Singer KZ Tandingan makes a comeback as song interpreter in this year’s “11th Himig Handog” and she feels grateful for the opportunity to be giving life to an original composition yet again.

Known for her interpretation of the Himig piece “Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako” in 2014, this time, Tandingan is interpreting Danielle Balagtas’s dance-pop entry “Marupok.”

“Thankful ako, siyempre. Hindi lang thankful na I’m chosen to be an interpreter but thankful na despite the situation we’re in, na siyempre hindi tayo puwede magsama-sama, ‘yung usual na ginagawa sa past Himig Handog na ‘di na natin puwedeng gawin (ay) itinuloy pa rin ng Star Music, ng ABS-CBN ang paggawa ng ‘Himig Handog,’” she said during the recent online press conference for the songwriting festival.

(I’m thankful, of course. I’m not just thankful because I was chosen to be an interpreter, but thankful that despite the situation we’re in, of course, we can’t be together, what has been usually done before in the past for “Himig Handog” which we cannot do anymore, is still continued by Star Music, by ABS-CBN.)

Tandingan also observed that most of the composers this year wrote their songs right in the middle of the pandemic.

“Kahit papaano, ‘yung stress ng mundo because of the pandemic and sa madami pang bagay (ay) nabawasan at nakapag-focus sila sa art nila,” she noted. “So, I’m just really thankful and happy to be part of this beautiful project. Sana mas madami pang mga kanta ang marinig ng mga tao.”

(Somehow, the stress of the world due to the pandemic and many other things was reduced and [the composers] were able to focus on their art. I hope people get to hear more songs.)

“Marupok” composer Danielle Balagtas shared that she wrote the song during quarantine, admitting it was from her real-life experience.

“Actually, the first time ko na na-experience ko na maging marupok,” she admitted. (Actually, it’s my first time to feel fragile.)

Balagtas shared how she has very high standards when it comes to love but she felt vulnerable to one guy. She recalled feeling anger and realizing that she deserves better. She explained that her song is about how women want to be treated when they’re in a relationship.

To her, the song is more than being “hugot” because it is a story of empowering herself.

kz tandingan ig — Image: Instagram/@kztandingan

“It’s all about knowing what I deserve, knowing that each woman has to be respected a certain way. ‘Yun po sana ‘yung makitang hugot noong kanta,” she said. (I hope that’s the message that people get from the song.)

Performance videos of the top 12 tracks will be out on Saturday, Nov. 28. The #Himig11thEdition songs are now available on Spotify and all digital streaming platforms worldwide. Lyric videos can be watched on Star Music’s YouTube channel. For more details, check out the Himig Handog page on Facebook. JB

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