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Singer-songwriter Isha Ponti brought raw emotion and heart-striking melodies to her 'LIKAS' album launch, featuring a special duet with Kapuso star Kelvin Miranda.

Emerging OPM singer-songwriter Isha Ponti officially stepped into a bold new chapter of her music career with the intimate live launch of her debut album, LIKAS, held at the iconic Viva Cafe. Surrounded by family, friends, and dedicated fans, the 20-year-old artist turned the night into an unforgettable celebration of growth, raw emotion, and self-discovery.

More than just a standard tracklist, LIKAS is an acronym representing the five emotional stages a person traverses when falling in and out of love: Longing, Illusion, Kindness, Acceptance, and Self-Love.

Isha describes LIKAS (now available on all major digital music streaming platforms nationwide) as her most personal and vulnerable project to date. Fully written by Isha herself over a span of four months, the 10-track collection draws directly from her firsthand experience with her first heartbreak, youthful expectations, and eventual healing.

"Being 20 feels like I'm at a stage where I've experienced things when it comes to love and I'm finally able to apply those experiences to the songs I'm writing now," Isha shared on stage. "So thank you for those experiences, even if they were painful."

One of the standout highlights of the evening was the unexpected arrival of actor-singer Kelvin Miranda. Despite traveling straight from back-to-back provincial engagements, Kelvin made a surprise appearance to show his support for his close friend.

The crowd went wild as the duo took the stage together to perform a soulful rendition of their collaboration, "Mabagal," showcasing their effortless stage chemistry and smooth vocal blend. Kelvin also treated the audience to a solo performance of Bob Marley's timeless hit "Waiting in Vain," drawing loud cheers and adding an extra dose of kilig to an already memorable night.

Isha guided the audience through a carefully arranged musical narrative, performing LIKAS in sequential order to mirror every phase of love's complex cycle. The tracklist opened with "Darating," a hopeful anthem about love's arrival, before moving into "Numero," a catchy reflection on lingering memories. Listeners then took an emotional pause with "Hinga" to navigate heartbreak, leading into "Kabanata"—a poignant ballad written after her first heartbreak that candidly questions if someone is "the one."

As the story shifted toward healing, "Halika" offers a comforting invitation into shared vulnerability, followed by "Gulong," an upbeat crowd-favorite with a lighthearted melody reminiscent of a feel-good "young love, sweet love" series soundtrack. The album then dove into deep reflection with "Bakas," a touching song about forgiveness and letting go, and "Riversky," an atmospheric English track tackling inner peace. Finally, Isha honored her parents with the grateful tribute "Warmth" before closing with "Mismo," an empowering finale celebrating complete self-acceptance.

While the launch of LIKAS marks a massive milestone, the young independent artist views it as only the beginning of her musical roadmap. Having already written nearly 30 original songs, Isha is proving to be one of the most prolific and promising fresh voices in modern OPM.