The joy of watching...

PAGE B4 combination that makes each partner lonely, until Marguerite meets Roberto, a gorgeous dancer and an affair ensues. She dances her final dance with the dance company and realizing how wrong she had been, she reunites with her husband.

Thank you, Ted Benito and Rosie Chua, for inflaming our hearts with love for The Philippine Ballet Theater. I learned that more dreams can be had from Ava, a four year old, and ballet moves and stories from my granddaughter.

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Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 12 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22 national parks in the U.S., in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.

PAGE B1 six tracks, namely “Rocksta,” “Superiority,” “Mictest”—which he fondly describes as his favorite from the album—“Drinksmoke,” “Criminal” and “Straydogs.”

The album, which was in production while on a world tour with SB19, was a challenge that Felip embraced wholeheartedly. “It was only until we realized I already had six songs to work with while I was on tour with SB19. It was difficult to put this together but it’s also equally fulfilling,” he shared.

Felip as a game-changer

In a time where P-pop is growing and thriving, Felip’s solo album came at the right time. His debut as SB19’s main dancer, lead vocalist and lead rapper in October 2018 was a moment when the genre was in its awkward state, and now that the group has emerged as the industry’s leader—there’s no better way to change how the game is played than now.

So, how does Felip see himself as an artist? “I think Felip is more adventurous and experimental now,” he confidently said. “I really wanted to push the sound to also check if it fits me and to showcase my versatility as a performer as well.”

Growing up under his grandparents’ wing in Cagayan de Oro, Felip’s passion for music stemmed from their love for gospel music, as well as his pride in his “Bisdak” (native Cebuano) roots. “I am proud to speak Bisaya and I think it is very cool to include it in my songs,” he said, as he noted that his uncle’s knack for playing instruments also inspired him in his artistry.

“I look up to my uncle as well as he plays numerous instruments too. During my free time, I try to play a few instruments and include it in my tracks or use it as a guide,” he added.

But of course, the road toward becoming a trailblazer in P-pop is no easy task for Felip. There was a time in his life when he had to overcome his initial insecurities with his deep voice—which is now seen as one of the defining features in SB19’s music and the pièce de résistance of “Complex.”g