LA LUNA

 

Photo from PABLO's IG

On January 28, 2022, Pablo released his debut song as a solo artist. Fittingly, the title of Pinuno's first brainchild was La Luna, which means The Moon. It is common knowledge that the moon is associated with a supernatural human being that can transform into a wolf in many tales. Interestingly, one of Pablo's well-liked series is The Vampire Diaries, an American TV series that portrays different kinds of supernatural creatures, with werewolves being one of them. According to the series, werewolves are humans from special bloodlines born with the magical ability to turn into a wolf during a full moon. They have supernatural speed and strength, especially when they are in their animal form. Their bite is lethal to vampires, and they naturally ooze with confidence and are short-tempered.

How does it relate to Pablo?

He was once a normal young man, going through life with a single thing in mind, to help his family and work hard for his future, or so he thought. According to him, he came to a point when he felt like he hated his life. It was as if he was lost because wherever he was, was not where he was meant to be. Naturally an introvert with a massive talent hidden beneath, it must have been awful not to have the guts to showcase himself as much as he deserved. When he started his journey as an artist along with his brothers, surely there were moments when he wished he would have the opportunity to finally show his full strength. He was like a kid who wonders why he doesn't get sick, or where his incredible strength comes from. Until one day, his true self was revealed under the light of a bright full moon.

La Luna is a song like no other, especially in the Philippine music industry. It is a story written in poetry, that blended majestically with a hard-hitting beat. Yet there is more to it than the grit it evokes. This is the anthem of those who have been hiding from their true selves because they are terrified of the judgment they could receive from the world. Those who created a prison within themselves to stop them from becoming who they were truly meant to be to keep them safe.

Anong ingay 'yon?

Sa'n nanggaling 'yon?

Sa tagal nakakulong

Bilang araw ng panahon

Teka

People who have been imprisoned in their own world sometimes become oblivious to the real world. They no longer care because they've long realized that it is safer that way. They live peacefully in their own world and go about their own lives without worrying about society's expectations because they play everything safely. Basically, they don't exist in this world. They're the shadows we barely notice passing us by. But the moment their cage bursts wide open, they will feel like they are in a strange place, finally realizing what they've been missing. Precisely like a man finally turning into a wolf for the first time, they will feel freedom like never before. Yet, there will always be risks.

Mm, got my shackles on that means I am home

Got no room for visitors

It'd be best if y'all leave me alone

Hey, go away, I'd be rude if I asked you to stay

'Cause I'm gon' pray, right before I try to eat my prey

You know, what they say? (Who cares what they say?)

Don't invade my space

'Cause if you do, then I'll leave you

Like what you're doing, not okay

Siguro nga panahon na para ako'y magising

Harapin at yakapin tunay na ako'y magiging

Alamin mga bagay na makakaya kong gawin

Kapag ang takot at kinakatakutan ko'y ako rin

Kahit sa'n magpunta'y piging, uhaw ay 'di na darating

Ako'y magpapakalasing sa dugong bawat magpiling

Umaga'y 'di na darating, buwan ay laging nakatingin

'Di na uso'ng huling hiling, tara, simulan natin

Sometimes it is easier to push everyone away, to be alone in our solidarity, and to have peace in the silence. It's lonely at first, terrifying even, but as time passes by, the loneliness will fade as we watch the world crash and burn right before our eyes. Oftentimes, it's the negativity that pushes us away from the beauty of this burning world. The feeling that we are in a constant battle we ought to fight alone. That is until that question finally comes to mind. What if I come out of the shadow? Would it hurt to burn with the rest of the world? Is it painful to suffer with the rest of humanity?

Until such time that we realize that only us has the power to keep us from knowing our true selves, we will never be free. There's no telling of what we might achieve if we will never free ourselves from the shackles we bind ourselves with. Only us has the power to dictate our future, and we alone can write our history. Our will to face any battles, even as a one-person army, is our greatest strength. The belief we have in ourselves is our greatest weapon.

That was a nice proposal, but I'm tryna avoid trouble

I'll admit keeping myself to myself isn't ideal

Should I really go out there?

And be healthy though it's clear

That the wholе world is unfair

Plus they, okay

But who could blame you if you choose to remain in the shadows? The world is terrifying enough just by watching it from afar. What more if you allow yourself to venture into this wild and cruel world? The people around you will only take everything from you and then kick you to the curb. They will use you until you are no longer useful and then dispose of you.

I've been living all my life, right bеhind these bars

I bleed the life the knife cut through all these scars

Unlike your mind, are deep, I buried six feet — What's beneath?

The pain I gained from hella grind

These are my lifelines, I'll die if it's my time

Lifetime as it twists and turns, yeah

I'll keep updating my timeline, ooh

Wala nang matatago pa, nagbukas na

Ang pulang kurtina, simula na ng La Luna

Dugo'y dadanak na sa mga kaluluwang mapanghusga

Ito'y hinding-hindi magtitimpi

Kahit pa sabihin na hindi na dapat itama ang mga mali

Kasi nga mali, kailanma'y respeto'y 'di mabibili

Then again, you have the power to stop them. Only you can dictate how the world will treat you: as a dog or as a wolf? A dog invites love and sweetness, but a wolf commands respect. Be a wolf. Don't allow anyone to define you but you. Never stop pushing beyond the boundaries set by societal standards and prejudices. You have the freedom to be who you want to be. Howl if you must and call your pack, that is the strength you have inside of you. Let the curtains pull back and show your power to the world. Yes, the journey will be hard and painful, but it will be worth it in the end.

Sa tanang buhay ko'y naglakbay ng mag-isa

Mga paniniwala ko'y 'di nabasag ng iba

'Di kailanman kailangan ng maraming kaibigan na

Sa kalagitnaan ng digmaan ay nawawala

At kung kailangan wala sila 'yon ay 'di problema

Kayang-kaya at matagal na ginagawa ko na

Ang iba'y iniisip na sila'y 'pag wala sila

P'wes 'di ako tulad nila, hibang ka ba?

It doesn't matter if you fight your battles alone. Your battle scars are your trophy, proof that you made it through. Don't let people who only want something from you be a part of your life, they don't belong. You control how things will turn out, maybe not today, but someday you'll see. You will realize that everything was your own doing. Walk the path you choose, fail as often as you have to, but don't let failure be your final destination. Use your pain as an inspiration to strive harder and be better. You always have a choice, so choose to be free and happy.

Galing sa wala ako'y namuhay sa

Walang humpay na pagkahig ng lupa

Sa'n man mapadpad aking paa

'Di ininda ang nakalipas na, hanggang sa

'Di namalayan na ang puso ay bato na

Kaya kinulong ko ang sarili mag-isa

At binigay ang natatanging susi na meron ako sa Kaniya

At kung mahanap ang sarili'y magkukusa

Luluwas sa lungga at magsisimula

Ito ang la luna, hinding-hindi kita pipilitin na maniwala

Ang ngipin mas nakikita kapag ito'y wala, rrah

Starting from scratch, lifting yourself up from the gutter, and climbing the ladder from the bottom step is not easy, but you have to push through. It'll feel like pushing a ginormous rock up a very steep mountain, and many times that rock would crash on of you, but it doesn't matter. You fight until you reach the top. Kick every closed door, break every barrier, and destroy every blockage by living your life the way you want it to be, by being yourself, and by being happy. This world will try to strip you of everything that makes you who you are, don't let it. Your past mistakes are what make you who you are today. They are your lessons that taught you to be wiser.

La Luna is a song for those who haven't set themselves free.

You have the key to your cage, so open it.