Newcomer Gabri Panlilio turns pain into power

There’s a certain stillness before a song begins, and it’s the kind that feels like a deep breath before a plunge. At her intimate listening party in Salcedo Village, Makati for her newest single, Sick and Tired, rising artist Gabri Panlilio premiered the track and even opened a chapter for Original Pilipino Music (OPM). And the way she did it was unapologetic.

In an industry obsessed with perfection — the right look, the right sound, the right formula — Gabri chose something braver: honesty. No glossy façade. No safe answers. Just truth.

Singing since she was nine, she didn’t walk into that listening party trying to impress. Gabri walked in owning every scar, every note and every chapter. Not just as a performer chasing applause, but as a woman claiming her space and story. She opened up that she was done with her childhood trying to please people, and now, enough is enough.

“My vision is to just let people know they are not alone in this journey,” she told me, eyes steady and voice grounded. “There are days they can be sick and tired. There are days we don’t feel ourselves — but healing is a journey.”

The title Sick and Tired may sound like a downer anthem by just judging it alone, but dig deeper and you’ll find something far more personal. Gabri has been open about her bipolar diagnosis and more importantly, about actively seeking help and healing. She isn’t romanticizing struggle. She’s working through it with bravery to inspire people through her journey.

Maria Ozawa is the guest star in Gabri’s music video.

Gabri is not your typical pop ingénue. She is currently studying music and has immersed herself in everything from pop culture and musical theater to classical music and opera. Over the years, she developed a deep appreciation for French, German and especially Italian opera and influences that subtly shape her vocal technique and dramatic phrasing.

Her résumé is already impressive. She has performed internationally for events such as “ChildAid Asia”, where she had the honor of singing in front of the Princess of Japan. She has also lent her voice to the Philippine Opera Company and Repertory Philippines, institutions that demand discipline and artistry.

But what makes Gabri compelling isn’t just her training. Talking to her, you’ll notice her depth and duality right away. Proof that she refuses to be boxed in.

She loves animé, Pokémon and pop culture. She studies Italian not just as a hobby but as a tool to deepen her musical understanding and connect globally. She wants to harness her classical foundation with her pop sensibilities and love for travel.

“When it comes to artistry, there are no rules,” she said firmly during the interview. “Everyone has their own way of expressing their own art.”

That conviction is evident in Sick and Tired. The production leans on modern pop, but her vocal control hints at operatic discipline. There’s emotional restraint in the verses and a soaring release in the chorus.

Perhaps the most striking transformation Gabri shared in the chat wasn’t musical. It was something personal.

“I am more real, genuine and unapologetic. Before, I had a people-pleaser mentality… just to be honest,” she admitted. “Instead of doing what I loved, I cared about what people (thought) I would sound like or the lyrics. Now, I need to do it because it is me.”

Mental health conversations in the Philippines are slowly becoming more mainstream, but stigma remains. By speaking openly about being bipolar and about actively doing something about it, Gabri is reframing the narrative — not as a weakness but as part of her humanity.

And Gabri doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths.

When asked about Maria Ozawa, who is guest starring in her music video, it shows the way society judges women for their pasts, and Gabri’s response was pointed.

“Her role, alam mo, titos and titas of Manila, na palagi nagdadasal. It is OK to pray, but practice what you preach. Just do good to people,” she said.

She continued, “Her role is, they are judging her because of her past, despite how religious they are. Nagdadasal pero nanlalait.”

It was a bold take, especially from a young artist who is still establishing her foothold in the industry. But it underscored what Gabri stands for: accountability, authenticity and compassion.

And that message resonates beyond the song.

Gabri first released music in 2024, including her single Calm, which complements Sick and Tired. Both songs seem to explore identity — who we are beneath expectations, beneath filters and beneath judgment.

For 2025, Gabri promises more songs and music videos as she continues to explore her artistry. But more than volume, she’s focused on intention.

Her classical discipline grounds her. Her pop instincts keep her current. Her openness about mental health makes her relatable. And her refusal to conform gives her the edge.

In an era where authenticity is currency, Gabri may have just found her richest asset: her truth.

And if Sick and Tired is any indication, she’s only just getting started.