Times of Your Life and Lorenzo's Time - A Sentimental Combination

Times of your Life. I have always loved this Paul Anka-original song even though to most people, especially my hard rock fanatic friends, this would sound very old fashion. But in my own ears, the lyrics and melody of this song play together like a rock ballad that can pull on the heart strings.  And now that it has become the theme song of a soap opera, Lorenzo’s Time, the song appeals even more to my sentimentality. The musical scorer couldn’t have picked a better fitting theme song.

I have not followed a soap opera for a long time, and never thought that I would again watch another one especially a Filipino-made series. For years now, like many Filipinos, I just got tired of watching the usual plot in our soaps such as the story of two kids being separated at birth or during their young lives and later on would become hostile rivals. If not this plot, the other hateful formula is about lovers being forbidden to be together because the other one is rich and the other poor. In my opinion, these plots should become the new taboo—should not be allowed to be shown on TV, since they don’t give anything thought-provoking.

Amidst the pervasion of formula soaps in our prime time, Lorenzo’s Time offers a brand new story—well at least to most Filipino soap opera enthusiasts. The story is about a ten-year old boy Enzo (played by Zaijian Jaranilla, star of the defunct ABS-CBN teledrama May Bukas Pa) whose body was kept in a cryogenics facility in order to preserve his life and body because he had a rare genetic sickness called progenia causing his body to age very rapidly and would make him die at a young age. This kind of life-preservation has also been tackled fictionally by an American movie Forever Young, which starred Mel Gibson. But Lorenzo’s Time is not at all a copy cat of the Gibson movie. Lorenzo’s Time actually dishes out a more clever script progression never before witnessed in Philippine TV.

So far, so good or you can say, so far, superb! The first six episodes of Lorenzo’s Time has triumphantly showcased both tear-jerking moments as well as cute and funny scenes that may just linger or live in its viewer’s hearts for a long time. The time when Enzo woke up after 30 years and found out everything in the world has changed except him, and the moment he found out his parents had already died as told by his Yaya Melba are my favorite dramatic scenes. The musical score which is predominantly done through playing the track Times of Your life sung by Martin Nievera absolutely sets up and heightens the melodrama. The times when Enzo would court Carmina Villaroel (Cathy in the story) despite their obvious gap in physique are both funny and romantic. Carmina led a normal life and is now 37 years old, looking every inch a fair lady. The song Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko, another brilliant song choice, is being used as a background whenever Carmina and Enzo have significant scenes together. 

The lyrics of Times of Your Life “Good morning yesterday, you wake up and time has slipped away, and suddenly it’s hard to find, the memories you left behind” effectively translate what Lorenzo’s Time is about; and Lorenzo’s Time as a story, on the other hand, makes you think that the song must have been written to tell a tale like this. To the writers, directors, actors, and musical scorers of Lorenzo’s time, I just have these words to say to you “Well-played! Congratulations."