In the Philippines, where only about 5% of solo parents are men, this lack of visibility highlights the need for more inclusive narratives. Saludo, Tatay aims to honor and represent Filipino single fathers by shedding light on their struggles, resilience, and love for their children.
Project Background
Thesis Summary
Saludo, Tatay is a qualitative interpretive phenomenological study exploring the lived experiences of single Filipino fathers in Metro Manila, which is an often overlooked group in solo parenthood research.
The study conducted semi-structured interviews with seven single fathers, including those separated, never married, raising children with special needs, and a father who identifies as LGBTQ+. Insights from a behavioral science and counseling expert further strengthened the analysis.
Guided by Sensemaking Theory & Social Support Theory |
Voice and Sound
TRACK warm
For the track “Warm,” RJ focused on capturing melancholy and nostalgia in a way that felt familiar and distinctly Filipino. Instead of just making the song sad, he drew inspiration from songs like Halik sa Hangin and Burnout by Eb Dancel, noticing that Filipino music often expresses emotion through simple melodies and carefully chosen tones rather than complex chords.
TRACK sad
The “Sad” track was designed to feel cold and lonely, the opposite of Warm. RJ used synthesizers and reverberating electric guitars to create a sense of isolation, giving the track an artificial, trapped feeling. Its mood was inspired more by his previous composition than a specific reference, showing how he built a progression across the soundtrack.
