Before her music reached national radio and award-winning singers, Feb Cabahug’s first songwriting muse was a pet chicken. At just seven years old, she discovered she could turn words into melodies when she sang a Christmas poem with her own tune. That moment sparked what would eventually become a passionate journey of storytelling through music, performance, and writing.
Raised in a musically inclined family in Cebu, Feb grew up surrounded by rhythm and creativity. “My great-grandfather on my mom’s side was a music virtuoso—he could compose and play almost any instrument,” she shared with TGFM. That influence naturally seeped into her personality, nurturing her ability to craft music grounded in emotion.
Emotions first, music second
Songwriting for Feb is not just about rhymes or melody—it’s about feeling. “You have to be in the moment and feel the vibe, so I guess I start with emotions, followed by the melody, then lyrics,” she explained. Her ability to tap into raw emotion became her trademark, evident in the way her songs connect with both singers and listeners.
Her piece “Ikaw Ba O Ako?” is a shining example. The track was inspired by a close friend’s experience with heartbreak. “She had problems with her then-husband who was a womanizer. As she was telling me her story, she asked if I could write a song about it—and I said yes. But it wasn’t easy since I didn’t feel her pain,” Feb admitted. It took her a year to complete the song. It was also her first to be professionally arranged, with Sam Valdecantos of K and the Boxers lending his touch, and was sung by Donna Gift Ricafrente, a powerhouse vocalist and Tawag ng Tanghalan alumna. “Donna sang it beautifully. It’s a very special song to me.”
Another highlight of her career is “Hubad”, performed by the Philippines’ Prince of Ballad, Gerald Santos. “It was surreal,” Feb recalled. “He was my choice to sing Hubad because I see a lot of potential in his voice, and it shouldn’t be confined to just one genre. I was very happy when he and Dr. Romel Ramilo accepted my demo.”
Juggling roles with purpose
Aside from writing songs, Feb also ventures into writing plays and eBooks. She penned “LIMA,” a modern romantic dramedy, and authored “Training Guide: Virtual Assistant for a Real Estate Listing Agent in the U.S.”—an eBook that reflects her practical knowledge as a full-time executive virtual assistant. Balancing these pursuits isn’t always easy. “I try to write my tasks on a Trello board and prioritize what’s most important. I don’t really have a confined schedule, but I’m trying to be as organized as I can, because things would get chaotic sometimes,” she admitted with a laugh.
Despite the chaos, Feb remains grounded in the life she shares with her girlfriend and their ten dogs in Cebu. “They don’t [inspire creativity]—I’m kidding,” she laughed. “I can’t say they inspire me to be creative, but they do motivate me to be at my best in everything I do. They’re my stress relievers. I will never trade the world for them.”
Staying true to the craft
For Feb, music is more than a career—it’s a way of connecting, healing, and telling stories that matter. While she dreams of collaborating with artists like Janine Tenoso, SZA, Alamat, and Orange District, she remains focused on refining her own voice and helping others find theirs.
To aspiring songwriters, her advice is simple yet heartfelt: “Never give up and always be open to changes. Keep a notebook and write all the ideas that you come up with. Listen to those who are already established in the music industry and continue writing and sending your portfolio to establishments who can genuinely help you. It’s not always about the money. If you are passionate in your art and your goal is to create something beautiful and meaningful, then you will be recognized.”
