang may kumatok sa pintuan at nagmamadali itong binuksan, pagkabukas niya si Reymark na namatayan ng ina. Umiiyak si Reymark at nakiki-usap kay Melinda na sana payagan naman niya ito na makauwi man lang sa kanilang probinsiya. Bukas mo nalang ako kausapin at may inaantay akong bisita ngayon" agad isinara ni Melinda ang pinto at nagalit na naman ito. Maghapon na nag-antay pero hindi dumating ang inaasahan nitong bisita. Uminum siya ng uminum ng alak at nagpakalasing, masakit ang loob niya" Sabi mo dalawin mo ako pero kahit man tinig mo diko narinig" Sabi nito na umiiyak. Hanggat di niya namalayan nakaidlip na ito sa kaaantay.

"Melinda!...Melinda!... Melinda!...." isang mahiwagang tinig na naman. Bumangon siya at nasilaw ang kanyang mga mata dahil sa sobrang liwanag na kanyang nakikita sa kanyang harapan. "Panginoon bakit mo ako niluko, pinaasa mo ako at pinag-antay ng wala!, di ba ikaw ang nasabi na dalawin mo ako pero kahit tinig mo man lang diko narinig" wika nito habang umiiyak.

Hindi kita binigo, hindi kita niluko at hindi kita pinag-antay ng wala, pinuntahan kita ng tatlong beses pero di mo ako tinanggap sa pamamahay mo, dahil ba sa katauhan ko na yon di mo ako matanggap Melinda?, Sabi mo mahal na mahal mo ako bilang panginoon, pero bakit di mo matanggap ang mga katauhan ko, bakit di mo ako inintindi at maawa man lang sa akin o pinagbigyan sa hiling ko. Hindi ka karapat dapat sa akin Melinda, hindi ka karapat dapat sa akin. " Biglang nawala ang tinig at ang liwanag sa harapan ni Melinda. Nang nagising si Melinda saka niya lang naalala ang mga taong dumalaw sa kanya nung araw na iyon.

Si Jesus ay isang kaibigan na maraming katangian, sabi niya "Kung ano ang ginawa mo sa iyong kapwa ay ginawa mo din sa akin". Isang napakagandang hamon ito para sa ating mga kapatid na mamamayan. Nasa paligid po natin si Panginoong Jesus, hindi lang po pananampalataya sa kanya, kundi pati din sa pagsunod sa kanyang gawa. Lahat ng mabuti ay gawa ng Diyos. Gawa ng liwanag.

Ang Tunay na Pagkakapatid at Pakikipagkapwa

Bawat tao ay may kanya- kanyang paniniwala lalo na kung sa Relihiyon ang pag-uusapan, may kanya- kanyang pamamaraan ng pagtuturo at paninira sa kanilang mga di kaanib o kasama sa pananampalataya. Pero sa totoo lang po hindi po sa relihiyon tayo maililigtas kundi sa lakas at pananampalataya natin kay Panginoong Jesus at pagsunod sa kanyang landas. Marami po kasing nagsasabi na sila lang ang maliligtas, ang sabi naman ng iba, nasa kanila ang tamang landas at tamang paniniwala. Mga kapatid ko kay Jesus sana po buksan natin ang ating mga puso para kay Jesus, huwag po tayong sumira o magsabi sa ating kapatid na mali ang kanyang paniniwala. Wala po tayong batayan kung talagang mali ang pananampalataya ng isang tao, sabihin ng iba ang Bible ang batayan. 100 % po na totoo po iyon dahil ang bible ay isa sa pinakamahalagang batayan natin sa ating pananalig, ngunit bawat tao ay may kanya- kanyang pananaw at pagkakaintindi sa mga nakasulat sa banal na kasulatan, bawat relihiyon may kanya- kanyang paniniwala at pagkakaintindi. Kaya dito nagkawatak watak ang pananalig kay Jesus, dahil may kanya kanya sila ng paninindigan. At ang napakasakit po ay ginagamit na ang isang relihiyon para kumita lang ng limpak-limpak na salapi, Marami nang nagpatayo ng sariling mga organization, heto ang mga taong ipinipilit nilang magbigay ang mga kasapi nila ang sinasabi nilang "ikapu". Ang 10% na kinita sa trabaho ay ibibigay sa kanilang church. Pero tama po ba ito?, Mga kapatid ko kay Jesus, tama sana po ito kung taos puso pong galing sa ating mga mabubuting kalooban, hindi po napipilitan dahil useless din. Kahit 20% pa ang ibibigay po natin kuhng di naman po bukas sa kalooban natin wala ding saysay, di po nagagalak ang Diyos sa atin. Mahirap tanggapin pero marami na pong ginagamit nila ang relihiyon para makaangat sa kanilang sariling buhay. Saka ang ikapu po ay di na po dapat, kasi sobra sobra na po ang mga simbahan or church natin, naipatupad lang po iyan noong unang panahon na kulang pa sa mga kailangan ng ating mga church. Kasi po ang ating Panginoong Jesus ay libo libong tao ay pinakain niya, walang wala po sila pero kaylan man di po niya ipinatupad ang 10% na yun or ikapu, kasi ng sabi nya hindi lang sa tinapay nabubuhay ang tao kundi sa salita ng Diyos.

May Pagkakaisa

Noong Augost 17, 2008, sumama ako kina Johny Rabaja at Rvic Bote, sa isang fellowship sa Sta. Lucia. Si Johny kasi ay matagal na siyang umaatend sa fellowship na yun, halos tuwing sabado at lingo. Noon pa niya ako niyaya kaso nga lang di pa sapat ang mga paliwanag na gusto kong malaman tungkol sa relihiyon niya, Im a Roman Catholic pero hindi ako nagdedepende sa turo ng simbahan kundi nagdedepende ako sa mismong banal na kasulatan" Biblia". Kung minsan nalilito ako kasi kung ibatay ko sa biblia ang kaugalian ng RC ay marami akong nakikitang katungan na hindi dapat. Pero di ako tumigil na nanaliksik, kundi mas lalo pa akong nagbasa ng nagbasa ng biblia.

Si Rvic Bote ay firts timer din siyang umatend sa fellowship na yun noong linggo Augost 17, 2008. Napakabait talaga ng Panginoon kasi binigyan niya ako ng changce na makaatend sa fellowship na yun. Pagdating namin doon napakagaan ang pakiramdam ko, pakiramdam ko wala na akong problema. At isa pang nagpahanga sa akin ay may mga pagkakaisa ang mga tao doon, nagkukumustahan, at higit sa lahat napakalakas ng mga pananalig ng bawat isa kay Panginoong Jesus. At halos silang lahat binati ako at kinumusta kahit di nila ako kilala. Napakasaya ko sa oras na yun. Napasama tuloy akong kumanta ng mga christian song nila. Mararamdaman mo talaga na ang Holy Spirit ay nasa puso mo. Ang ganda ng topic ng pastor, at namangha talaga ako. Pagkatapos ng programa ay ipinakilala nila kaming first timer na umatend sa fellowship na yun sa araw na yun, namangha ako at nagulat kasi halos lahat ng mga believer doon ay pumunta sa akin at nakipagkamayan, at halos binabanggit" God Bless You", diko tuloy alam kung sino yong uunahin kong kamayan, napakasaya talaga doon sobrang saya ko. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko " God Maraming salamat po dahil binigay mo sa akin ang pagkakataong ito"
Sa totoo lang talaga I'm religious people pero nag-iisa ako kelangan ko ngsamahan at pakikiisa, kasi naniniwala ako na mas powerful ang pananalig kung marami kayo, kasi sabi ni Panginoong Jesus " Kung sino man ang dalawa o mas higit pa na tatawag sa pangalan ko nasa gitna nila ako. So God Thank you so much for the Blessing that im recieved right now. And thanks sa lahat ng mga kabutihang loob na binibigay mo sa akin kahit minsan suwail ako, forgive me God sa lahat ng mga kasalanang nagawa ko, at hinihiling ko po sayo na sana ilayo mo po ako sa kasalanan, puspusan mo po ako sayong Banal na Espirito, upang magampanan ko ang mga bagay na gusto mong mangyari, at nananalig ako sa pangalang ng iyong anak na si Jesus Amen.

Panlabas na Kagandahan ng tao

Maganda ako, sabi mo sa sarili mo. Kasi kumpleto ka sa height, makinis ang kutis, seksi, may maamong mga mata at dimples, at totoo, maganda ka nga.
Kaya dahil maganda ka, ang gustuhin mong mga kasama ay magaganda rin, ang gustuhin mong manliligaw ay mga gwapo. At siyempre, di ka papatol sa isang pangit na tulad ni Elmer, na bukod sa sarat ang ilong at makakapal ang labi ay hindi pa matangkad at hindi macho.
Nang mag- text sa iyo si Elmer para dalawin ka sa iyong bahay, ang una mong tanong: “bakit…?”
Tapos ay nilait mo ang kaibigan mong nagbigay ng iyong numero sa lalaki. Kung hindi pa naawat, muntik nang masira ang friendship niyo ng iyong kaibigan. Ganoon kalala. Ganoon mo kinamumuhian ang mga taong pangit. Kasi nga, mganda ka, walang kasing ganda.
Para patunayan mong ikaw nga ay maganda, sumali ka sa pa- contest ng school: Ms Campus. Siyempre, dahil totoong maganda ka nanalo ka, nakuha mo ang titulo. Ang laki- laki kasi ng puntos ng self confidence, yung feeling mong magandang-maganda ka kaya lutang sa aura iyon, kita ang mga judges iyon. Kay yabang mo pang sumagot sa question and answer kaya kuha mo ang intelligence points.
So maganda ka kayang-kaya mong ipagyabang iyon sa buong bayan, sa lahat ng lalaki.
Pero teka, isang araw ay humarap ka sa salamin, saka mo tinanong ang sarili: bakit walang manliligaw sa iyo maliban sa pangit na si Elmer? Nasaan ang mga gwpo’t makikisig na lalaki, bakit walang pumipila sa iyong manliligaw gayong ikaw ay maganda, campus queen, etc., etc.
Ay si Chona na pandak at walang appeal, pero tatlo ang manliligaw.
Ay si Jenny na payatot at walang beywang, pero may nobyong ang gwapu- gwapu.
Ay, si Gina na mataba, may nobyo na’y marami pang umaaligid na lalaki.
At si ganito, at si ganire, at si ganoo’t ganyan, bakit hindi naman mga campus queen na tulad niya’y andami daming mga gwapong lalaki na umaaligid?
At ikaw mayroon ngang isang nangungulit, isang pangit na lalaki, sarat pa ang ilong at makapal ang labi’t hindi macho? Maloloka siya. Gusto mong basagin ang salamin. Sinungaling ang mga lalaki, bulag, walang nakikitang ganda.
“ Ang ganda ay hindi sa panlabas na anyo. Nasa loob. Nasa kaibuturan. Aanhin mo ang ganda mo ang makinis mong kutis, seksing katawan, maamong mga mata at dimple na malalim, kung sa loob naman ubod ng pangit, ubod- dumi, at kasuklam suklam na hindi marunong rumespeto sa panloob na pagkatao ng isang tao.
Ang linyang iyon ay si Elmer mo narinig, sa nag-iisang lalaking manliligaw sa kanya, sa pangit na si Elmer na nilalait nililibak mo.
Maganda ka. Seksi. Kaakit-akit. Campus Queen. E, ano? Ang tunay na ganda ay hindi nakikita sa repleksyon ng salamin sa dingding, hindi nakikita sa korona o sa palakpak ng mga tao sa beauty contest. Dahil ang ganda ay nasa loob, ang tanging nakakakita rito ay iyong mga taong marunong magpahalaga sa tunay na kalinisan ng kalooban ng isang tao.
Ang iyong gandang iyon ang dapat maging ganda na sino sa mundong ito.
Ang kabutihang loob ang tunay na kagandahan, hindi ang panlabas na anyo, hindi ang kaseksihan at kinis ng kutis.
Ang Kagandahang loob at kabutihan ng ating puso't isipan ang tunay na kagandahan, kasi ang panlabas na kagandahan ng tao ay magbabago habang siya'y tumatanda, at ang kabutihang loob ay kaylanman di ito mawawala kundi madala mo ito hanggat sa pagtanda at maging sa kabilang buhay. Kaya kaibigan kung ikaw ay may itsura o panlabas na kagandahan huwag po nating ipagyabang o gamitin ito para maluko natin ang kapwa natin, Dapat mo itong pangalagaan at magpasalamat ka sa Diyos dahil binigyan ka ng ganyang itsura. At upang mapanatili mo ang iyong kagandahan, gumawa ka ng mga bagay na nakakasiya o nakakagalak sa ating Poong Maykapal upang ang ating Pinqakamabuting Diyos ay magagandahan sa iyo, at magagalak sa iyo.

Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias was born in Madrid, Spain, on May 8, 1975. His parents, superstar singer Julio Iglesias and model Isabel Preysler, separated when Enrique was three. Five years later young Enrique moved to Miami to be with father Julio. While his childhood was blessed to the extent that his parents were successful, Enrique was not spoiled or fazed by his privileged position. He grew up as a normal, well-adjusted teen with common growing pains.

He attended business school at the University of Miami, but left after a year to follow in the family business: entertainment. His start came in 1995 in Spanish when he promoted himself as Enrique Martinez from Central America. Iglesias was intent not to be accused of nepotism and did the legwork required to hawk his demo tape around town.

His last name stuck however, and he moved to Toronto to record his first album, which was named Enrique Iglesias. It sold more than a million units in three months, which was a phenomenal achievement for a Spanish album. Before his first English release that sent his fame into the stratosphere in fact, Iglesias was a household name in the Latin world. His world tours filled stadium after stadium and his albums sold millions everywhere. The awards piled up and Enrique built a name for himself, separate from his father.

In 1999, his song "Bailamos" became the most requested radio track in Los Angeles and New York, and was featured on the sountrack for Wild Wild West. The song later went to #1 on Billboard and Enrique was a superstar. His first English album, Enrique, went double platinum in the US and quadruple platinum worldwide. His global appeal has been considerable, with record sales in Canada, India and Taiwan. His tours have taken him to the Middle East, Russia and Turkey. In order to serve his international fan base, Iglesias has recorded in four languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and English.Next up for Iglesias is a venture into the world of Hollywood. Look for him to appear in Once Upon A Time In Mexico with Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Johnny Depp. The film is set for a 2003 release.

Interview

Lucky Number 702/15/2004 9:00 AM, LAUNCHDave DiMartino Enrique Iglesias has firmly established himself as one of the world's top Latin crossover artists with massive hit albums like his 1999 English-language breakthrough Enrique, 2001's Escape, and his latest and seventh release, 7--not to mention sizzling videos featuring sirens like Jennifer Love Hewitt, The O.C.'s Mischa Barton, and his real-life girlfriend, tennis star Anna Kornikova. And in case there was any doubt, Jimmy Fallon's highly entertaining parody of Enrique on the MTV Music Awards a couple years ago confirmed that the son of crooner Julio Iglesias is an official household name.
LAUNCH's executive editor, Dave DiMartino, recently met up with Enrique to find out what exactly it is about him that appeals to people of so many different languages, ethnicities, and musical tastes. Here's how it went:
LAUNCH: You've had tremendous success in both the Spanish- and English-speaking worlds. When you construct an album, is there something you do differently in terms of song styles or approach, depending on the language?
ENRIQUE: I don't actually think about what kind of an album I'm going to make when I go into the studio, because that kind of limits me. I just want my albums to do something different; I don't want the prior one to sound like the new one. What I do, what I try to do is mainly, what I try to focus on in an album, is a song. The main thing is the song. If I like the song, then from there it goes on--but it's not so much the sound of the album or where I'm going to take it to with the beats or with the guitar. For me, it all starts with if I can sing a song with a guitar and it still sounds good acoustically, then I'll stick it on the album. The arrangement and the rest just comes naturally.
LAUNCH: It's an interesting point to make about the songs, that you say they have to have a certain context to them. Sounds like a good way to write a good song.
ENRIQUE: I'm so much into the melody. I mean, lyrics are crucial, but melody--it's so much about that. I think nowadays a lot of the music is not based on the song, it's based on the production, and for me it goes both ways. I mean, you need a good production, but the essence, what makes a song timeless, is the melody, the lyric, and of course the production. But it's those three combined that makes a song timeless.
LAUNCH: You're so well-known; certainly people have heard of you because of your success in the Latin world, and you're seen as a pop artist in the States. Has that been something that's helped or hurt you in terms of overall acceptance?
ENRIQUE: Well, I was doing an interview the other day because they were talking about this whole Latin explosion a few years back and what did I think about it--did I think it was over, did I think that it was going to go away? What I said to this interviewer was it all comes down to the song, no matter where you come from, and that's one thing I love about this business. At the end, there's always justice and it all depends on the song. But I'm never going to deny where I come from. I'm Latino, and that's obvious. But my influence musically...now that's something different. I mean, I do consider that my music is pop because I've been influenced by pop music my whole life; I grew up in the States and '80s pop music was my biggest influence. When something explodes and becomes popular, that's what "pop" means.
LAUNCH: I hear some '80s influences in your music, but it doesn't sound like a retro kind of sound.
ENRIQUE: Yeah, you're right about that, it does have a little of that '80s, but updated a little. That's cool that you picked that up.
LAUNCH: What's do you consider to have been your big break?
ENRIQUE: I've had a few lucky moments, more than just lucky breaks; it's been the timings of my albums. My first record contract was for three records in Spanish, and right when that was over, that was a perfect time for me to release an English album, and that's when it all happened. Just things like that. Even when I released my first Spanish album, it was a perfect time for an artist like me to release the kind of album that I released. So timing-wise, that's where I think I've been lucky with all the albums I've released.
LAUNCH: You have a reputation as a balladeer, especially since "Hero." is more like that than any other song track. How did that direction come about?
ENRIQUE: Well, in English I had never released a slow song, a ballad--except the duet I did with Whitney Houston, but then it was remixed and put to a faster tempo. That's why I wanted to release "Hero." There were a lot of people Midwest or in middle America who didn't know me singing a ballad--they knew me singing "Bailamos" or something popular like "Be With You," but not something like "Hero." That's why for me "Hero" was so crucial, so important, because I wanted people to know that I can do that type of song and that's what I love to write. Not that I don't like the other songs, but I love ballads, and I think it's always a risk-taker when you come up with a ballad. But if it's a good song that touches people's hearts people will come see you in concert 10 years from now just to hear you sing that song. But at the same time, it's not that upbeat or easy for the radio, so it's a risk-taker. But if you make it with that song, it can definitely be a career song.
LAUNCH: Many artists come from a background of poverty, but you obviously did not. Does that give you a weird feeling?
ENRIQUE: That's the first time I got asked that sort of question. Not really, because a lot of these artists that you're talking about write about love, falling out of love...I mean, if you turn on the radio, love is 90 percent of the music. And that's why for artists, no matter what your background is, no matter what religion, what nationality, or what class you come from, no matter if you're rich or poor, no matter what, that's where we all join together and where we're all similar. Because at the end of the day, it all comes down to the music, and love is the main theme in music. We all feel love, and that might sound kind of corny, but I really feel that's what joins musicians together around the world.
LAUNCH: That's a really great answer to that question.
ENRIQUE: Yeah, exactly, you can talk about politics in music, you can talk about something else, but that's always going to change, and love is never going to change. And the artists that you're talking about, their biggest songs are love songs, you know. But it's funny--when I was doing the Tribute To Heroes in New York City, I was watching Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young singing songs that were so amazing and so powerful, and for the first time in my career, I said, "I really want to be like them. I really want to write songs that have meaning, I really want to write songs that are going to define my career." Like "Hero," that I know can define my career; I know I can sing it 20 years from now and be proud of writing and singing that song.
LAUNCH: That's what's interesting about Springsteen and Neil Young: They sing songs from back then, but they sound contemporary.
ENRIQUE: Yeah, that went through my head, and I said, "I want to be that way when I'm their age."
LAUNCH: You've been all over the world, your albums have gone gold or platinum in 32 countries...what advice might you offer to artists that have stayed in Spanish music?
ENRIQUE: Realistically, English is a universal language; it's the number one language for music and for communicating with the rest of the world. I think no matter what language you sing in, you have a chance, but with English of course it's a little bit easier. You can do it in any language, but it's not as easy. I used to travel to so many different countries with my Spanish albums, and some of them would listen to my music and some of them wouldn't, just because it was in Spanish. And when I went back to my English album, most of them would listen to it. But at the same time I had a hit song, which is why they listened to it, because all the people who have English albums aren't going to listen to it. You know, I just said English is the number one language in the world; actually, Chinese is probably the biggest language in the world. There's probably more Chinese. But in all, I don't know. I'm really bad for giving advice to other artists. If you're going to sing in another language, you should feel the other language. And by that, I mean don't do it just because you think you're going to sell more albums. I sang in English because I grew up in the States. I grew up with American influence, I grew up with American music, I went to American schools, I went to college here in the States. I lived my whole life here in the States, and that's why I wanted to sing in English. The first song I ever wrote was in English. You shouldn't do it just because you're going to sell a lot of albums. You should do whatever language you feel is the perfect language for you to sing in and then try to strive to do the best. The one thing about music is that there are no rules. I say that when you sing in English, it's easier and it does open a lot more markets, but there's exceptions, and there are artists out there that have done it in Portuguese, Spanish, and French. They have been around the world singing in those languages. But it's just not as easy, it takes a lot of work. But if you control that language, then strive to be the best you can in that language and put no barriers.
LAUNCH: Tell me about the work you did for a Robert Rodriguez film.
ENRIQUE: Yeah, that was shot in Mexico. I'd just finished my album and Robert Rodriguez's people called me and asked if I want to do this movie. It was a short role, a small role in Once Upon A Time In Mexico. I liked the script, I liked the character, and I'm a big Robert Rodriquez fan. And he made me feel so good. He told me, "You know what, all I want you to do is come here and have fun. Be natural." He just made me feel like I could do it. So I went there--it was my first movie, and I actually had a lot of fun. I was a little nervous the first day, but then I had a lot of fun.
LAUNCH: Do you think acting might be a second career for you?
ENRIQUE: I don't know if it's a second...I'll do it in between music if they offer me things like what Robert offered me. I don't know. I always go to the movies a lot and I always wondered what it would feel like to see yourself on the big screen, so it would be kinda cool.
LAUNCH: What is the one record that changed your life?
ENRIQUE: I can't say one record. I can say that I got hooked into pop music, English-speaking pop music, the first time I went to camp. I was 7 years old, first time going to camp, and there was a bunch of huts and I was in the youngest of the huts. It was all 7-year-old kids in there and the counselor must have been like 16, 17, and all he played was Synchronicity by the Police. You know, "Every Breath You Take" just stuck in my head. I mean, it stuck in there forever, forever, forever, and that was when I got into Anglo/English-speaking pop music.
LAUNCH: You've been all over and played more stages than almost anybody. What's the strangest thing that's happened to you onstage?
ENRIQUE: The weirdest show I ever played was in Russia, in the Kremlin. That was weird, because I think the Kremlin seats 6,000 people, and you couldn't even bring a production. You couldn't even touch anything. It's like an old wooden floor, and the band just goes in there--no lights, nothing. So we go in there and the audience comes in in five minutes and sits down, and the minute I go onstage, I'm used hear people clapping or going nuts or singing the song, and this was complete silence. Nobody moved--it was like I was doing a soundcheck with nobody there. I got so freaked out and it was so different to me that my voice completely shut off halfway through the first song. It was very freaky. I don't know if it was the shock to me of what was going on or what. It was just so different. And nobody could get up because the police would make them sit down again. And it was funny, because I would try to get to the audience or just go to the side of the stage to get a little closer, and the police would push me back. So it was just a strange concert. When I say strange, I don't mean that it was bad, but it was very different. But it was also amazing to play in a place as the Kremlin.
LAUNCH: You seem like a guy who's got his head on straight.
ENRIQUE: I just know how to do interviews.
LAUNCH: Is it cool to be known or associated as the son of someone else?
ENRIQUE: I don't even think about it. It's never been anything negative in my life. I'm so proud of who I am and where I come from and who my father is. In school, kids never really looked at me a different way because I think it was a different generation; they didn't really know who my father was. They just knew he was a singer. Maybe if my father would have been the guy from Twisted Sister or something like that, they would have been like, "Whoa!" But it didn't really hit the generation I grew up with, my father's music. It didn't really change the way people act around me, when it came to my career and doing my own thing. I still never really think about it that much. It was never like people are going to be comparing me or saying I'm worse or better or anything like that. No, I never really thought about it.
LAUNCH: You've done a great job of defining yourself.
ENRIQUE: I mean, when you do the same thing as your father...I always want it to be better than my father as a singer. But I think that's normal. I think that if I one day have kids and one of them is a singer, I expect him to be better than me.
LAUNCH: My dad was 5'3", 160 pounds. I'm glad I beat him in that regard.
ENRIQUE: Me too--I'm taller and I sell more records. I'm kidding!
LAUNCH: Do you consider yourself a private person?
ENRIQUE: With the press, if it's a professional interview and I feel comfortable, I don't mind talking about my personal life. If it's just for National Enquirer kind of press...well, no, of course not. And people coming up asking for autographs, there's only one time when it kind of bothers me: when I'm eating. That's the only time of the day--when you're about to stick a piece of meat in your mouth and you're starving and somebody goes, "Hey, hey, could I please have a picture?" So I try to relax and go, "You know what? The day I gotta worry is the day that nobody bothers me when I'm eating." That's the day when I'm really going to have to worry, because that's the day that nobody's going to care. So that means they like my music and they listen to it, and that makes me feel good. I try to think about that so I won't go nuts.
LAUNCH: Do you have a certain song that think is a turning point for you?
ENRIQUE: The song that I think is a turning point musically is "Don't Turn Off The Lights." I was in the studio and I came up with this riff and we just played it, and from there the song--the whole album--took a turning point. That's where the whole song became more aggressive, the whole album became more aggressive. It was the kind of song that I went back to L.A. and I was sitting down with Jimmy Iovine, the president of Interscope, and I played it for him, I could tell by the look in his face. He's a music man, and I could tell it sparked something good; I knew the song was special, it had something different.
LAUNCH: What is your long-term goal?
ENRIQUE: I used to set goals, but I don't like setting goals anymore. I want to go as far as possible. Now in my career I feel like I want to go all the way, wherever that takes me, and I just want to be involved with music. I don't know, directly or indirectly, about 10 years from now. I know I want to work in a record company. You know, sometimes when I walk into Jimmy Iovine's office and I see him sitting on a sofa with a big TV in front of him, watching MTV and saying, "You do this" and "You do that," I go, "God, that's what I want to do!" He goes home to his family every day. I mean, he's a very hard-working man and he's gifted, otherwise he wouldn't be where he's at. But I look at him and I say, "That's not a bad job," you know?

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