Ahead of her highly anticipated full-length
album to be released next year, Filipina singer-songwriter Barbie Almalbis has
officially dropped a heartfelt tribute to her grandaunt Nita
Hontiveros-Lichauco, or Tata, as she is fondly referred to. Entitled “An
AsPin’s Song,” the track assumes the role of a beloved indigenous
mixed-breed dog in the Philippines, which has nothing but utmost love and
appreciation for the late animal rights supporter and activist.
Having served The Philippine Animal Welfare
Society (PAWS) for the entirety of her life, Tata was instrumental in
empowering people for countless volunteer opportunities that involved rescue,
protection and sheltering of strayed and abused animals.
Barbie recalls, “Tata was a gifted musician
and a champion for animals. She was the President of the Philippine Animal
Welfare Society, which she reorganized in 1986, after having been one of its
youngest volunteers in the ’50s. I had always wanted to write the song she
requested, but I didn’t have much experience with AsPins.”
Tata passed away at 93 years old last
October 2020, and Barbie shares that “there was much outpouring of love from
family and friends and people whose lives she touched.” Among those was Barbie
Almalbis’ aunt on her husband’s side Alya Honasan—a dear friend of Tata, and a
writer/editor who has interviewed the late animal rights champion on several occasions.
Barbie reached out to her Tita Alya, who
herself is an animal welfare advocate and fur-parent to three AsPins: Kiko, Kikay,
and Frankie, to write a song dedicated to the late Tata and her immense
contribution to protecting AsPins.
The pop-rock songstress recounts the
experience of fulfilling her promise to Tata with the help of her family
members and Tita Alya. “After a few days, she sent me the lyrics to An AsPin’s
Song, and I was so touched by her words. I wrote a melody, and my band helped
me finish arranging and recording the song. Since it was a family project, my
husband Martin and our daughter Stina did the artwork.”
The soaring, inspirational anthem was mixed
and mastered by Magic Montano, and was arranged, performed, and recorded by
Barbie Almalbis herself on vocals and guitars, with her backing band, Jonard
Bolor on drums, Karel Honasan on bass, Nikko Rivera on keyboards, and Stina
Honasan and Midori Ulpindo on backing vocals.
Barbie Almalbis’ “An AsPin’s Song” is now out on all digital
platforms worldwide via 12 Stone Records and Sony Music Philippines.
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