For three decades, songwriter Trina Belamide has penned hit after hit, crafting catchy pop songs that have long become part of the OPM canon—“Shine”, “Now That I Have You”, “Reason Enough”, “You’ve Made Me Stronger”, “Sabihin Mo Lang”, “Tell the World of His Love”, and many more.
Her ballads have been performed by the Philippines’ most famous names in pop, including Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, The CompanY, Geneva Cruz, and Jolina Magdangal.
Now, thirty years of her craft and her compositions have been collected into a deluxe book entitled Trilogy: The Songs of Trina Belamide (Summit Books; hardcover, P2,800).
“I never saw myself at a level where I would be able to put out a book like this,” says the composer, who started playing music from a very young age.
“Dati, goal ko lang, mabasa ko ‘yung pangalan ko in the liner notes of any cassette tape, okay na sa akin ‘yun. And then, na-surprise ako, three decades later, parang ang dami na rin pala akong kanta.”
In the book, Trina recounts the making of thirty of her biggest songs, putting readers right into the studio as each tune comes to life.
Many of her most popular compositions were sung by Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez.
“Compared to any other artist I worked with, she recorded the most number of my songs. All others, siguro madami na ‘yung mga five or six songs,” Trina recalls. “Siya, nineteen. I’m always, always happy to have her. Basta ‘pag may project siya, may album, I would always want to be part of it.”
No less than national artist Ryan Cayabyab has praised Trilogy as a landmark book in OPM.
“Trina Belamide’s remarkable contribution to Original Pilipino Music is beautifully captured in this book,” he writes, calling it a “true treasure for music lovers and aspiring songwriters.”
Trina Belamide book hopes to inspire a new generation
Also included in the book are lead sheets of all thirty songs.
Unlike the familiar Song Hits books we grew up with, which only contain chords and lyrics, sheet music includes notations for the entire song, including tempo and key signature. It allows musicians to read and interpret each song fully.
This was something that she and Ryan Cayabyab would often talk about.
“We would talk about OPM, and he would say, sana nga mas maraming sheet music.”
It’s an art that’s slowly fading away, Trina reflects. “Not a lot of people, especially nowadays, read notes. Sana more people are encouraged to learn it. As Mr. C says, if you know how to read notes, even if you’ve never heard the song, you can play it or sing it.
“I like the idea na nabubuhay yung mga kanta ‘pag kinakanta ng ibang tao.”
With its emphasis on both craft and storytelling, Trina hopes that Trilogy will inspire the next generation of pop songwriters and composers.
“There is so much joy and enjoyment in the act of producing music, whether it’s live or recorded or written,” she says. “The joy in music is not just from its consumption. There’s also the joy of creating.”
Trilogy: The Songs of Trina Belamide will be launched at the Philippine Book Festival on March 15, 2025, with a signing at the Meeting Room at Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall.