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In Conversation With Ramona About Her Song, "Gaga"

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When Ramona was 18, she was inspired to write a song after listening to Queen’s “Radio Ga Ga.” At the time, while she was listening to the song, she happened to be reading unkind comments about her on social media. “Bigla lang akong nagkaroon ng idea nu’ng binabasa ko ’yung comments na binabato sa akin,” Ramona told Metro.Style. “Tapos lahat ng comments, ni-screenshot ko tapos nilagay ko sa notes ko. And then nakagawa ako ng chorus. Tapos nakagawa na rin ako ng verse.”Though a lifelong music lover, Ramona never envisioned herself as a songwriter until 2021. The catalyst was her idol, Olivia Rodrigo, who had just released the Sour album and the accompanying driving home 2 u documentary. “Lahat ng promo videos niya, pinanood ko… Meron dun parang mga tips or mga tanong kung paano ba gumawa ng kanta. Tapos sabi niya lang, ‘You just have to start.’” She followed Olivia’s advice, and felt there was no need for her to wait for a cinematic moment where she’d be like in a restaurant having a “Eureka!” moment and writing lyrics on a napkin. You know, the stuff you see in movies. The inspiration came to Ramona while she was in her car. “Wala akong magawa,” she recalled. “I just tried. Binuksan ko ’yung notes ko sa phone. Tapos sinimulan ko lang siya. Hanggang sa nakasulat ako ng kanta. And ang dami kong nasulat… Parang on a roll ako.” <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776947272268642335459_17849626671690334_5266817807391667120_n.jpg" style="width:955px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div>The song she wrote back then? “Gaga.” After five years, she finally released it last month, and she couldn’t have been happier with its timing and how everything about it amplifies her inner voice. While Ramona already finished the song and even had its music video concept in mind years back, she chose to wait and put off its release. It was important for her to find the right creative team and record label to help her polish its promo details and reach audiences with the song. “It was just a matter of timing and paghahanap ng partners for this,” Ramona shared. Sony Music Philippines felt like the right label to collaborate with. She introduced Ramona to them, with a disclaimer that her pop-rock brand of music may not suit their palate. “Kasi pop-rock isn&#x27;t really for everyone,” she acknowledged. But even after hearing what Ramona described as her most intense, hardcore songs, Sony Music Philippines was still on board, and the plans for the release of “Gaga” ensued.Complementing her music’s genre is a feisty, rebel-girl look, which looked so fun to put together. But Ramona, with her bold and edgy style, said that the beauty and fashion aspects of her branding weren’t actually the most fun part of her new endeavor. “Ang pinaka-enjoy para sa’kin,” she began with a sigh of relief, “for five years, ito lahat na nasa utak ko lang… Pinaka-na-enjoy ko nu’ng nalalagyan na ng music ’yung songs ko. Kasi po, hindi ako marunong sa instruments. So lahat ng a cappellas ko, imagine ninyo, siguro four years ’to lahat and 1 year ’yung paggawa ngayon. Pero imagine ninyo lahat ng nagawa kong kanta, puro a cappella lang.” <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776952030571659135207_18313841479256504_7619329359360633391_n.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div> </div>So, finally, when the lyrics met the beats, with the help of producers Tim and Sam Marquez of One Click Straight, it was a surreal moment that made Ramona cry. “Finally, may laman na ’yung kanta ko at naririnig ko na siya,” she expressed with enthusiasm. “Hindi na lang siya imagination. It’s here, and it’s exactly how I imagined it, but better pa. ’Yun ang pinaka-na-enjoy ko.” The song, more than a self-expression, is an empowered anthem that highlights how powerful words can be and how they can negatively affect a person when weaponized, with the clear intention to attack someone. Truth be told, sometimes words hit harder than actions do.  And because the track is like a letter to bashers and Ramona’s personal experiences dealing with them, she made sure to see through every element related to “Gaga.” Apart from being the songwriter and performer, Ramona is also the music video’s creative director. This is the part that Ramona also found special. “’Yun ’yung pinaka-memorable for me. Na haharap ako sa music video, na hindi ako binayaran ng ibang artist. Or like, hindi ako kinuha ng mga artist, kundi it’s my song. And I’m singing it,” she shared enthusiastically. <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hPq_enKtQxA?si=CZMbpLKtVkxc9lFv" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div><div> </div>Every line in “Gaga” means so much to Ramona; every word is intentional and reflective of the artist’s innermost thoughts. But if she were to choose a part that truly stands out to her, it’s the whole bridge: “Makagawa ng kuwento para lang may mabenta / Makapagmarunong, &#x27;kala mo nando&#x27;n din sila / Maka-asta sila parang hindi ginagawa / Makahusga sila, mas malala pa nga sila.”“Gustong-gusto ko ’yun,” she said. “Kasi feeling ko talaga ang dami nang kumita sa pangalan ko, to be honest, sa paggamit ng name ko for views.”Singing those lyrics feels so therapeutic for Ramona because she’s finally able to release all her pent-up emotions. She recalled, “Actually, nu’ng nire-record ko siya, kahit okay na ’yung takes, sinasabi ko, ‘Isa pa, isa pa!’ It feels good e!”The music video of “Gaga” is set in a courtroom, featuring Ramona as the lawyer and Pepe Herrera as Jose, her client. In a post-credit scene, an old man, depicted as the older version of Jose, sits in the courtroom until the judge declares, “Not guilty.” Talking about that poignant twist, Ramona shared, “Siningit ko talaga ’yun. Muntik na nga siyang hindi makuhanan, pero sabi ko, ‘No!’ Isa ’yan sa malalaking points ng buong music video na ang words, nagsti-stick; ang tsismis, nagsti-stick siya. Kahit tumanda ka at naka-move on ka na doon, kahit papaano, andu’n siya at nakakaapekto siya.”<div> </div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVgjTPqAYFb/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=864&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A25478522.7%2C%22ls%22%3A380807.7%2C%22le%22%3A381297.89999999997%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div> </div>The MV’s concept was inspired by an unfair justice system, where sometimes, an innocent person is imprisoned for a crime he or she did not commit. Further explaining what prompted her to add that scene, she shared, “Nakulong. Hindi niya na-enjoy ’yung life niya, tapos parang mapapatawad niyo lang siya—kailan, ’pag matanda na siya? Parang, he was robbed of a lot of things.” That realization of how much painful words linger struck Ramona the most. Angst-ridden yet eye-opening songs are what people can expect from Ramona. Where does she go from here? “From here, siyempre, more songs din ma-e-expect niyo sa akin at mga performance,” Ramona assured. Inspiration can come from anyone, anywhere, and anytime. Ideas may come to her again, perhaps while she’s traveling, listening to her favorite road trip track, “Harness Your Hopes - (B-Side)” by Pavement.” No one really knows when a “Eureka!” moment will come, but this unapologetic artist is all ears for any experience she can resonate with. <div> </div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/artist/0VWo5C3HsavhLV8kAjTaGt?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div><div> </div>Ramona’s journey with “Gaga” serves as a reminder that while you cannot control the noise of the world, you can certainly control the volume. And from reading online comments, she has reclaimed her narrative and is now writing her own <s>script</s> lyrics. She has proven that the noise can be rewritten into a melody, depending on one’s perspective. And after meeting Ramona, one thing became clear: she’s just getting started. The court is now in session.<div> </div>Lead photo from @sabingakosiramona

Ramona’s journey with “Gaga” serves as a reminder that while you cannot control the noise of the world, you can certainly control the volume.

Ramona’s journey with “Gaga” serves as a reminder that while you cannot control the noise of the world, you can certainly control the volume.

RAMONA and Why She Is 'Gaga' Over Speaking Out, Turning the Noise Into a Powerful Anthem

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RAMONA and Why She Is 'Gaga' Over Speaking Out, Turning the Noise Into a Powerful Anthem

Grace Libero

Published April 23, 2026 10:00 PM PHT

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Updated April 23, 2026 10:13 PM PHT

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