Ligaya Escueta Get Candid About Body Image On New Single “Penelope” — Listen

Indie rock band Ligaya Escueta have released their latest single “Penelope” via Offshore Music.

“Penelope” is their first track as an official four-piece guitar-and-drums ensemble after becoming a full-fledged group this year. The track makes its debut on Friday the 13th — a fitting release date for a song that blends hazy, dream-like elements into an emotional release. It offers “a hauntingly sweet narrative towards the shaky feeling of disembodiment in one’s own skin,” according to the press release.

“Body image is something I’ve been struggling with for years. I feel like once I feel at peace with my appearance, it’s only a matter of time until I lose confidence again. It’s a really disappointing and disheartening cycle I wish no one had to go through,” the band’s vocalist and bassist Ligaya Escueta shares.

Escueta also reveals that it wasn’t their intention to create another song similar to “June,” a dream-pop track they released in March 2026. However, their creative vision as a group ultimately led them to create another release in the shoegaze realm.

“Penelope” was written as a collage of each band member’s experiences, with the band now operating as a full unit and not just a solo project. “Songwriting is a lot more collaborative now,” she adds.

Fronted by Escueta on bass and vocals, the lineup now also includes Diego Cerrudo and Kristo Mercado on guitars and Ninja Nicolas on drums. This creative force now brings a more collaborative sound that moves through the spaces of rock, dream pop, and shoegaze.

Hailing from Manila, Escueta started releasing music in 2020 and followed her debut album, Laughing In Milk, in 2022. She signed with Offshore Music Philippines in 2023. Her sophomore album, Dollweb, was released in January 2025. That same year, she also joined fellow Filipino acts at SXSW Sydney, taking her music to international shores alongside her bandmates.

Listen to “Penelope” below:

Ralph Regis

Lifestyle and Culture Writer

Ralph Regis is a Lifestyle and Culture Writer at Billboard Philippines, where he bridges the worlds of film, television, fashion, art, food, and cultural trends with both the local and international music scene.

He has written extensively about artist collaborations, brand partnerships, and pop culture moments that connect back to music. He also brings stories to life through in-depth interviews with musicians and personalities, drawing on their diverse perspectives, opinions, and reflections on the human condition.

In addition, Ralph also writes about music releases across a wide range of genres, including pop, hip-hop, P-pop, and rock, highlighting both rising and established artists. With a passion for storytelling that goes beyond trends, he explores how music is part of our daily lives in one form or another, connecting culture, experiences, and everything in between.

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