iKalinga singer-songwriter pleads for help to kindhearted people amid chronic disease

Tabuk City, Kalinga - iKalinga local artist fondly dubbed as the "Freddie Aguilar of Kalinga," is reaching out to the public for both spiritual and financial support as he battles a stage 1 chronic illness and other diseases.

One is kidney-related, although this Monday, August 18, a doctor at KPH, when he was visited by the medical practitioner, according to Sherwin, said his kidney appears to be normal.

Sherwin Sabawil Tayab, 38, from Ileb, Nambaran, is currently confined at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH) in Bulanao after consecutive vomiting, mild disorientation or hallucination, ulcer, and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) on August 13.

In a phone interview on August 17, Sherwin's wife Manding Dammay Tayab said that they returned to the KPH on August 13, following Sherwin's laboratory checkup at Almora General Hospital (AGH), where he was diagnosed with stage 1 Chronic Kidney Disease. They have stayed at the KPH since then.

Manding shared that Sherwin was first hospitalized at the KPH in June for low potassium, sodium, and a UTI. Then things began to get worse after his diagnosis. Apart from the kidney problem, Sherwin is suffering from an ulcer.

"Inpan mi first idyay Provincial di June. Tapos di July ket idyay Almora ken tatta nga August ket nagsubli ditoy Provincial. Ngem napan met lang idyay Baguio di first week ti August nga nagpa-check up. Currently, naka-confine pay lang ditoy ngem ti kunan ti doktor, ipan mi ti kidney specialist tapnu makita nga talaga nu apay nga kinanayon nga bumaba diyay potassium na ken sodium," she shared.

Sherwin, as recounted by his wife, also saw a kidney specialist in Baguio, who prescribed medication based on his previous test results, where He was due for a follow-up after a month, but returned at the KPH instead after his body refused the prescribed medicine.

Due to a lack of kidney specialists in the province, Sherwin might be referred to Baguio or Tuguegarao, possibly to Divine Mercy Wellness & Medical Center, once all his results come out.

Sherwin as Kalinga’s Freddie Aguilar

Sherwin is a great fan of Freddie Aguilar and his lyrics, which are widely known to reflect social realism, Filipino identity, and heartfelt storytelling, often highlighting family, nationalism, and everyday struggles of the Filipinos. Sherwin said he was inspired to use Aguilar’s singing style to preserve and promote Kalinga’s culture by composing original pieces about Kalinga, its culture, and people.

Talking to GURU Press, the singer-songwriter recounted that he was called as such because of their first upload and recording of his original composition 'Tama Na', a song about peace to which he dedicated to ending the conflict between Betwagan and Butbut Tribes.

Following its release through EJD Music PH, a Kalinga-based music video entertainment platform managed by Erwin Jones Dipalog, the song quickly resonated with music enthusiasts where they were quick to draw comparisons between Sherwin’s vocal tone and lyrical approach to that of the OPM icon Freddie.

"....manipud idyay, kunadan nga medyo kahawig kanu ti boses ken didyay the way nga agsuratak ti kanta ket kasla parehas kenni Freddie Aguilar- kasla agsursurut ngay ti kayat na nga sao-en ti panagsursurat mi. Ket isu nga naawagan tayo nga Freddie Aguilar gapo idyay lyrics tayo," he recounted.

In an emotional appeal, the iKalinga singer-songwriter asked for prayers and any financial help, saying, "Kas adda idyay posts ko ket agdawdawat tayo ti tulong spitiritual ken pinansyal. Kararag- pinansyal nu man pay adda bassit pinansyal na. Haan nga pinilitan ta ammo tayo ken maawatan tayo nga agrigat tayo amin. Agdawat tayo lang bassit ken dagidyay apo addaan ti pinansyal. Nu met ken dagidyay pada nga awan, bassit nga kararag ket umanay nga dawat tayo."

To any kindhearted individual who wants to help, you may send any amount to Sherwin's GCash number - 0935 526 8692.