Music In My Veins

From opera to Broadway musicals, Monchito’s love for music runs deep

Music runs in Monchito Mossesgeld’s family. “My grandfather was an opera singer,” he reveals. “He sang locally and abroad. In fact, he was the first Filipino to perform at La Scala in Milan.”

Indeed, he takes after his grandfather, Jose Santiago Font, as Monchito is a baritone just as he was.

He started playing the piano at a young age. “I’m no expert; I’m far from it. But I’m interested in music—going to piano concerts, and watching plays, musicals, even ballet! I also enjoy going to art exhibits and museums,” he shares. He also gives credit to his aunt, Gloria Laserna, who helped him develop further his passion for music and the arts, which not many people know of. As Monchito matured, his love for music continued. Les Miserables, which he and his wife first saw in one of their travels in the 1980s, made him fall in love with Broadway musicals. “I remember being very moved by the music, staging, singing, and performances… It remains to be my favorite play. Of course, it’s very heart-tugging, and I often tease my wife because she started crying from the second song onwards! Nakapigil ako until Gavroche gets shot in the barricades,” he says.

Monchito and Tina share the same passion for music. Both appreciate and watch concerts and plays together. But as the world continues to reel from the pandemic, how do two musically inclined individuals spend date nights nowadays? “We have gotten into this habit of watching television together for an hour and a half every day. We do it maybe three or four times a week. We find a show we like to watch, then watch it together. We also eat together as much as possible kasi we’re the only ones in the house na lang, eh. We rarely leave the house unless totally necessary. Our home, made more beautiful by my wife, Tina, with indoor plants, is really our safe cocoon.”

Speaking of sharing meals as a means of maintaining connections, he shares that his wife recently celebrated her birthday. They marked the occasion by ordering food and enjoying a simple lunch at home. As for celebrating with the rest of their family, they scheduled a virtual dinner via Zoom that weekend. He sent over dessert for everyone to make the online get-together sweeter—Gigi Rapadas’, former Ayala Corporation Chief Information Officer, famous apple pie!