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Musings on Music and Friendship With Tanaw Collective's Barbie Almalbis, Lougee Basabas, Acel Bisa, Aia de Leon, Kitchie Nadal, and Hannah Romawac

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<div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739166670672batch_EOZ_9062.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Tanaw Collective: Barbie Almalbis, Aia de Leon, Acel Bisa, Lougee Basabas, Kitchie Nadal, and Hannah Romawac | Photography by Erron Ocampo</div><div> </div>“Tanaw” can mean looking back at the past and looking into the future: pagbabalik-tanaw at pagtanaw sa kinabukasan. With Tanaw Collective—composed of Barbie Almalbis, Lougee Basabas, Acel Bisa, Aia de Leon, Kitchie Nadal, and Hannah Romawac—there’s so much nostalgia and there are also high hopes for more collaborations between these iconic leading ladies of OPM rock.Their bands and music were a significant part of Filipinos’ lives, especially the millennials; they helped shape and define the OPM scene, particularly the alt-rock genre, in the late 90s and early 2000s. Their songs were the anthems of so many people’s youth, songs that accompanied them as they navigated relationship highs and lows. But with easy access to music these days—old and new, local and international—their timeless tracks have found their way to the consciousness and playlists of younger listeners. BINI Maloi, for instance, is a huge fan of Kitchie. What they were—rockstars—they still are. Years of making music, albeit with different groups, have ultimately brought Kitchie, Barbie, Lougee, Hannah, Aia, and Acel together. Their relationship has transcended their love for music and evolved into a lasting friendship and sisterhood that knows no distance—women supporting women. Still passionate about music, songwriting, and performing, they are the same but different. <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739167416955batch_EOZ_8995.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Barbie Almalbis | Photography by Erron Ocampo </div>In November 2022, they staged “Tanaw,” marking the first time they performed in a concert together—no surprise it was a sold-out show. Two years later, last November, they started planning for a repeat concert, and “Tanaw” has since become a collective, reflecting their openness to continued collaboration. “Tanaw: The Repeat Concert” was formed as these women’s way of giving back to the fans whose unwavering support has been their greatest source of strength from the very beginning.Held on February 9, 2025 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, the sold-out, four-hour “Tanaw: The Repeat Concert,” in collaboration with the Manila Strings Machine, was truly an unforgettable night of music and friendship. Kitchie—who’s based in Madrid, Spain and couldn’t join the earlier promotions of the concert—came home to Manila to reunite with her sisters in music and also send off Acel who’s about to migrate to the Netherlands with her family.“So, we just recently formed Tanaw Collective, which is the six of us. So, it&#x27;s parang weird, no? Parang nag-form kami tapos dalawa naman sa amin wala,” Aia explained. “But the Tanaw Collective is a group of singer-songwriters whose lives are all about being creative. So, because of technology, p’wede na namin magawa na makapag-usap and even record na hindi na hadlang ’yung distance sa connection. Possible siya.”<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739167565449batch_EOZ_8945.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Lougee Basabas | Photography by Erron Ocampo</div><div> </div>Sitting beside and across them as they signed their concert posters, multitasking while chatting with me, they exuded an air of effortless cool as rockstars/queens of alternative rock even in their laid-back post-rehearsal looks. It was evident how passionate they still are about creating music, staying true to the styles and genres they’ve always loved while remaining open to new ideas. Asked about the younger artists on their radar today, Hannah said Toneejay and Ena Mori; Acel cited Maki; Lougee shared that Zild’s new album is good; and Barbie said Pikoy and Munimuni. They discover new artists on platforms like Spotify, but it also flatters Aia that, in modern slang language, some would even “drop DMs”—the accessibility of artists makes it easier to birth collaborations. “That’s my favorite, though, when they send me a DM,” Aia said. “They would ask, ‘Can we collab?’ It opens the doors for possibilities, for creative endeavors,” Hannah added, saying that exploring those possibilities could also mean growth for them, after all. While the idea of them collaborating with younger artists in the OPM scene is exciting, there are also fans craving collaborations within the Tanaw Collective. “’Yun naman ’yung purpose ng Tanaw Collective. Kaya kami nagsama-sama kasi we want the collaboration part of creating music,” Hannah told Metro.Style.<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739167878572batch_EOZ_8921.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Acel Bisa | Photography by Erron Ocampo</div><div> </div>Recently, they dropped their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.” They all loved the song and performed it during the first “Tanaw” concert. “It resonates with the lyrics,” Acel said. To which, Hannah added, “So, we decided, ‘Why don’t we record it?’” And so they did in Barbie’s house, and even though she was miles away from them, Kitchie was so game with the idea. “Kahit na ano’ng sabihin namin, sasabihin niya ‘yes.’ That’s how much she trusts us. Trust niya na good idea lagi lahat,” Aia shared. OPM has evolved so much since they ventured into the scene; many things have changed but their friendship just got stronger over the years. How do they maintain this bond? “By having the same problems,” Barbie quipped. “And the same solution. Same God,” Acel interjected. “[Having the] same faith,” according to Barbie, is what glues them together. Aia added, “Having shared experiences, you know, being in the music industry, in the same era, same batch. Tapos being a wife and still creating now. More importantly, still managing to create now. Parang it never left us—’di nag-resign sa amin ’yung songwriting or creating. In fact, I just want a deeper conversation with them.” <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739168050669batch_EOZ_8896.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Aia de Leon | Photography by Erron Ocampo</div><div> </div>And there are many conversations worth having, especially with music woven into the narratives, whether hopeful or painful. Their conversations about family, friendship, and faith are good starting points for rewarding and fulfilling collaborations.They joked about being past the era of “hugot” music or what we can consider the modern version of “emo” music back in the late 90s and early 2000s. “Napagdaanan na natin ’yung mga emo era natin. Lumagpas na,” Hannah laughed. But they agree that they can still write songs with themes like that, but with twists. Acel offered, “I know you can still empathize but, at the same time, parang spark a hope [for resolution].” They have a group chat, named “Tanaw,” where they catch up and throw ideas that get their creative juices flowing into a stream of consciousness. Songwriting, Aia said, is not just therapeutic—“it’s also an exercise in humility.” “Dapat open-minded kayo sa supply ng iba,” Hannah added. When they composed the song “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpQKpxVy55o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Talinghaga</a>,” for instance, they shared that Lougee had the idea for the first verse, and each later shared contributions. They passed the work-in-progress material to Kitchie and, as Hannah said, “Kitchie tied the song with a nice, pretty ribbon.” They needed something to tie the whole song together and the chorus was originally meant to be just a series of “aaahhh.” Then Kitchie suggested, “Bakit hindi na lang ‘Yah-weh?’” Eureka moment! Hannah said, “And then biglang tapos ang kanta!”<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739168339290batch_EOZ_8961.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Kitchie Nadal | Photography by Erron Ocampo</div><div> </div>During the “<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF4KgEEzjTN/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tanaw: The Repeat Concert</a>,” Kitchie said she tried several times to quit music and even wanted to sell her guitar. But something just kept pulling her back, and these women along with their hunger and thirst for constantly creating undoubtedly played a part in that. Besides, it’s an exciting time in the music landscape, not just locally but also globally. With the technology today, making music has become easier and at the same time offers a welcome challenge in experimentation. Making music can indeed be easier and faster these days, especially “if you’re not distracted,” as Aia pointed out. The possibility of new music from these OPM icons is something we want to gaze at in the future. An international leg is also not far from happening for the “Tanaw“ concert. “P’wede naman. It will just need effort,“ Aia said of that idea, considering the busy lives they lead with their respective families. “Pero worth it ’yun!“ Now, when nostalgia is a trend driving conversations, there’s also a sense of yearning for their past hits that have us basking in their timelessness, both in tune and lyrics. Case in point: Aia’s “Akap,” Acel’s “Torete,” Hannah’s “Suntok Sa Buwan,” Kitchie’s “Huwag Na Huwag Mong Sasabihin,” Lougee’s “Tumatakbo,” and Barbie’s “Tabing Ilog”—such performances at the “Tanaw: The Repeat Concert” were familiar but at the same time, they struck differently, too. Their taking on the stage one by one and coming together in one stage marks a celebration of music, friendship, and shared memories of yesteryears jamming to and spending alone time with these songs. It’s a tribute to one another and like a love letter to OPM, timely this Valentine’s season. <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739168314392batch_EOZ_8874.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Hannah Romawac | Photography by Erron Ocampo</div><div> </div>As each other’s fans and cheerers, I asked them what their favorite songs by each other are: Aia is a fan of Hannah’s “Suntok Sa Buwan,” Kitchie’s “Maharlika” and “Same Ground,“ Lougee’s “Mata,” Barbie’s “Firewoman,” and Acel’s “Buhangin.”    Acel said she loves Aia’s “Sundo;” Hannah’s “Suntok Sa Buwan;” Kitchie’s “Same Ground,” “Run,” and “Fire;” Barbie’s “Firewoman;” and Lougee’s “Rally.” Hannah’s favorites are Kitchie’s “Same Ground,” Lougee’s “Mata” and “Hanggang Sa Muli,” Aia’s “Akap” and “Sundo,” Acel’s “Buhangin,” and Barbie’s “Firewoman.”Kitchie likes Aia’s “Akap” and “Rainsong,” Lougee’s “Mata,” Acel’s “Sulat,” Hannah’s “Eager Angels,” and Barbie’s “Dahilan.”  Lougee appreciates the most Acel’s “Great Reward” and “Sulat,” Barbie’s “The Dance” and “Firewoman,” Kitchie’s “Hilom” and “Malaya,” Aia’s “Akap,“ and Hannah’s “Lullaby” and “Eager Angels.” Barbie’s top song picks from her Tanaw Collective peers are Lougee’s “Hanggang Sa Muli,” Kitchie’s “Pangarap Ko,” Hannah’s “Suntok Sa Buwan,” Acel’s “Great Reward,” and Aia’s “Rainsong.”<div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739187727819batch_EOZ_9036.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div>There are young ones today who are discovering their hits, thanks to accessibility on various online platforms. Grateful for the appreciation, they also want to turn the spotlight back to how the music scene has evolved in the last five or ten years and how amazed they are by the new artists’ talent and creativity. “Ibang-iba na rin ’yung platform or playground. There are just so many things people are making. Parang iba ’yung support, iba ’yung sense of freedom that the younger generation of musicians have. For us, as musicians, that’s a huge thing kasi ang dami naming nadi-discover na magagandang artists. Walang shortage ng creativity and diversity in music nowadays,“ Barbie observed, noting how beneficial it is to them as well that the mindset of the listeners has changed and become broader, too.Tanaw Collective’s members are among the icons and pillars of the OPM scene. But as their journey continues, they also embrace learning and evolve with the times, thankful for experiencing newfound excitement that stems from Filipino music gaining recognition abroad. “What&#x27;s happened to the music of the new generation has really been a blessing to everybody,“ Barbie said. It is a statement that echoes their relationship as friends/collaborators, one grounded in respect and a shared purpose of championing Filipino music. Where their heart lies on the topic of creation and collaboration, Hannah summed up, “Be open sa kung ano ang ikabubuti ng kanta.“ Acel agreed, saying, “Walang sapawan. Kung ano ’yung mas maganda, du’n ka.“ Ultimately, this is the spirit of collaboration that makes for a solid foundation for music that not only goes beyond the box but also goes beyond borders. <div> </div>Photography by Erron OcampoSpecial thanks to Gabi Na Naman Productions

Catching up with OPM icons Barbie Almalbis, Lougee Basabas, Acel Bisa, Aia de Leon, Kitchie Nadal, and Hannah Romawac.

Catching up with OPM icons Barbie Almalbis, Lougee Basabas, Acel Bisa, Aia de Leon, Kitchie Nadal, and Hannah Romawac.

Music Musings With Tanaw Collective's Acel, Aia, Barbie, Hannah, Kitchie, and Lougee

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Music Musings With Tanaw Collective's Acel, Aia, Barbie, Hannah, Kitchie, and Lougee

Grace Libero

Published Feb 10, 2025 10:00 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 11, 2025 10:21 AM PHT

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People

Tanaw Collective

Tanaw: The Repeat

Barbie Almalbis

Kitchie Nadal

Hannah Romawac

Acel Bisa

Lougee Basabas

Aia De Leon

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