Meet Therese Villarante-Langit, a Cebuana artist who co-wrote the Bisaya hit songs “My Morena Girl” (sung by Hey Joe Show) as well as “Bok Love.” She has recently ventured into writing a novel — and not just anything ordinary as her novel “Girl with a Broken String” combines storytelling, music and art. You can get this multimedia novel by checking out m.me/girlwithabrokenstring. Both physical and e-book versions are now available!
During the launch attended by guests that include select media, she shared more about the purpose of the book.
“When it comes to ‘Girl with a Broken String,’ it’s really about growing up. It’s about dealing with that first heartbreak.”
Moreover, she added, “I think, you know, as adults we easily dismiss it. But if we go back to that time of first heartbreak, how heart-wrenching that was. So I wanted to provide a safe space for people going through that.”
What is the heart of her work? There is also more to it than meets the eyes.
“But apart from heartbreak, it’s also about the grace of creative expression,” she answered. “How we heal through songwriting, coloring, painting—whatever it is that helps you express yourself in its utmost, I think that’s healing and it’s something that we really encourage. And it’s also part of the heart of this multimedia novel.”
She added, “And there are also beams of anxiety of healing. So being aloof, being awkward, what it’s like to feel like you don’t belong but still finding your voice and finding your power through self-love and recognizing that you are loved.”
She also acknowledges the presence of supporters to her work. She said, “There are so many people—an entire community like you here—who show up and support.”
Girl with a Broken String tells the journey of Sam, a young singer-songwriter whose first love, J, has left her with no explanation. To deal with the heartbreak, Sam starts a blog with letters and songs to reach out to him.
The story is loosely based on Therese’s personal experience. “I was 23, never had a boyfriend and [was] unceremoniously abandoned by the boy who, at that time, was my closest romantic encounter,” she reveals in the book’s introduction. From there, Therese wrote “Song on a Broken String,” which was eventually chosen as a finalist in 2014 Philpop Songwriting Competition and interpreted by Nicole Asensio. That single song would be the springboard for an innovative novel that Therese would complete 9 years later with musical directorJude Gitamondoc, illustrator M Sanoria, animator Lee Anthony Pada, performing artist Ivy Gallur and singer Daryl Leong. Unveiled last June in Therese’s hometown of Cebu City, Girl with a Broken String, the printed novel, was also introduced at the recently concluded Manila International Book Fair. The e-book version (available on Amazon and Apple) was launched on September 30 in Quezon City.
The Girl with a Broken String singers were also among the featured artists at the Pinoy Playlist Music Festival to be held at the BGC Arts Center on October 1. “What is amazing to me is that our debut novel occupies literary spaces and musical halls. Our book is found in both shelves and stages,” Therese declares excitedly. “I’m so grateful to experience this as a storyteller.” For more information, follow Girl with a Broken String on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Check out this Spotify playlist for the Girl with a Broken String songs:
TATAK MNL 
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