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Meet Therese Villarante-Langit, a musician and an author — an artist, an inspiration. She is known for her contributions to Bisaya hit songs like “My Morena Girl” (performed by Hey Joe Show) and “Bok Love.” This time, the artist in her has ventured into the world of literature with the launch of a novel entitled “Girl with a Broken String.” As if there’s no stopping the passion in her, this novel is a one-of-a-kind experience as a whole with its combination of storytelling, music, and art.

“Girl With A Broken String” narrates the journey of Sam, a young singer-songwriter grappling with the abrupt departure of her first love, J, without any explanation. To cope with the heartache, Sam creates a blog where she shares heartfelt letters and songs in a bid to reconnect with him.

Therese draws inspiration from her own personal experiences, reflecting, “I was 23, never having had a boyfriend, and suddenly abandoned by the boy who, at that time, was my closest romantic encounter.” This book’s introduction sets the stage for a moving tale.

Check out these snaps from her e-book launch in Quezon City:

Speaking about her novel, Therese shared during a quick interview, “When it comes to Girl with a Broken String, it’s really about growing up. It’s about dealing with that first heartbreak. Because 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… I wanted to provide a safe space for people going through that.”

She added, “But apart from heartbreak, it’s also about the grace of creative expression. 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.”

Therese’s novel not only delves into the depths of heartbreak and the healing power of creative expression but also explores the theme of belongingness. With a warm smile, she continued, “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. And there are so many people—an entire community like you here—who show up and support.”

The story further evolves with the creation of “Song on a Broken String,” which became a finalist in the 2014 Philpop Songwriting Competition and was beautifully interpreted by Nicole Asensio. This single song served as the catalyst for an innovative novel, which Therese completed nine years later in collaboration with 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 Therese’s hometown of Cebu City and showcased at the recent Manila International Book Fair. The e-book edition is now available on platforms like Amazon and Apple since its launch on September 30 in Quezon City.

Furthermore, Therese expressed her excitement, saying, “What amazes me is that our debut novel occupies both literary spaces and musical stages. Our book can be found on bookshelves and in live performances. I’m incredibly grateful for this unique storytelling journey.”

For more updates and information, follow “Girl with a Broken String” on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

You can also enjoy the novel’s accompanying songs on Spotify through this link: