How to Become a Successful Songwriter

Music is one of the oldest art forms that have been existent since the pre-colonial times. Instrumental was the type of music initially produced until people realized that lyrics add emotion and set up the mood of the song.

Lyrics or the words that accompany a certain tune vary on themes. A song may become a love story, a nationalistic aspiration, a social issue or a religious praise depending on the style it was written. Now, the skilled art of songwriting does not only serve as a hobby but also considered as a fine line of work if thoroughly mastered.

So for those who plan to build a career in songwriting, take a cue from the expert before grabbing a pen and paper. Trina Belamide, a professional and award-winning songwriter provides some tips.

• Recognize your talent and showcase it. If you have it, put your heart and soul into it—as the classic tip applies to all disciplines.


• Learn the basics of music. Get a good grasp of different melodies, chord progressions, and other music appreciation techniques.


• Understand the difference between lyrics and poetry. Both song lyrics and poems are made up of words and rhymes, but each has its own mode of expression. A song lyric is to be complemented by a tune and sung by a human voice so it has to work well with musical elements, while a poem is to be read from a page of a book and does not need an accompaniment.


• Have a good command of the language. To be a good writer, you must have a sufficient background in language and literature. Express your thoughts in a cohesive but artistic manner, and keep a wide range of words to rhyme and stitch up.


• Strive for excellence. Admit your flaws and accept constructive criticism to be able to grow as an artist.


• Be at the right place at the right time. Sometimes hard work and perseverance are not enough. Trina says, “I’ve met many aspiring songwriters who I believe have worked much harder than I have, but have not been as lucky with breaks”. Go out, meet people and create network.


• Maintain a healthy balance in your business. According to Trina, a lot of artists are afraid to ask for what is due them and to put a price on their craft since it is something they enjoy doing anyway. The consequence is they end up poor or being taken advantage of. On the other hand, there are artists who think their works are priceless and show off a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. They are not willing to share their talent which is very unprofessional. Be something in the middle in order to be successful. “A healthy balance is the key to success in having songwriting as a business.” (Myka Santiago)

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How to Take Care of Your Own Space

Basic Household Cleaning Tips from the Expert

After a stressful day in the school or office, there’s nothing more relaxing than going home to a well-cleaned and sweet-scented house. In the comfort of your zone, you will find the love and warmth that you need to be able to get by for the next day. But maintaining a house, be it a bungalow or a mansion, is never an easy task. And even if you have helpers at home, it is better that you personally know how to take care of your own space.

LCS Trading & Janitorial Services has been in the general housecleaning business since 2004. Originally based in Cabuyao, Laguna, LCS opened an office in Manila in 2007 in order to serve more customers. LCS’ Administrative Officer Lourdes “Lulu” Sanchez shares, “After we have engaged into online advertising, we are getting 5-10 clients in a week.” Their usual customers are not only residential houses, but also big companies, hotels, restaurants and other business establishments. With LCS’ wide range of clients, Lulu says, “Price is not a big deal here. We offer free estimation to clients, and we can adjust the price based on their budget but it wouldn’t affect the quality of the service. The price will also depend on the size of the area.”

You may at anytime avail of the expert’s service such as of LCS’. However, it’s best to know the basics yourself. So, put on your work clothes and get ready to exercise your bones as Lulu shares tips on household cleaning.

Sofa Cleaning

• For wooden and leather sofas, put a mild liquid soap on a damp cloth. Wipe it on the sofa. Use a different clean cloth for drying. A wooden sofa requires daily wiping, while weekly clean-up is enough for a leather one.
• For fabric sofas, wiping is insufficient. Seek a professional shampooing service once every three months. Shampooing will not affect the texture of the sofa, but the color will slightly fade if chemicals are used to remove stains. Advise the professional cleaner to use a mild shampoo to avoid discoloration.

Carpet Cleaning

• Vacuum the carpet at least once a week, then, let a professional cleaner apply carpet shampooing at least once every three months. Shampooing will not affect the entire color of the sofa. Only the stained part will slightly fade once it is rubbed by stain removal agent.
• If you have pets at home, train them to stay away from the carpet. Vacuum the carpet everyday, and leave baking soda overnight. (Baking soda is known to contain a property that absorbs musty odors.)

Floor Dusting and Waxing

• For wooden floors, rub on a non-buffable wax to avoid making it too slippery. (Non-buffable wax does not need polishing.)
• For tiled floors, simply apply wet and dry mopping.
• For marble floors, have them crystallized (marble crystallization) by a professional cleaner to protect the surface and keep them shiny.
• For vinyl floors in hallways, use a buffable wax or wax that requires polishing. Put a sealer wax on small vinyl floored areas to protect them from scratches.
• For all types of floors, dust and sweep everyday. Use wax only when needed.
• If you have kids or elders at home, do not apply wax to areas that do not need polishing to refrain from causing accidents.

Furniture Dusting

• Wipe medium to large furniture with a damp cloth. Use a mild liquid detergent to remove dirt. Dry it with a clean cloth.
• Use old socks as mitts for dusting difficult woodworks.
• Wash small knick-knacks instead of just dusting them with a brush or cloth.

General Housecleaning

• Set all your cleaning tools in one place to avoid unnecessary trips back and forth.
• Start cleaning from the ceiling down to the walls, furniture and flooring.
• Clean as you go. It takes less time to remove new dirt than the old ones.
• Carry out a general cleaning once a month. You may also prefer doing it portion by portion.
• When hiring professional cleaners, give them ample time to set the entire house for the cleaning job. MYKA SANTIAGO

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