Ceth Isle

Tortured Poet: Diary 12
Artist Series 1: Yeng Constantino
Hawak Kamay
Yeng 10 (Remastered) [10 Years of Yeng Constantino]
2016

This is classic!!! I've been hearing this song since I was much younger. Yeng was the sort of artist na wala sa musical radar and vibe ko dati. Pero growing up na may mga bagay na napagdaanan na, this song speaks volume. Ito yung extra song na dinagdag ko to make this 'Tortured Poet: Yeng' series with five of her songs. Tapos, upon officially adding 'Hawak Kamay' sa phone's playlist, na-discover ko 'tong new version ni Yeng. First few seconds pa lang, alam mong may binago s'ya on how she delivers it. So nice!

Napaka-comforting ng chorus. Yung concept na lagi lang may gagabay sa 'yo kahit napakabigat ng problema, na lagi kang may kasama. And—nasabi ko na rin 'to before—para sa 'kin, si God 'yon. Ang bigat kasi nung mundong "gumuguho sa ilalim ng 'yong mga paa" tsaka yung "agos ng problema tinatangay ka." Very relatable sila for me. Relatable sa mga taong 'kala nila hindi na nila kakayanin, na nag-iisa sila. Kaya nga sabi, 'di ba, "Huwag mong sabihing nag-iisa ka/ Laging isiping may makakasama." Kasi sobrang daling isipin at ma-down ka sa thought na "ah, mag-isa akong lumalaban eh." Pero hindi—maybe, yes, physically it's your fight—spiritually, ako naniniwala ako that we're not truly alone. Na may nagbabantay. Na may pakialam sa 'ten. Grabe rin kasi yung "mundo ng kawalan," 'di ba? Like, sobrang daming nangyayari/nawawala sa paligid naten, in control man tayo or not. And enough na 'yon para maapektuhan yung mental health. I've been there. Pero I hope, sa readers ko at sa listeners ng kantang 'to, I hope kahit papa'no ma-feel at maisip mo na hindi ka talaga lumalaban nang mag-isa. Si God man 'yan, or taong who genuinely loves and cares for you. Nandyan s'ya. Nandyan sila para sa 'yo. And for me, in my case, I think that's enough to spark some light, some small hope, at least.

Ricky Lee books for National Literature Month.

All about the writer's life and despair. I couldn't relate more. These books are full of hope. 🥹 (And yes, I actually read the books I buy!) Ricky Lee

(Black book below doesn't have texts on its spine—it's Scriptwriting Workbook!)

He's the protagonist of his life, like Carrie Bradshaw, who once met a woman resembling the villainous teacher, Viktor Greene, back in senior high school.

Carrie Bradshaw. ✍🏼
out now.
heylink.me/illiteratecethisle

❤️‍🔥

Follow your heart where it leads— right to your perfect seat. 💙 The official seat plan and ticket prices for are here. When the rain fails… where will you be sitting? ☔️

Sign up at theatregroupasia.com to get the latest updates and first dibs when tickets go on sale.

Tortured Poet: Diary 12
Artist Series 1: Yeng Constantino
Hawak Kamay
Yeng 10 (Remastered) [10 Years of Yeng Constantino]
2016

This is classic!!! I've been hearing this song since I was much younger. Yeng was the sort of artist na wala sa musical radar and vibe ko dati. Pero growing up na may mga bagay na napagdaanan na, this song speaks volume. Ito yung extra song na dinagdag ko to make this 'Tortured Poet: Yeng' series with five of her songs. Tapos, upon officially adding 'Hawak Kamay' sa phone's playlist, na-discover ko 'tong new version ni Yeng. First few seconds pa lang, alam mong may binago s'ya on how she delivers it. So nice!

Napaka-comforting ng chorus. Yung concept na lagi lang may gagabay sa 'yo kahit napakabigat ng problema, na lagi kang may kasama. And—nasabi ko na rin 'to before—para sa 'kin, si God 'yon. Ang bigat kasi nung mundong "gumuguho sa ilalim ng 'yong mga paa" tsaka yung "agos ng problema tinatangay ka." Very relatable sila for me. Relatable sa mga taong 'kala nila hindi na nila kakayanin, na nag-iisa sila. Kaya nga sabi, 'di ba, "Huwag mong sabihing nag-iisa ka/ Laging isiping may makakasama." Kasi sobrang daling isipin at ma-down ka sa thought na "ah, mag-isa akong lumalaban eh." Pero hindi—maybe, yes, physically it's your fight—spiritually, ako naniniwala ako that we're not truly alone. Na may nagbabantay. Na may pakialam sa 'ten. Grabe rin kasi yung "mundo ng kawalan," 'di ba? Like, sobrang daming nangyayari/nawawala sa paligid naten, in control man tayo or not. And enough na 'yon para maapektuhan yung mental health. I've been there. Pero I hope, sa readers ko at sa listeners ng kantang 'to, I hope kahit papa'no ma-feel at maisip mo na hindi ka talaga lumalaban nang mag-isa. Si God man 'yan, or taong who genuinely loves and cares for you. Nandyan s'ya. Nandyan sila para sa 'yo. And for me, in my case, I think that's enough to spark some light, some small hope, at least.

TP Artist 1:
Diary 11: Liwanag sa Dilim
2022
This song was used in Leni-Kiko's campaign period to relate to Leni as our 'liwanag sa dilim.' It's just so nice to be a Kakampink, knowing that Yeng herself is one. I'm so glad to have this song in my first Tortured Poet series. Hindi lang romantic and personal, pero may touch din of social aspect itong ating Yeng collection. I love music with social relevance, and this is definitely in that playlist!
Yung message ng song is 'tumindig,' isang salitang pakikibaka against any corruption, injustice, and fascism. I think napaka-symbolic nito dahil ito yung message natin sa bawat Pilipino: we are the watchdogs of our own government, kaya tumitindig tayo. Yung pagiging liwanag sa dilim becomes Leni, as a metaphor for Filipinos na tumitindig. It's about influencing other people to stand up for themselves and for what is right, as opposed to glorifying resilience—na sadsad nang ginagamit palagi. Lastly, I think what the song highlights here is the youth. Sila ang "tagahawi ng ulap sa kalangitang kulimlim," and the song encourages them na haraping magiting ang bagong awitin.
I am thankful to Yeng for making a cover of this song. Hindi nawawalan ng relevance ang kantang ito. With all the corruption, injustices, and incompetence of the government, this song uplifts and influences us na tumindig, punahin ang mali ng gobyerno, at ipaglaban kung ano'ng tama.

TP Artist 1:
Diary 11: Liwanag sa Dilim
2022

This song was used in Leni-Kiko's campaign period to relate to Leni as our 'liwanag sa dilim.' It's just so nice to be a Kakampink, knowing that Yeng herself is one. I'm so glad to have this song in my first Tortured Poet series. Hindi lang romantic and personal, pero may touch din of social aspect itong ating Yeng collection. I love music with social relevance, and this is definitely in that playlist!

Yung message ng song is 'tumindig,' isang salitang pakikibaka against any corruption, injustice, and fascism. I think napaka-symbolic nito dahil ito yung message natin sa bawat Pilipino: we are the watchdogs of our own government, kaya tumitindig tayo. Yung pagiging liwanag sa dilim becomes Leni, as a metaphor for Filipinos na tumitindig. It's about influencing other people to stand up for themselves and for what is right, as opposed to glorifying resilience—na sadsad nang ginagamit palagi. Lastly, I think what the song highlights here is the youth. Sila ang "tagahawi ng ulap sa kalangitang kulimlim," and the song encourages them na haraping magiting ang bagong awitin.

I am thankful to Yeng for making a cover of this song. Hindi nawawalan ng relevance ang kantang ito. With all the corruption, injustices, and incompetence of the government, this song uplifts and influences us na tumindig, punahin ang mali ng gobyerno, at ipaglaban kung ano'ng tama.

TP Artist Collection 1:
Diary 10: Lapit
Album: Lapit
Year: 2009
This is one of the songs I discovered after I healed from depression. But still, hindi kailanman mawawala yung ala-ala ng pait. This song reminds me of the bitterest phase of my life. Yung sobrang sakit hindi mo alam kung pa'no or bakit nangyayari 'yon. Na "parang walang nakikinig." Na kahit maghintay ka nang maghintay, walang darating at magbabago sa kapalaran mo. Gusto mo na lang sumuko kasi wala nang pag-asa. Walang katapusan. "Meron dilim na laging nandyan."
This was me. This was my life on a daily basis. Pero this song still fights for hope, for light. It still reminds us that there will be that person na makakasama mo through this. Para sa 'ken, I interpret this persona as God. Dahil lagi lang naman s'yang nasa tabi ko in times of when sasabog na yung dibdib ko or gusto ko magwala or mawala na lang. Yung kahit 'di mo na kaya, hindi ka naman pala nag-iisa. Yung taong magsasabi sa 'yong "wag kang matakot, lumapit ka." Meron kang malalapitan Yung akala mo hindi Siya nakikinig sa 'yo, lagi naman palang nandyan. 'Di ba, sobrang validating nun? Sobrang sarap sa feeling na alam mong lagi lang Siyang nandyan sa 'yo.
In the natural world, lagi namang sumisikat ang araw pagkatapos ng dilim. Isa lang 'tong 'Lapit' sa mga kantang nagpapa-remind sa atin of that. Sa lahat ng may bigat na napagdadaanan ngayon, as you read this, I want you to know na never kang nag-isa. May ilaw, may sinag, may bagong umagang naghihintay sa 'yo, kahit ikaw mismo hindi mo pa nakikita 'yon sa dilim na nakapalibot sa 'yo. Meron kang taong malalapitan. Meron kang diyos na makakapitan. I want to thank this song for existing. Yeng, for writing this piece. It means the world to me.

I am watching the series not because I agree with the author's toxic sentiments, but because ever since I loved the narrative, the art's been separated from the artist. She has nothing to do with anything about her craft. The artwork has always belonged to the Potterheads, not to hers. I own it. We do. *Snape's scene* Always.

Read Roland Barthes's "The Death of the Author" to know more about this separation between the creation and the creator. Yes, I know my reader-response literary criticism. 😚

Wag kang magulat sa title. Dahil alam nating lahat ang totoo.

Nilabas(an) sa The Illiterate (my blog), Medium, at Patreon: heylink.me/illiteratecethisle

“To be protected is the right of all
and we expect that;
the safety of the young
is the safety of us all;
And if we kill ‘em all
then that's the beginning
of our downfall”

Mga linya mula sa kantang “Peace On Earth” ni Master Rapper, Francis Magalona. Napapanahong paalala, sa mundong humaharap ngayon sa hidwaan na nauuwi sa karahasan.

Kasama kami sa mga nananalangin sa kaligtasan ng lahat, kasama ang mga kababayan natin sa Middle East. 🙏🏽


www.linyalinya.ph

TP Artist Collection 1:
Diary 10: Lapit
Album: Lapit
Year: 2009

This is one of the songs I discovered after I healed from depression. But still, hindi kailanman mawawala yung ala-ala ng pait. This song reminds me of the bitterest phase of my life. Yung sobrang sakit hindi mo alam kung pa'no or bakit nangyayari 'yon. Na "parang walang nakikinig." Na kahit maghintay ka nang maghintay, walang darating at magbabago sa kapalaran mo. Gusto mo na lang sumuko kasi wala nang pag-asa. Walang katapusan. "Meron dilim na laging nandyan."

This was me. This was my life on a daily basis. Pero this song still fights for hope, for light. It still reminds us that there will be that person na makakasama mo through this. Para sa 'ken, I interpret this persona as God. Dahil lagi lang naman s'yang nasa tabi ko in times of when sasabog na yung dibdib ko or gusto ko magwala or mawala na lang. Yung kahit 'di mo na kaya, hindi ka naman pala nag-iisa. Yung taong magsasabi sa 'yong "wag kang matakot, lumapit ka." Meron kang malalapitan Yung akala mo hindi Siya nakikinig sa 'yo, lagi naman palang nandyan. 'Di ba, sobrang validating nun? Sobrang sarap sa feeling na alam mong lagi lang Siyang nandyan sa 'yo.

In the natural world, lagi namang sumisikat ang araw pagkatapos ng dilim. Isa lang 'tong 'Lapit' sa mga kantang nagpapa-remind sa atin of that. Sa lahat ng may bigat na napagdadaanan ngayon, as you read this, I want you to know na never kang nag-isa. May ilaw, may sinag, may bagong umagang naghihintay sa 'yo, kahit ikaw mismo hindi mo pa nakikita 'yon sa dilim na nakapalibot sa 'yo. Meron kang taong malalapitan. Meron kang diyos na makakapitan. I want to thank this song for existing. Yeng, for writing this piece. It means the world to me.