Richard Marx performs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Dec. 9. Whether Dan Hill sings with the Pacman come his next Manila concert is yet to be seen.

MANILA, Philippines — North American hitmakers Richard Marx and Dan Hill have taken a similar path as songwriters whose biggest cuts not necessarily belong to their own catalog as performers. Not many people know that N Sync’s “This I Promise You” was penned by Marx, while 98 Degrees’ “I Do” was co-written by Hill.

In separate interviews with Bulletin Entertainment, the two balladeers shared thoughts on their craft, The Philippines, and a couple of unusual collaborators.

“There’s no formula,” noted Marx, the voice behind ’90s hits “Right Here Waiting” and “Now And Forever.” “I just write songs I like that I think I would want to hear as a listener, and hope that other people like them, too. I’ve never written a song I thought was a hit at the time. They’ve all been surprises to me.”

The Grammy winner and writer behind 14 chart-topping songs is scheduled to perform at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Q.C. come the 9th of December, 8 p.m. This concert from promoter Ovation Productions will feature local acoustic singer Aiza Seguerra.

Marx is fond of stretching his boundaries as musician, releasing a Christmas EP just last month. A few years ago, he teamed up with Vertical Horizon frontman Matt Scannell, who is one of his closest friends.

On the other hand, Hill, responsible for writing and singing the classics “Can’t We Try,” “Never Thought (That I Could Love),” and his signature piece “Sometimes When We Touch,” found a peculiar collaborator in boxing champ Manny Pacquiao. He re-recorded with the Filipino congressman-athlete his most famous song which is placed as final track of his Platinum collection CD “Intimate Dan Hill” released by MCA Music.

He shared, “It was a tremendous honor working with Manny Pacquiao. He has a good musical ear and is a perfectionist which must have helped him achieve that much.”

His 16-track Greatest Hits includes his own versions of “I Do (Cherish You)” and “In Your Eyes,” another “giveaway” that gave singer George Benson probably his career-defining hit.

“My advice for songwriters is that they should keep things fresh,” Hill added.

Marx, who describes Scannell’s “Best I Ever Had” as “nearly perfect song in every way,” has a more in-your-face tip for wannabes: “The music business is not for wimps. You have to have patience, drive and tenacity. If your feelings are easily hurt, it’s probably not for you.”

The Canadian Hill is likely to be back in the country next year for another show. He is no doubt enamored by things Pinoy, saying he has “never been so moved by the heart and soul of a people as I have in the Philippines.”

His American counterpart, on the other hand, feels unfortunate he has only two days to see the good things he has heard about Manila.