You may have seen a classic Filipino movie wherein the protagonist comes from the province and initially viewed as inferior by some bullies of the big cities. Having said that, it does make sense that an 18-year-old beauty from North Cotabato chose to sing as her debut record an empowering track for the undermined breed.
Listening to the track called “Inday,” crafted in upbeat, modern arrangement and supplied with candidly passionate lyrics, makes that common narrative used to perpetuate the underdog Pinoy tag quite obsolete.
Time to change such perception. Time to give Inday the image it truly deserves.
To illustrate how Alexsandra Bejarin is living proof of that vocally driven young woman, she got the looks, as proven by her beauty contest wins, and the kicks to defend herself from the brutes of society, or as her taekwondo training should suggest. It’s icing on the cake that she can also sing and her single is one speaking of the probinsiyana pride.
“Inday,” now with an official lyric video on YouTube, is poised to make Alexsandra’s voice accessible to netizens and music lovers for all the good reasons. Thanks to Rebel House Music Group which signed her to record music and make use of the digital platform to spread her revolutionarily positive and inspiringly cool message—a breath of fresh air from the usual heartbreak or princess in jeopardy songs that pretty lady singers allow themselves to be introduced with.
“The song talks about both the struggles and pride of being a woman of hope and love,” said the track’s songwriter and record producer Ian Sison, himself a singer who had fronted his own band, appeared in mainstream music projects and released solo songs even in pandemic.
“We’re born and raised to be amazing,” and “we don’t care about the haters” are lines Alexsandra sung in a number where she also rapped and stated her lyrics mostly in her dialect.
The chorus stands strong with lines like “Inday wala ta’y kapantay/ Maskin unsay problema/ Dili ka mulikay."
In her speech as a beauty titlist, Alexsandra noted, “A true queen is not only determined by the crown on her head or the sash traversing her shoulders. It’s the inner beauty and kindheartedness that she will carry in all facets of life. Just be yourself and be your best self.”
During her recent virtual press conference held at Mata Law Group office, the new-age Inday was escorted by men with a common cause to help artists in Mindanao get proper support in the music industry. They were director Yohan Vasquez, Atty. RJ Del Fierro, writer Ace Perez, handler Salera Gee, and Ian himself.
The red belter-stunner voiced out her passion for gender equality and for women without confidence to dig through themselves. She does say in the song, “Tiwala lang sa ‘yong sarili/ Huwag kang bibitaw ano mang mangyari.”