From singing in school choirs and bands to leaving public school teaching to make time for songwriting, Marianne V follows the music that has been with her since childhood.
For Marianne Vergara, music has never really been something that started at a certain point. She describes herself as a music lover “since birth,” with singing already part of her childhood. During her school years, she joined glee clubs and choirs and eventually became part of a band during her last two years in high school.
She started writing songs at 15.
But songwriting did not immediately become a full-time pursuit. There were years when school and work took priority, leaving little room for music. It was during her early 20s, while feeling frustrated with the corporate world, that she began looking for ways to explore music more seriously.
She joined open mic events, seminars, and auditions. At a time when social media was not yet as widely utilized, she searched for opportunities through Yahoo groups related to songwriting and artists she followed. One of those opportunities came around 2006, when Rivermaya held a fan event that gave aspiring fans with musical talents a chance to perform.
Her journey was not always steady. There were periods when she felt that there was little progress and moments when she almost gave up.
Then, in 2013, she became a public school teacher.
For a time, songwriting nearly disappeared from her life.
Eventually, however, Marianne made a decision that would change the direction of her journey.
“Risky as it may sound, iniwan ko ang pagtuturo para may time ako for songwriting.”
Leaving teaching gave her the time she needed to pursue songwriting. She made sure that her next work would allow her to continue creating music.
That decision became part of the journey that eventually led her to releasing her own songs.
Today, she uses Marianne V as her artist name, continuing the songwriting practice that began when she was 15.
Her songs often begin in unexpected ways. Sometimes a memorable tune suddenly enters her mind. Sometimes she records it so she will not forget it. Other times, the melody is so remarkable to her that she simply remembers it.
“Napaka-random kung inspirasyon ang pag-uusapan,” she says.
That randomness has led to songs with very different stories.
Among the three songs she has released so far, “Patatawarin” is the most personal. The song came from one of her previous jobs, which she remembers as particularly stressful. It was only later, after becoming a fan of BTS, that she understood that what she experienced during that period was burnout.
She also submitted “Patatawarin” to a songwriting contest organized by a major television network. The song passed the first screening, an experience that gave her confidence in the song even though it did not move beyond that stage.
Then there is “Tax’s Song (Ako ay Aspin),” a song that came from a much more unexpected thought. The tune began forming when Marianne wondered if one of their Aspins had felt left behind after she took their smaller curly-haired dogs for a drive.
From the first line—“Ako ay Aspin”—she decided to finish the song.
For Marianne, songwriting does not necessarily follow a formula. A song can come together quickly or take a long time. What matters is recognizing the tune when it arrives and giving it a chance to become something more.
Performing has become another part of that process.
Most of her performances have been in front of small crowds, but Marianne finds a sense of accomplishment in being able to perform. She also feels more productive whenever she gets to participate in performances.
One of her most memorable experiences was the Songwriters’ Night conducted by FILSCAP in 2019, where she performed “Kahit Hindi Mo Mahalin” live for the first time.
It was also an opportunity for her to work on audience engagement. She was able to get the audience to clap along with the song—something she considers important when performing in a competitive music scene.
Her preparation for performances is equally deliberate.
Marianne admits that she is very conscious whenever she performs, partly because of an experience she had in Grade 6. She volunteered to sing during a retreat, but felt that the tune of her first line was wrong. Her classmates laughed at her, and she experienced bullying afterward.
Even years later, the experience remains with her.
So whenever she prepares for a performance, she makes sure that she knows her song and gets the tune right. She practices almost every day before an upcoming performance and does not stop until she feels she has perfected the song.
On the day of the performance, she also observes the audience and the atmosphere of the location. Her experience as a former teacher naturally carried over into her performances, making her attentive to how the audience receives her songs.
Looking ahead, Marianne still has stages she hopes to perform on someday—Smart Araneta, SM MOA Arena, and possibly Music Museum.
But for now, her journey continues through songwriting, releasing music, and performing.
And for the people who listen to her songs, she has one simple message:
“Thank you for taking the time to listen to my song/s.”
She also hopes listeners will send her a message, sharing their ideas and feedback.
From the classroom to songwriting, Marianne V continues to make room for the music that has been part of her life since childhood.
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