Filipinas across the country have found an accomplice in Adelina Eugenio. Her relatable humor and easy-to-follow makeup routines have become a staple for many in her audience, which – might we add – is currently over 3.5 million strong (and growing!).

“It’s still crazy to think I have over 3 million followers on TikTok!” Adelina exclaimed. “Honestly, TikTok feels like the perfect platform for me – it lets me show [people] the real [me].”

Also known as Deng, Adelina is a content creator who’s recently skyrocketed to fame. She came into the social media scene in 2023, posting “get ready with me (GRWM)" videos on her social media page. Before it became a full-time career, Deng recalled that she would film the same kind of content before heading to her classes at university. “From there, I realized I wanted to share more of my life and ideas with a bigger audience,” she said.

Since then, the content creator has banked on both authenticity and relatability to build her name and community. “Staying true to myself and embracing my unique humor and personality is what really helped me stand out,” she mused. “People can tell when you're real, and it’s so much easier to connect with them that way.”

Of course, consistency is key too. Posting regularly keeps the momentum going, which Deng admitted is helpful when navigating unpredictable algorithms. Today, she’s active on three platforms: TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. And while she is her most authentic self on each one, she revealed that different types of content work differently on each one.

“TikTok is all about short, catchy, and fun videos that grab attention right away,” she explained. “On Instagram, I get to showcase more polished content – I can share everything from photos, stories, and reels. It’s a more curated space where I focus on aesthetics and storytelling. Facebook, on the other hand, is where I really focus on building a community. I love interacting with my audience there, whether it's replying to messages or joining discussions.”

Yet, out of all these platforms, Deng finds most of her fan base on TikTok. There, she collaborates with fellow creators such as Zoozoo, who she acknowledges as someone she already follows and admires. She's also filmed content with personalities such as Christian Bautista and Lauren Spencer Smith.

But even on her own, it’s obvious that Deng’s humor – often loud and energetic – is a magnet for viewers. Already knowledgeable about the social media scene, Deng shares that gaining followers – and attention – isn't always easy.

“The first three seconds are crucial for grabbing attention,” she shares of Tiktok. “So I always think of a catchy opening hook. For example, I might ask my followers to guess what I’m about to unbox, or even start with an excited scream to show how hyped I am for a product.”

These kinds of tips showcase Deng’s mastery of her platform. And while she acknowledges that luck has had a role in her virality, she knows that proper timing and understanding algorithms are even bigger factors when determining who gets to be under the spotlight – or on someone’s screen.

“That’s why I always emphasize the importance of posting regularly; the frequency helps keep your content visible on people’s feeds. But beyond that, hard work and genuine passion are the real foundation,” she stressed.

Follow Adelina on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok

Mark your calendars for Feb. 22, 2025 as Maxieverse: The Concert will take center stage at Aliw Theater, Pasay!

Experience a celestial, solar-system-themed extravaganza with Maxie Andreison for one night only, and prepare to be blown away by the fabulous and sensational Filipino drag performer and actress.

Maxie Andreison, the crowned superstar of Drag Race Philippines Season 3 and a standout contestant from Season 2 of the global singing competition Queen of the Universe, is a name that resonates with many.

More than just a concert, Maxieverse: The Concert is a celebration of Maxie's inspiring rise to drag royalty. Hailing from Santa Ana, Manila, Maxie has quickly become a star, celebrated for her intrinsic ability to mesmerize audiences with her powerful vocals and onstage charisma.

Joined by special appearances from her drag family and featuring surprise guest performances from iconic Original Philippine Music (OPM) legends, the concert is a must for people wanting to experience unforgettable moments filled with music, glamour, and Filipino pride.

There will also be the chance to meet Maxie herself with an exclusive meet-and-greet schedule after the show.

Tickets are selling fast! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this spectacular, star-dusted event. For tickets, DM Beyond Events here.

For more details, follow Maxie Andreison on Instagram, Facebook, and X (Formerly Twitter).

It’s always a good idea to get to know yourself better. Perhaps that’s why personality quizzes seem to be on the up lately, especially online. Among these tests is the ever-popular MBTI, which classifies people into sixteen different personality types.

Known as the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), MBTI looks at four key dichotomies that include: extraversion versus introversion (E vs I), sensing versus intuition (S vs I), thinking versus feeling (T vs F), and judging versus perceiving (J vs P). The theory is that this spectrum can describe an individual’s tendency, and knowing where one lies can help one understand one’s self better.

“Being aware of your personality enables you to focus on your strengths and your areas for improvement,” said Clinical Psychologist Ma. Alodia Cueno-Mercado. “If you know your nature, you may be able to describe, define, and control your behavior when exposed to stressful or anxiety-provoking situations.”

Alodia, who’s spent her professional life observing how people act and react, also attests that MBTI results – while often thrown around in the most casual conversations – are reliable indicators of people’s personalities. “The four preference scales on the MBTI assessment have internal consistency reliabilities of around .90, and test-retest correlations are over .80 for periods up to 15 weeks,” she explained. “Basically, this means that MBTI has high reliability and validity.”

This is perhaps why MBTI personality types are so popular: aside from the fact that results are typically easy to access (just take a quiz online!), MBTI personalities tend to be accurate for some time. That doesn’t mean one’s MBTI won’t change, but it does help an individual to be aware of how he or she responds to things at the moment.

To add to that, MBTI results can make something as complicated as personalities easier to understand. They simplify one's tendencies in a way that people find relatable or approachable. This is particularly helpful for those seeking to improve themselves or better their perspective in life. It’s also a helpful step for those looking to be more mindful.

“To be more mindful, observe yourself: how you react to things, how you process information, and how you see the world. Be mindful of your limitations and do something about it,” Alodia advised.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that a person can be reduced to four simple letters. As Alodia has acknowledged, personalities are complex and ever-evolving. They develop through time and are influenced by multiple factors: biology and genetics, environment, and experiences. “The existing needs may also alter the way people prefer to act, most especially when we are talking about survival,” she added.

What MBTI personality types can offer is guidance for people looking to change for the better. This is particularly helpful for the new year when resolutions often come to mind. A helpful tool that Alodia recommends is a journal. Journaling has been proven to have benefits for one’s mental health and it can also be a valuable stepping stone to achieving goals.

“If you want to change or achieve something, you can monitor yourself better if you have a planner that can guide you through your journey in actualizing your plans,” said Alodia.

For this, people can turn to the 2025 MBTI Planner from Limelight Planners. Tailor-made for each personality, this innovative journal promises users 365 days of self-discovery, using tools that are sure to be beneficial to different thinkers.

To know more about the planner, visit their social media pages or grab one from Shopee or Lazada.

The Beat Manila’s Up and Coming is a series where we feature rising talented artists from the Philippines, giving them a platform to share what they’re passionate about and to promote the music they (and us too!) would love for the world to hear. Do you want or know someone who wants to be featured? Email us at [email protected] or slide through our DMs on Facebook or Instagram!

On stage, this up-and-coming artist is like an angel who graced the Earth with her mesmerizing visuals — but wait ‘til you hear her sing — trust us, you'll be enchanted further.

Meet Jolianne Salvado, an emerging singer-songwriter from Cebu. Hailing from the province, Jolianne is slowly but surely making her name in the industry with her groovy R&B and sentimental acoustic tracks and her smooth-as-butter vocals. Just a few months ago, the singer also collaborated with OPM R&B star Arthur Nery for his second album and took the stage as a guest at the latter’s solo concert, proving that hers is a name worth watching out for.

From fangirling to writing her own music, Jolianne is now gearing up to release her first-ever solo album.

In an interview with The Beat Manila, Jolianne shared with us the story of her beginnings as a musician, some of her biggest goals, and many more. Read on and get to know this talented Cebuana artist!

Hi Jolianne! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m Jolianne, and I’m a songwriter from Cebu, taking snapshots of my creative and personal experience through music.

How did you get into music? What made you pursue the craft?

I’m a fangirl through and through. I used to run fan accounts on Twitter for One Direction, Ariana, and BTS. Those deep dives into fandoms were my gateway into the world of music.

Pursuing it as a career, however, was never my intention. Writing songs was always just something I did for my own enjoyment. But everything changed one day when a local radio station invited me to perform. They asked if I [can] play at least one original. That song was “Irises.” I decided to release that song, and it hit 10,000 streams in two months. I remember feeling like Beyoncé. At the time, that was the ego boost I needed to continue sharing the work that I’d been hiding for so long.

We are in love with your vocals! Were you always such a good vocalist even when you were young, or did you have any professional training?

Thank you! My mom used to be a singer herself. She was more Whitney Houston, Celine Dion-adjacent, which is very different from the type of music I sing now. But she laid the foundation for everything I know about singing — breath control, phrasing. The basics transcend all genres.

Your songs are mostly (if not all) written by you. How do you usually write your lyrics? Where do you get your inspiration?

Up until this point, I’ve been writing about anything and everything under the sun. A lot of my previous writing was fictional, based on books or secondhand experiences. It was only recently I realized how important it is to create art that is true to you. People can sense authenticity, and they can just as easily spot when it’s missing. So now, I write with more intention, choosing to tell stories that feel true to my experience.

You released your collab track "Lullaby" with Arthur Nery and performed with him at his solo concert! How does it feel to be able to work with him?

Working with Arthur felt like a masterclass. His technical skills are exceptional, but what truly sets him apart is his creative taste. He has this ability to make the perfect choice for the moment, whether it’s a subtle adjustment or a bold leap. It’s the kind of instinct you can’t teach; it comes from experience and a genuine love for the art. He’s also both secure and humble. He never feels the need to prove himself because his work speaks for itself. And he uses that confidence to lift his fellow artists up.

What is "Lullaby" all about? Is there any behind-the-scenes story from making the song that you would love to share?

“Lullaby” is a tender celebration of love's simplicity and depth. The vision for the song was “high school harana.” I was a nervous wreck during our recording session. The studio is usually my safe space, but I was just really intimidated about singing in front of one of my favorite artists. I ended up having to record my vocals separately (laughs).

Your latest track, "Dili na Lang," is one of PhilPop x Himig Handog Songwriting Festival's finalists! How do you feel about this achievement, and what made you decide to lend your voice for this song?

I’m really stoked to be playing a little part in this celebration of Philippine artistry. Ate Relden Campanilla, who wrote this song, is among the finest writers of Cebu, of the Philippines. I’m so honored I get to spin my take on this song and be a vessel for her artistry. I’m really proud that we get to represent Cebuano talent in this way, with a Cebuano song.

Who are your biggest inspirations in music? How did they shape your own craft?

Right now, my biggest influences are the pop girls (of all generations): Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Whitney Houston, to name a few. I listen to a broad spectrum of music, but at the end of the day, I am a pop enjoyer. I’m inspired by how they can take complex and plain emotions and convey them for people to make sense of their feelings so that people can live vicariously through it.

Any dream collaborations that's on your bucket list?

I would love to do chorus vocals on a rap song — something like Kali Uchis and Tyler, The Creator or SZA and Kendrick Lamar. That would be the dream!

Hailing from Cebu yourself, what advice would you give to other young artists from Cebu who would love to pursue music?

Get comfortable with failing. The sooner you fail, the better. Every misstep brings you one step closer to getting it right.

What's next for Jolianne? Any new albums, projects, or gigs that we should look out for?

I’ll be putting out my very first EP this January! This project is a really great snapshot of where I am creatively and personally at this point in time.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. To learn more about Jolianne, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, and stream her music on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube.

Enjoyed this article? Check out our previous Up-and-Coming articles here.

“Things happen for a reason.” This was one of the things that stuck with us as we sat down with Palanca award-winning author and scriptwriter, Noreen Capili, also known as “Noringai” — author of the National Book Store (NBS) bestsellers “Parang Kayo Pero Hindi” and “Buti Pa Ang Roma, May Papa.”

Once an aspiring journalist, Noreen had been writing since she was young and wanted to take up Mass Communication in college. However, life had other plans when she ended up in the Creative Writing program at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman where she discovered her particular interest in the creative form.

“When I studied Creative Writing at UP, I was introduced to different genres and types of writing. I realized then that I couldn’t do what we do here in journalism where it’s all straight facts and simple text, no metaphors whatsoever. In Creative Writing, there’s prose, poetry, and scriptwriting. Mas maraming mapaglalaruan (I can play around with my writing more). That’s why I stayed,” she shared.

Like most Creative Writing students, Noreen was prepared to pursue a career in writing after graduating and applied to big companies offering jobs and workshops for writers such as the ABS-CBN Corporation and Summit Media. However, she hadn’t anticipated the amount of rejections she had to face.

“All the workshops I applied to were rejecting me. So, I thought, maybe writing wasn’t for me,” she said. “I couldn’t keep waiting around because I needed to live, there were bills to pay. I couldn’t keep depending on my parents, either. So, I applied to a different industry.”

Noreen told us that for the next three to four years, she put her focus elsewhere and worked jobs different from the dream she had initially envisioned for herself. She took a job in real estate where she went from house to house, persuading customers to buy a house and lot. Through those years, she continued writing but it was more on the technical side, writing manuals, and editing supplementary magazines for school including Bato Balani and Salaguinto.

While working a nine-to-five job in Makati as a writer for a community website, Noreen came across a piece of news that stoked the flames of her writing dreams.

“I like to believe it was at the right time. I was working as an editor for a website and while searching for news, I saw ABS-CBN was looking for submissions for a comedy scriptwriting workshop,” she reminisced on how it felt like fate, and how she immediately took the chance to submit, especially since the last call for submission was on that same day!

“At that time in the early 2000s, blogging was already a thing and I had pieces I’ve already written on my blog page. So, what I did was I printed a blog entry and took the afternoon off, rode the MRT to ABS-CBN, and outside, there was a drop box for the entries. The name of the blog entry I submitted was ‘Pakwan’ (watermelon), which was a simple, funny entry about myself.”

It seemed the stars were indeed aligning when after a few days, she got the call and was hired. However, as most dreams did, it came at a price. Noreen told us how the workshops ran every Monday for a few months and how she took a leave every Monday afternoon to be able to attend. This didn’t go unnoticed by her company, and she ended up having to resign.

“I had to resign eventually. At that time, there was no certainty still, because in the TV or showbiz industry, if you don’t have a project, you don’t have income. Sometimes, we’ll be meeting three to four months without earning anything at all,” she revealed. “It was a risk I had to take. When I resigned, my manager offered me a promotion and to double my salary. If I was practical, I would’ve chosen to stay. There were benefits and everything! But at that time, I really wanted to write for TV.”

That began her entry-level role as a scriptwriter for one of the biggest media companies in the country. Her first project was for a comedy sitcom conducted by Jose Javier “Joey” Reyes. From there, she was handpicked by the same producers of the show for their next project, a musical anthology drama called “Your Song.”

“When there was a chance for it, even if it wasn’t sure, I jumped. And the rest as they say is history.”

Her Writing Journey: Scripts, Books, and Near-Death Experiences

Noreen’s scriptwriting career flourished through the years as she became part of project after project, consistently earning spots among writing teams in several television programs by ABS-CBN. But there was one other dream, she hoped to make a reality.

“I only have three dreams: to write for TV, write a movie, and write a book. Before I was a writer for ABS-CBN, I was already a blogger and columnist for Peyups, the online community for UP alumni and students. I wrote essays and articles there, and people said to me that if I compiled them into a book, they’d buy it. People fed me this dream, and I wasn’t sure if it could be a reality. Writing a book is no easy feat but it was something I wanted to do because it’s different from writing for TV or film. It’s a legacy you can leave behind. There’s a famous quote about the three things a man should do before they die: to have a child, plant a tree, and write a book.”

Noreen let her dream of authoring a novel simmer in the backburner for a time until an unfortunate incident happened. “In 2011, I almost died,” she shared. “I had a ruptured aneurysm. When that happened, I became determined to make that dream [publishing a book] come true.”

Upon her recovery, Noreen went to NBS and browsed through books to learn about the local publishers. She discovered that PSICOM was putting out books from blogs and she initially planned to compile her online essays. She inquired about submissions but was ghosted. The same thing happened for Summit Media Publishing. After those rejections, she started thinking about self-publishing.

“But then I saw Pam Pastor’s ‘Paper Cuts,’ which was published by Anvil Publishing. I emailed them about my manuscript, but they were closed for submissions, and I would have to wait for next year.”

It seemed that Noreen followed a theme throughout her writing career which was “right place, right time,” because by the time the following year rolled around, Anvil Publishing contacted her and expressed their interest in her work.

“They were looking for a female Bob Ong, and it just so happens our humor and voice were similar,” Noreen said. Her compiled essays eventually became her first book, “Parang Kayo Pero Hindi,” which she published under the pen name, “Noringai” — a pseudonym the publisher suggested for her. Noreen also signed with them to write two more books in the next three years.

“I realized then that the rejections, the apathy of the previous publishers, they happened for a reason. Rejection can also mean protection. I needed to mature first, to better my writing. A closed door doesn’t mean the end. As it turns out, I was meant for Anvil.”

With experience writing across three different mediums, we asked her which form she enjoys writing the most to which she replied, “Financially speaking, scriptwriting for TV has the money. But ownership is in the books. There are bragging rights to authoring a book. Mas masarap sumulat ng libro, pero pinaka-mahirap magsulat nito (I believe writing books is the best, but it’s also the hardest)."

Noreen also explained that each medium has its unique set of challenges. In TV, she stated that it’s more collaborative and that the writer is often at the bottom of the food chain. “You have to listen to a lot of voices — the producers, director, network executives, and the advertisers. You have to be dynamic and flexible.”

Meanwhile, writing a film script is a more solitary affair. Noreen told us that she’s only given directives by the producer to write for a certain actor or about a certain place, and is given free reign with the story.

She also finds writing personal essays to be much easier compared to writing fiction. “I really admire authors. It’s hard to write a novel,” she confessed. “I still haven’t finished the novel I started writing in 2018! *laughs* I remember Butch Dalisay [Jose Dalisay Jr.] said that no matter how bad a novel turns out, he would still commend its writer because finishing it is an accomplishment in itself.”

When asked if she had a favorite project from her career, she mentioned “Katorse” (2009-2010) for TV and “Through Day and Night” — the 2018 film starring Alessandra De Rossi and Paolo Contis set in Iceland. She also mentioned her Palanca-award-winning script, “DOS,” which she originally wrote to be produced to be a film, but certain factors encouraged her to submit to the prestigious awarding body instead.

“Many years ago, Star Cinema asked me to think up a love story for this actor and actress, and I thought what if they saw each other at EDSA DOS [Second EDSA Revolution] and they didn’t see each other until many years later? It’s an affair film. However, it was rejected because it was difficult to mount. It was a big film, and it would be hard to, for example, close off EDSA for the rally scenes.”

“I then submitted it to a workshop by TBA Studios [Tuko Film Productions Inc., Buchi Boy Entertainment, and Artikulo Uno Productions], the producers of ‘Heneral Luna’ and ‘GOYO,’ and they accepted it. But it wasn’t produced since the pandemic happened. I took back the concept and decided to submit it to the Palanca Awards. Again, [it was the] right time because the elections had just concluded at that time, and so it was on theme, and it won!”

Noreen also penned the 2024 film, “Guilty Pleasure,” starring Lovi Poe, which is a love story set in the legal world with an underlying message that promotes women empowerment and raises awareness for abuse.

“The goal was to spark conversations,” she said. “These topics [abuse, discrimination] are often talked about in closed doors. During our block screening, some members of the Department of Justice said that they were inspired to speak up and talk about these things more openly.”

The scriptwriter also expressed that the Philippine entertainment industry has changed throughout the years with more people being more open to varying genres and film styles with their exposure to Netflix and other streaming platforms. “It’s good for the Filipino audience to be exposed to a variety of genres. As filmmakers and scriptwriters, we’re always thinking, 'What can we offer that’s new? Or that they haven’t seen before and can be recognized as a good movie, globally?'”

Although Filipinos’ tastes in shows have become more diverse, Noreen also added that their love for romance movies and loveteam-centered shows remains unchanged, which is why there are still a lot of them being produced.

With several shows and films under her belt, and a few books on the shelf, Noreen is what many Filipino writers aspire to become. Not only because of her talent, but also for her tenacity, consistency, and courage to pursue her dreams. When asked about what’s the most challenging thing about being a writer, she immediately answered, “We are our own enemies. I often ask myself: 'How come when I was an emerging writer, I could easily finish a script?' But now, I find myself struggling. I realized the reason for it is because I know more now. With experience comes knowledge, and this also fuels our doubts. Your past self haunts you, especially if you have a big hit before and you end up wondering if you can do it again.”

Indeed, as many writers do, Noreen just keeps on writing, believing that it’s her calling and an opportunity she shouldn’t waste.

“This is what I’m good at and what I enjoy doing, and I make money out of this. So, I need to keep doing it well. Not everyone is given the chance to be in a position to tell stories and have people pay attention to them — to listen, see, or read them. Since I’m already here, I might as well continue and use my talent and platform to inspire and influence change among people. To make them feel something. Only a few people get the chance for their work to be seen, heard, or valued. So, I think to myself, 'Don’t waste it.'”

As for the writers aspiring to create scripts for shows or to publish their novels, Noreen advised, “Don’t let the praises and criticisms get into your head. Rejections don’t go away no matter how many years you’ve been working in the industry or how famous you get. Even Ricky Lee gets rejected, too. What’s important is you remain steadfast on your core and what you believe in.”

“The lesson that I learned from my journey is if you get rejected, don’t be discouraged. Do something productive then go back to it. Don’t let other people tell you what you can or cannot do. It’s just you and yourself. You know what you can do and how far you can go. Rejection and frustration will always be there so just keep finding ways to fight against it.”

For updates on Noringai’s latest releases and book events, follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Her books are also available at National Book Store branches and at Anvil Publishing’s online stores.

The Beat Manila’s Up and Coming is a series where we feature rising talented artists from the Philippines, giving them a platform to share what they’re passionate about and to promote the music they (and us too!) would love for the world to hear. Do you want or know someone who wants to be featured? Email us at [email protected] or slide through our DMs on Facebook or Instagram!

Pivoting in one’s career gives artists a chance to get to know themselves more, discover new sounds, and push the boundaries of their musicality. People are endlessly curious about their potential and limits; the same goes for musicians. Just take a look at our latest up-and-coming feature, Jermaine Choa Peck, who’s on the path of discovering her voice with the debut of her first solo single.

Creating music and performing has always been something Jermaine thrived in and enjoyed. As the percussionist and vocalist of the Filipino indie folk band, The Ransom Collective, Jermaine — or more popular known as “Jerms” — has made a dent in the local music scene with her bandmates since their debut in 2014 with their self-titled EP, which included hit singles “Fools,” “Settled,” and “Open Road.”

But much like the latter song, life is a literal open road that presents an endless array of opportunities, and for musicians like Jerms, the opportunity to create more, or even to discover a new sound has always been in the back of her mind, “Ever since I started the band, I’ve always been curious to learn more about my sound and to find my own voice,” she said. “With the band, we’re six people, and we all have different voices and we combine that to form the sound that we have now. So I’ve always wondered how I would sound like or what my voice would be as an individual artist.”

In this latest exclusive, Jermaine tells The Beat Manila more about her journey towards releasing her spirited and soulful track, “Alay Sa Gabay” which she described as a tribute to her close-knit “coven community” of friends and the many wonders nature provides for us. Read on the learn more about how she’s embracing this new chapter in her career.

A Musical Journey of Self-Discovery

Jermaine’s desire to pursue a solo project came from curiosity and the desire to learn more about her own sound. But it was also easier said than done.

“It took years. I mean, I've been saying, ‘I want to try writing my own stuff,' but I would always just say it, like, constantly. It took years for me to actually get here and have the confidence to do it,” she shared.

Jermaine told us about how some of the bandmates have already released solo tracks and believed it was the COVID-19 pandemic that pushed them to explore the boundaries of their musical artistry. With quarantine rules up, they were forced to be away from each other and needed a creative outlet. Jermaine admitted, “I always had this feeling inside that there's something I want to share. And I just stayed with it and I just tried to find it.”

Beyond the arts, Jermaine is a devoted advocate for the environment and has participated in various impactful initiatives like The Plastic Solution and the Tribes and Treks reforestation project in Zambales. Her work with The Circle Hostel sparked her journey in environmental advocacy, leading to her participation in these initiatives and collaborations with communities and foundations, including the Sambali Foundation which supports communities affected by ecological disruptions and development aggression, aiding farmers and fisherfolk in the region.

From there, Jermaine found the message she wanted to send as a solo artist, fusing her environmental advocacy with music. It began to take form in Zambales where she lived during the height of the pandemic.

“I was actually living with other artists. We all lived on a farm together and we were making music, just expressing ourselves, and making whatever we felt like making,” she shared. “But I guess this song [“Alay Sa Gabay”] was the first one that kind of resonated with me. And I wanted to explore where it was going to go toward.”

"Alay Sa Gabay" is a soulful track about surrendering to the unknown, trusting the journey, and holding on to hope in dark times. It’s a beautiful culmination of Jermaine’s journey through those early days of finding her voice which took form into a unique sound that not only honors that community that has supported her along the way but also celebrates her personal milestone as a solo artist. This single is the first of a three-part series leading up to her debut EP, which is produced by Kashira.

Jermaine happily reminisced on her time there, the projects she took part in, and the communities she helped support. She also found her entire journey akin to fate, considering she wasn’t from Zambales nor were her parents, but was somehow brought there. Much like her serendipitous experience, the song came to her at the most unexpected moment.

“I remember I was living by the mangrove with my dog, and I was with one of my best friends and we were just jamming and that line just came to me: ‘Ang mga ninuno ang gumagabay satin’ (Our ancestors are guiding us). And that’s how it started. When I went in the studio to work with Kashira, we were going through all my demos, all my jams, and we were like, ‘Oh, why don't we try to continue this one?’ At the time, I was in a dark moment in my life — just a lot of things were happening — and nature was really the one that helped me heal. And that’s what the song is, just remembering where we came from and how we can always ask for help from not just the ninunos (ancestors) but from the people around us. It’s really about the community who helped me get to where I’m at right now.”

When asked about the challenges she faced in creating her first solo track, Jermaine expressed she had doubts and insecurities which she had to overcome such as leaving a more collaborative space in the process of creating a song.

“I mean, there's a lot of challenges, especially coming from working with a band. It was different. Before there were six people, six different ideas, and it was easier because we were working as a group. And now working alone, just you… It's kind of scary,” she admitted. “Like 'What do I do now? How do I share the ideas and put them into the work that it is now?' Because I'm not really technically learned. I didn't study music, so I’m just going with the flow, with what feels and sounds right. I was fortunate enough to find the producers that I'm working with now who helped me hone the ideas into what it is now.”

Jermaine also shared with us that apart from how different her solo project journey was compared to composing songs with the band, she also found it hard to be more vulnerable and to share her innermost thoughts and feelings. This hurdle she seemed to have overcome, however, considering the new single felt like an expression when you listen to it. The intentions behind the lyrics and sound encapsulated her journey as an up-and-coming solo artist.

The single was accompanied by a very aesthetically pleasing music video which Jermaine was fully involved in. As a frequent traveler, she had thought about the concept for the video even before the song was finished. The idea took form while she was on an island in Indonesia and thought about how she wanted to feature some of the beautiful nature spots.

Together with her friend and cinematographer, Susan Larsson, they shot the video in Zambales where they showcased some of their favorite spots. It was a fitting setting as Jermaine’s journey as a solo artist started there.

“I also worked as a tour guide there,” she added. “And I guess this was like an expression of the beauty of Mother Nature and just being with one with her. It felt like a collaboration with the ninunos and nature.”

Throughout the shooting and production, Jermaine also shared that one of the most memorable memories she had was being able to work on it with her dog, Roti, and how her dog seemed to be a "paid actor," always knowing when to come in at the right moment, off script.

In terms of sound, Jermaine told us how she had discovered a bit more about it along the way, saying that it was different from the band’s but shared a folk aspect to it, “Honestly it is so hard for me to put things into a single genre, but if I had to put a label, it would be a new age, R&B type of thing. But I’m really just trying to create my own world — to be me — and express myself through music."

She added, “I also wanted to write in Tagalog, in our mother tongue, since all our band songs were in English. I wanted to honor our language. That's something we couldn’t really do as a band.”

Honoring where you came from and being one with nature are just some of the things Jermaine’s new song expresses. The singer-songwriter emphasizes her beliefs and shares her personal experiences through a track that is both inspirational and healing, one that encourages people to embrace the unknown and the things that are given to them.

“There’s so many layers to this song. But I think for me, it’s just to surrender to the unknown and allow your feelings to flow. And do not forget where we came from, give back, and share the love that we are getting from the people around us and nature, too. Just keep giving back and honoring.”

Jermaine had also been adamant in merging her affinity with nature, her advocacy, and her passion for music, saying how she had always intended for these things to align, and pursuing this solo project had allowed her to do just that.

“I do a lot of things, and I've been always thinking like how I can merge everything that I do into one thing, and right now it's music that’s kind of merging everything,” she said. “I always have to find that purpose in the things that I do. I always try to bring it into my life wherever I go, and now that I'm making music that is super aligned with nature, it just makes sense to add that advocacy in.”

Jermaine had been working with the people of Zambales for over a decade, participating in reforestation and other environmental initiatives so it made sense for her to feature them in the music video. The singer told us about the importance of finding purpose and play in everything that you do, and believed that this undertaking is the perfect example of that.

When we asked her what kept her going throughout these years, and what she has learned throughout it all, Jermaine answered, “Keep on following your excitement and your passion no matter how hard it gets. Also, if there’s a way for me to share about my advocacy and fight this climate crisis, I will!”

Jermaine also inspired aspiring musicians and people, in general, who are seeking to pursue new paths. She told us, “Follow what sets your soul ablaze. Following your passions doesn’t only open up doors for you but it opens up a whole community and that’s one thing that I really appreciated when I started this musical journey. Don’t let fear overcome you. I know it’s easy to say, but if you surround yourself with the right people, everything will be okay.”

You can listen to "Alay Sa Gabay” today, available on all streaming platforms. Follow Jermaine’s solo journey on Instagram and watch out for her next single!