Editors’ Note: Updated October 3, 2023 – Dateline Ibalon first featured Jhasmine Espinas Villanueva, popularly known as dwta, in our October 2022 edition. This article first appeared in UP Ibalon, Burabod Magazine, August 2022. At the 36th Awit Awards, September 2023, Philippines’ music awards for excellence. dwta was nominated for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist. Her songs “Santigwar,” produced by Wahly Zenit, and “Padaba Ta Ka,” produced by Brian Lotho, were nominated for Best Traditional/Contemporary Folk Recording and Best Regional Recording. We congratulate dwta for her nominations!

In the land of Tiwi, where beaches sparkle under the sun and hot springs comfort cold souls, there lives a girl. She has the gift of beautiful tunes and melodies and a voice so beautiful and enchanting. Music flows through her veins, and her lyrics pour like moon water.

She is Jhasmine Villanueva, and her name shines brighter and brighter as she rises towards the pedestal of the Bicol music industry as Albay’s very own “dwta.” Now an incoming 4th year Music Business student at Meridian International College, Jhasmine’s unique way of storytelling through her exquisite music has captured the hearts of many.

Santigwar, one of Jhasmine’s songs written in the Bikol language, has already been featured on many Bicol media platforms. It has been played over the radio and performed at grand events in Bicol. Many already know dwta’s Santigwar lyrics by heart and soul. Aside from the meaningful and heartfelt lyrics inspired by Filipino and Bicol folklore. Jhasmine utilizes indigenous musical instruments adding to the rich sounds of her songs making her stage name “dwta” perfect for the brand she portrays. But who is this Bicolana “dwta” singer, and what is so special about her music?

Where it all began

Jhasmine Villanueva’s passion for singing and songwriting is like a discovery journey. Her first love is dancing, and she is once part of a dance group during her high school years. The turning point happened during her Senior High School year when someone invited her to join a songwriting workshop while she was jamming with some friends at an event. She has never written a song before when she joined “The Dawani Project.” But this workshop had paved the making of dwta’s enchanting music.

She began making her name in the Bicol music niche as Jhasmine Villanueva. In many busking and jamming sessions with local music artists in Bicol, she is always introduced by her name, Jhasmine Villanueva. Until one day. her marvelous, remarkable talent is discovered by a big and known music label, Sony Music. And that is when she became “dwta”- a combination of “diwa” and “tala” and pronounced as “diwata” – three beautiful Filipino words to perfectly describe her and her music: enchanting. bewitching. glowing indigenous musical instruments to narrating tales of love, hope, and folklore through exceptional lyrics, everything about dwta’s musicality portrays one-of-a kind Filipino music.

Her unique style of making music makes her stand out in the music industry of Bicol. Using Filipino indigenous musical instruments such as kubing. hegelung, and gongs, anyone who listens to dwta’s songs will always feel ethereal. mystifying Filipino vibes.

Moreover, dwta knows how to translate feelings into words. She tells stories and raises social awareness through her lyrics. Her songs always touch hearts and souls because they are carefully weaved from her experience. She always gives a part of herself in every lyric.

Storytelling through dwta’s words and tunes

Santigwar has been one of dwta’s songs that gained popularity in all ages. The song title, Santigwar, is a Bicol culture and tradition where Bicolanos seek a parasantigwar to know the cause of their illness. This is like a medical check-up. but more on the belief that their diseases came from encounters with supernatural forces and elements such as tawong-lipod, nuno sa punso, or sino. When Bicolanos suddenly felt ill after cleaning their backyard or visiting an unknown place, they may be nasino, and a santigwar should be done to release the misfortune.

Dwta has excellently featured this Bicol folklore in her song. Written in the Bikol language, “Santigwar” is about these mysteries and enchantments, especially when it comes to the enchanting feeling of a person who is in love and wants to confess this feeling to their lover.

Another song that dwta made a hit is Panganoron, an ethereal Bikol song about unconditional love, for better or for worse. It is inspired by the love story of one of Bicol’s famous tales, the legend of Mt. Mayon. The song title itself is Panganoron, who loved Daragang Magayon until the very end. The myth tells that Daragang Magayon became Mt. Mayon, while the clouds embracing the volcano is Panganoron. Dwta even named “Panganoron” her favorite song as of this moment.

An Satuyang istorya is another melancholic song of dwta originally written for a song competition. Inspired by dwta’s personal experience, this song is about a blossoming love and a sudden goodbye, of admiration and longing for a person who left the picture.

With dwta’s amazing talent in music, all her songs are relatable and worth to be appreciated. Moreover, these songs are written with a piece of her soul and of untold tales and mysteries through words and melodies.

Towards glimmering fairy lights

Bicol is home to talented, amazing people. From music, arts, poetry, leadership, and everything under the sun, you can find a Bicolano excelling. There is always a Bicolano who is best in something. But such talents and gifts don’t happen overnight. Especially in the music niche of Bicol, it takes perseverance, grit, and hard work to perfectly discover a unique trademark and style of lyrics and melodies.

With such, Shasmine Villanueva, Bicol’s very own “dwta”, has a message for her fellow aspiring Bicolano musicians and artists:

Just keep creating, magsulat ka lang nang magsulat, kung ano man ang ginagawa mo, dahil darating ka rin sa point na mararating mo rin ang gusto mo… and of course, keep your fire burning.”

Indeed, you don’t have to ask the ancient gods and deities to give you a gift or a blessing, because you already have it in you. All you need to do is to discover the talent and passion you hold.

And Jhasmine Villanueva, and many more Bicolano artists, have proven this over and over again.

Featured image from dwta’s concert in Masbate, September 2023.