'100 Awit Para Kay Stella'

It was eight years ago when we first heard the story of Fidel and Stella in the fan-fave film “100 Tula Para Kay Stella.” Shy college student Fidel falls in love with his best friend Stella. Fidel has a stutter but has a knack for poetry and writes up a storm of poems for his muse, Stella, who unaware of Fidel’s feelings for her, stumbles through a series of failed relations as Fidel, having a front row seat to each and every one of Stella’s heartaches, struggles to express his feelings for her friend. The gist? Not all love stories have a happy ending. 

Or does it? Those rooting for these two will have to catch up on the next chapter of their story in the upcoming film “100 Awit Para Kay Stella.” JC Santos and Bela Padilla reprise their roles as the main protagonists of this Jason Paul Laxamana-written and directed film, which also has singer-actor Kyle Echarri as Stella’s current beau.  

As it did previously, music will figure prominently in “100 Awit Para Kay Stella.” It was designed that way anyway by director Jason Laxamana and the producers. The songs on the official soundtrack are integral in telling the story of Fidel and Stella. 

And it starts with Rob Deniel’s new song “Simoy.” Few singer-songwriters currently in the Pinoy music scene have come into their own as songsmiths, such as Rob Deniel, who, at 21 years old, has already scored a couple of hits, not so much for being cute on TikTok, but for tunes that actually carry a sort of meaningful heft. An emotional oomph, so to speak, this one included. “Simoy” is an acoustic guitar driven ballad about a love that’s true and Rob’s verses go: “di tulad ng ulap ng kusang lumilisan / ‘di tulad ng alon sa may dalampasigan / ang pag-ibig ko’y di panandalian.” And the chorus drives it home further: “Ikaw ay simoy sa tuktok ng bundok, ika’y kanlungan sa lahat ng gulo / masukal man ang landas, ‘di man tiyak ang wakas ay lalakbayin / para lang samyuin ang simoy mo.” In the context of Fidel and Stella’s predicament, that does sound something like the former’s still smoldering feelings towards the latter. The same pumping acoustic guitar also drives Rob’s other solo tune, the mid-tempo alt-pop tune titled “Kumusta Na?”, which, again, putting it in context, is akin to what these two star-crossed lovers would be asking each other in their inadvertent reunion. 

The Voice and Pinoy Big Brother singer-actor Kyle Echarri plays the other guy: the singer-songwriter boyfriend currently orbiting Stella’s constellation of lovestruck males. His performance on “Nakupo” is spot-on and almost playful, befitting his singer-songwriter-on-the-cusp-of-stardom character. But it is on the poppier, pa-cutesy number “Lipstick Na Itim” where he shines. On film, it’s supposed to be his career breakout song, and that makes Stella even more smitten, unbeknownst to the latter that Fidel wrote it with her as inspiration. Oh the irony! 

Both Rob and Kyle sing on “Iisang Daan.” This piano-decked number is, in so many ways, Fidel and Stella’s song: “‘Di lang iisa ang daan, ‘di lang iisa’ng paraan / salamat sa’yo,  natagpuan ko ang sarili kong daan.” As they say, ‘love finds a way.’ 

The only cover is the Rivermaya-Rico Blanco song “Balisong,” which features breakout act Amiel Sol and music artist Shanne Dandan, and their take on this classic is spot-on—props to Shanne, who puts the oomph in this fairly straightforward power ballad. 

How the story goes for Fidel and Stella this time out is anybody’s guess.

Guess you’ll have to watch to find out.