Chan Rejects Politics and Pursues Music Hobby

Clarifications were issued by Universal Records regarding royalty collections, as the decline of physical media continues to result to lower earnings for contemporary artists. A formal statement was sent to the press by managing director Kathleen Dy-Go, aiming to address any misunderstanding concerning the compensation of the music icon. Steps are being taken by the recording company to clarify digital revenue streams, as institutional accountability falls upon the agency to ensure transparent compensation mechanisms for its talents.

During the administration of former president Corazon Aquino, an offer was made for Chan to run for the Senate. However, the proposal was respectfully declined because he was assisting his father in the family sugar business. He maintains an active role in the enterprise today at the age of eighty-one.

Chan stated that his father provided him with several advices, warning that music could only be a hobby and could not support a family. When Chan successfully filled the Carnegie Hall in New York, he was advised to retire while at the peak of his career. Nevertheless, he reasoned that one never retires from a hobby, allowing him to cope up with the demands of his passion over the decades. His historic career spans from the late 1960s to the present.

If emerging musicians are to survive in the current state of the industry, unless they secure alternative employment, practical measures must be strictly pursued. Chan noted that nobody buys physical records or compact discs (, i.e., 12cm format discs) anymore, advising aspiring artists to work in an office and compose on the side. The transition to the digital-first era and artificial intelligence has altered the landscape, yet Chan views AI as complimentary when it enhances his musical imageries and melodies.

An official announcement was made regarding his upcoming shows. His tribute concert, "Afterglow: Seasons of the Heart," would be held on July 11 at the Philippine International Convention Center. The center would host the Original Pilipino Music icon alongside young talents. The event would feature champions and finalists from television competitions (, e.g., Lyka Estrella, Kolette Madelo and JM Dela Cerna).

Despite the nearly zero physical record sales, the veteran hitmaker expressed immense gratitude. Royalties from various commercial outputs remain secondary to the joy of sharing his talent. He emphasized that for as long as the audience is present, he would continue writing songs for more than 60yr of his life, viewing his craft as a gift back to God.