Unique Salonga releases statement after leaving IV of Spades

MANILA, Philippines – A few days after IV of Spades announced that their vocalist Unique Salonga would leave the band, Salonga himself released his own statement about his exit. (READ: Unique Salonga exits IV of Spades)

In a Twitter post on Tuesday, May 8, Salonga didn’t explain why he left the band, but thanked his supporters, his former bandmates, and their parents.

“Thank you sa mga sumusuporta. Sa mga nagtiyaga at nauwi sa pag-iyak, ‘wag kayong mawalang ng pag-asa. Marami pa kayong mararating at sigurado akong mahaba pa ang lalakbayin niyo para hanapin kung ano ba talaga kayo, tulad ko. Thank you sa mabubuting taong sumalo sa naghihingalo kong pagkatao. Sa mga umalalay para bawiin kung ano’ng hindi ko natuklasan noong panahong hinahanap ko pa ang sarili ko. Kung wala sila, hindi ako magiging malakas at tuloy lang siguro ang pagpapaalila ko sa takot.”

(Thank you to those who supported me. Those who persevered and went home crying, don’t lose hope. You still have a long way to go and I’m sure you still have a long journey before you can find your true selves, like me. Thank you to the nice people who helped my dying character. To those who helped me take back what I could not discover when I finding myself. If they weren’t there, I wouldn’t be strong, and I’d have kept letting fear oppress me.)

He added that he’s discovering how hard it is to turn his back on something that he’s worked hard on for so long, “lalong-lalo na kung isa ‘to sa bumubuhay at bumubuo sa ‘yo.” (Especially if it’s something that keeps you alive and makes you complete.)

He ended his note by telling readers that they’ll see each other again in the new chapter of his life.

pic.twitter.com/a1yn8T5Y5G

— Salonga, Unique T. (@uniquetsalonga) May 8, 2018

On May 5, Salonga’s former bandmates Badjao de Castro, Blaster Silonga, and Zild Benitez said that Salonga would be leaving the band to pursue his own endeavors. They assured fans that they would continue to make music without him.

The young, up-and-coming band was nominated for Group Of The Year, New Artist Of The Year, and Best Bandarito Performance at the MYX Music Awards 2018, which is set to be held on May 15. – Rappler.com