Maris Racal’s song “Ate Sandali,” released in 2021, has entered music streaming platform Spotify’s Viral Top 50 chart in the Philippines amid the cheating controversy with her on-screen partner Anthony Jennings.
“Ate Sandali” was released under the actress ex-boyfriend Rico Blanco’s Balcony Entertainment and Sony Music Philippines in June 2021.
The said track has resurfaced following the brouhaha sparked by Anthony’s ex-girlfriend Jamela Villanueva’s Instagram stories showing screenshots of the actor’s intimate conversation with Maris.
Two days after the leaked screenshots circulated online, “Ate Sandali” debuted at No. 29 on Spotify’s daily Top 50 most viral tracks chart on December 6, as reported by Filipino music monitoring account on X.
As of Tuesday, December 10, the said record climbed to No. 4 of the viral tracks playlist.
Maris, in a previous virtual mediacon in 2021, revealed that she originally wrote the pop track inspired by her and her ate’s past heartbreak to serve as a reminder for women to recognize their self-worth, strength, and ability to leave a toxic relationship.
“It’s sort of empowering. Masasabi kong women empowerment siya but like more on a friendly advice sa lahat ng girls who are in a relationship na medyo toxic.It’s not about hating men. Parang reminder lang siya sa mga babae na they’re beautiful and they can end a relationship. Kaya nila,” Maris said of her song.
She continued,“In other words, para ’to sa mga girls na ‘marurupok’. Kasi at that time, ganun talaga ‘yung description ko sa akin at sa ate ko. Parang pinapalakas ko ‘yung loob nila sa song na ’to.”
Meanwhile, both Maris and Anthony have recently aired their public apologies over the controversy. Maris, in an exclusive video released by ABS-CBN News, addressed the issue, pointing out that she had no knowledge that Anthony and Jamela were still together.
Maris stressed that Anthony made her believe that he already ended his long-term romance with Jamela when she said she came clean with Rico that she was having feelings for her loveteam partner and eventually broke up.
