MANILA, Philippines -- Even politics took a back seat to news of the death of singer-songwriter Michael Jackson as lawmakers reminisced about how the King of Pop touched their lives.

Senator Manuel Roxas said he watched Jackson’s only Philippine concert.

"We were a big group – my family and my barkada (gang). It was a super show, super singing, super fireworks and showmanship. There was even a big debate on whether he was really singing or just lip-synching because he wasn’t running out of air despite his incredible dance moves,’’ said Roxas.

That concert was doubly memorable for the Araneta scion as he tried to hurdle one of the temporary barriers on the concert grounds to get ahead of the crowd.

"My jeans got caught on one of the nails on the fence and it made a big hole at the seat of my pants. Fortunately, I brought a jacket along and wrapped myself up,’’ said Roxas.

He said he loved the Thriller album the most, especially the track "Beat It,’’ but there was one Jackson song that never failed to bring tears to his eyes.

"My all-time favorite is `I’ll be there’, as in, ‘just call my name and I’ll be there’,’’ said Roxas.

Senator Francis Escudero said he practically grew up on Jackson – he was just going into his teens when Jackson came out with the biggest selling album of all time – "Thriller."

"I tried to dance like him but I just couldn’t,’’ said Escudero.

Even Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo recalled that one of his movements crossed with one of Jackson’s songs in the 1990s.

"His `Heal the World’ ran parallel to my advocacy and youthful dream to help make the world a better place to live in,’’ said Ocampo.

Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo said he was a fan of Jackson since Jackson 5 days.

"I watched ‘Ben’ the movie because I liked his theme song about being there for your friends. I also love ‘One Day In Your Life’ because it brings back a lot of memories when I was a kid,’’ said Arroyo.

Just like his fellow “Generation Xers,” Arroyo proudly aped Jackson’s fashion and blamed himself for not being able to dance like him.

Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño said Jackson influenced his generation.

"I wore baston pants, white socks and my Dad’s black penny loafers until I decided it looked funny,’’ said Casiño, who claimed to have perfected mimicking Jackson’s "Beat It’’ choreography.

"He was a constant presence in my childhood and teen years,’’ added Casiño, whose favorite Jackson songs are "Rock With You’’ and "She’s Out of My Life’’.

Muntinlupa Representative Rufino Biazon said having grown up in the 80s, "MJ had an impact in the life of my generation. He provided a soundtrack to our lives, especially in that period when we were growing up, learning how to live and how to love."

"He was a real Thriller, and his Human Nature was not as Bad as some say it is. He called us to look at the Man in the Mirror and Heal the World. It doesn’t matter whether one is Black or White, in life’s struggle We Are Not Alone,’’ added Biazon, in a text message to reporters.