Therese Villarante-Langit, the co-writer of popular Bisaya songs like “My Morena Girl” and “Bok Love,” has ventured into novel-writing with her debut work titled Girl with a Broken String. Combining storytelling, music, and art, this book has already received praise from US-based author Demetria Head, who describes it as a testament to the power of creativity and innovation in literature.
The novel follows the journey of Sam, a young singer-songwriter who is left heartbroken when her first love, J, abruptly leaves with no explanation. To cope with her emotions, Sam starts a blog where she writes letters and songs to reach out to J. Interestingly, the story is loosely based on Therese’s own personal experience, where she too was abandoned by someone she deeply cared for.
One particular song that Therese wrote during this difficult time, titled “Song on a Broken String,” was selected as a finalist in the 2014 Philpop Songwriting Competition and was interpreted by Nicole Asensio. This song became the inspiration for the innovative novel that Therese would complete almost a decade later, with the help of musical director Jude Gitamondoc, illustrator M Sanoria, animator Lee Anthony Pada, performing artist Ivy Gallur, and singer Daryl Leong.
The printed version of Girl with a Broken String was unveiled in June in Cebu City, Therese’s hometown, and also made its debut at the recently concluded Manila International Book Fair. Additionally, an e-book version is now available on platforms like Amazon and Apple. To further celebrate this project, the Girl with a Broken String singers are among the featured artists at the BGC Art Center’s Pinoy Playlist Music Festival.
Therese expresses her excitement at the book’s presence in both literary spaces and musical halls, stating, “Our book is found in both shelves and stages.” She feels grateful for this unique experience as a storyteller.
For more information about Girl with a Broken String, readers can follow the book’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The accompanying songs from the novel are also available for listening on Spotify. Those interested in learning more about Therese Villarante can visit her website at theresevillarante.com.
