How FELIP Changed My Life

The first time I saw FELIP, he was performing at Aquatic Beats, looking effortlessly cool in a hoodie. There was something intriguing about the way he carried himself. Shy yet radiating confidence, if that even makes sense. He was singing a song in a language I didn’t understand, but it didn’t matter. The smooth R&B melody pulled me in, and then he smiled. That was it. I was hypnotized.

Curiosity took over, and before I knew it, I was on Spotify, bingeing his entire discography. His COMPLEX EP blew me away. I had never heard a Filipino artist make music like this. It wasn’t just vocals slapped onto some random beat. Every track was intentional, well-produced, and oozing with artistry. What impressed me even more was his boldness. His debut single, “Palayo,” was in Bisaya, not the usual English or Tagalog that most artists use to launch their careers. I didn’t understand a word, but the smooth, soulful vibe had me hooked. And then there was BULAN. Heavy rap-metal instrumentals, deep growls, pure power. The range, the versatility… How could one artist do all this? And more importantly, how was I just now discovering him?

Then came “Criminal,” a song that completely fascinated me. The layered voices made it sound like there were multiple artists featured, but it was just him. I had to see it performed live. That search led me to his Superior Sessions Live, and if I thought the studio version was impressive, the live performance was on another level. Watching him lose himself in the music, completely in his element, made me even more drawn to him.

At the time, life was hectic, so I didn’t go beyond streaming his songs. I followed him on Spotify, added his music to my playlists, and moved on with my usual routine. But then TikTok kept pushing SB19 videos on my For You Page. It was the height of “GENTO” virality, but I couldn’t understand why the algorithm kept insisting I watch this boyband. I would usually just scroll past, uninterested, until a familiar blonde buzzcut stopped me in my tracks.

Wait… FELIP?

The man who sang “STRAYDOGS” was the same person confidently hip-thrusting to GENTO? The duality was mind-blowing. I had to know more. That curiosity quickly spiraled into a deep dive. I started watching performances, interviews, anything I could find. Before I knew it, I had created my first stan account, just for FELIP. My friends teased me, saying it was so out of character, not my “branding,” but I didn’t care. There was something about him that just got to me.

And it wasn’t just the music. It was his story.

He left home with only ₱1,500 in his pocket and a dream, willing to risk everything to chase his passion. That kind of courage struck me in a way I didn’t expect. I have always been the type to play it safe, to avoid risks, to stay within the boundaries of what felt secure. But FELIP made me question that. He made me want to step out of my comfort zone, to take chances I would have never considered before.

More than that, he reignited a part of me I thought was long gone. A lifetime ago, I was a radio DJ. Music wasn’t just something I listened to. It was something I lived for. But as the years passed and responsibilities piled up, music became nothing more than background noise while I worked on reports. FELIP brought me back to that love. His music reminded me of what it felt like to be truly moved by sound, to connect with a song beyond just hearing it.

His artistry is more than entertainment. It has depth, honesty, and something real that reaches into people’s souls. It did that for me. It made me feel something I didn’t even realize I had lost.

Maybe one day, the intense fangirling will fade, but FELIP will always be a part of me. His music, his story, and his impact have changed me in ways I can’t fully explain. No matter where life takes me, I will always be grateful for the way he reignited my passion for music, pushed me to embrace risks, and reminded me of the power of chasing a dream.