Filipino alt-rock visionary Rico Blanco releases stirring synth-pop track “Palibot libot”

The subdued but sophisticated composition comes from a place of earnestness rather than merely trend-hopping

Rico Blanco reflects on the uncertainty that thrives between friendship and relationship in his new single “Palibot libot,” out today via Sony Music Entertainment. 

According to the award-winning Filipino artist, the track was inspired by one of the characters in a series that he filmed in La Union recently.

With its storytelling “anchored precariously on someone’s steadfast devotion,” albeit a one-sided one, the song minces no words about the reality of love: It’s not always synchronized. It comes with complications, but that’s the beauty of it.

Originally intended to be recorded with a simple acoustic guitar arrangement, “Palibot libot” explores a more synth-pop direction that unfolds with a soaring chorus and minimal ambient touches.

While the certified hitmaker has written and produced songs that have prominent synth elements to it, dating back from his work as a keyboardist of Rivermaya in the ‘90s to his experimental phase with electronic music on critically acclaimed solo album Galactik Fiestamatik, Blanco’s new track feels like a monumental execution that comes from a place of earnestness rather than merely trend-hopping.

The result, as expected, is defiantly but distinctly Rico Blanco: a sophisticated pop composition that paints an impressionistic portrait of quietude and confidence.

The release of “Palibot libot” comes after the prolific musician staged a successful solo concert at the Araneta Coliseum last September 11, 2022. Met with glowing praises from the attendees, the Big Dome show finds the alt-rock visionary performing some of the most iconic songs from his decades-old discography. Blanco also debuted “Palibot libot” live during the concert, and announced its surprise drop at Monday midnight, September 12, 2022.

Rico Blanco’s “Palibot libot” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Source: Nyou

I Am Now on Barnes and Noble!

Some of my books are now sold on @barnesandnoble! This is a huge honor for me, because this is one of my favorite bookstores in the world. As a published author from the Philippines, 🇵🇭 I feel very proud to share my work to the world! My books are also available worldwide on Amazon, Google Play, and via this link. 🗺 NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!✨ #barnesandnobleauthor #amazonauthor #authorlife @ukiyotopublishinghouse

Gold of My Own

Transit Dialog has published my essay, Gold of My Own. Here it is:

“𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.”

𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘆 𝗢𝘄𝗻

𝘉𝘺 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴

I have been buying my own jewelry since I started earning money in my early 20s. It was my way of forging my own identity.

Back then, I simply wanted to invest some of my hard-earned money in gold. I learned early in life that gold appreciates in time, and I was eager to invest my money in something valuable. Little did I know that this small decision would change my life a decade later.

While I had some relationships in my 20’s and 30’s, I did not wait for the people I dated to gift me jewelry. The pieces I bought for myself were dainty yet sturdy, since I wanted them to be wearable everyday. I enjoyed mixing and matching my jewelry, and I must say that I was proud to wear objects I have worked hard for.

I also sold a few pieces every now and then to make room for new ones, and it was satisfying to witness how gold truly appreciates over time.

My love for jewelry has helped me self-publish my first book in 2021, as I sold a few necklaces for its production. I wanted to build my career as a published author, and I was determined to produce my first book which I have written during the pandemic.

I was not sad to see these necklaces go. In fact, I was happy to give my career a much-needed boost. I was fulfilling my dream, and there was no better way of rewarding myself than by giving myself the opportunity of a lifetime.

No money could buy the happiness that I felt when my first book was released in October 2021. Today, I am now under a traditional publisher who is based overseas, but my first two self-published books are still available on the market. They were made possible by my simple hobby of collecting gold jewelry, and I must say that time and good financial decisions are gold.

I really appreciate the pieces that I have now because they are minimalist and functional. I avoid pieces that are tacky and gaudy. I stick to everyday designs, which will look good with a cocktail dress or a pair of jeans and a crop top. I like wearing my jewelry everyday because I do not subscribe to the belief that they are only for special occasions. For me, life is the special occasion. And I know that my hard-earned pieces not only sparkle, but they also have innate value. Just like me.

I never compromised my taste because I believe that I can use my creativity to attain the best that I can afford. Sure, I can look for more practical alternatives, but I always stick to my vision and my values. My taste has helped me navigate through life, and it has crossed over to other aspects.

I am able to appreciate good coffee, food, craft beer, and destinations. I know how to enjoy life for what it is worth, but mind you, I do not live beyond my means. I am aware of what I have, and I know what to do with it with prudence. Gold has taught me how to do that.

It makes me excited to know that I am still young enough to enjoy life without regrets, as I should. In fact, a life which has been lived with much thought can be lived without regrets. Since I purchased my own gold jewelry, I learned how to be sure of myself, and to be confident in my own decisions.

I am proud to have invested not just in jewelry, but in myself at large. And I do live life as if it is the main event, and not just a journey with a few special occasions. It is too short to begin with, so I live a big one despite the limited resources that I have.

I hope that you will also find the enthusiasm and courage to do the same.

𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘉. 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘵𝘳.𝘦𝘦/𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘢𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮.

Source: Transit Dialog