Hazel Faith & Caleb Santos: A Love Made ‘Brand New’
While some love stories arrive loudly, with grand gestures or dramatic confessions, Hazel Faith and Caleb Santos’ love story, however, grew uniquely and quietly. It blossomed when they started working together, deepened by faith, and found its perfect harmony in music.
Before love even found them, fate first brought them together while working on a series. Hazel Faith vividly remembers how a director introduced Caleb as her “fiancé” on their first meeting, sensing something distinct. For her, in a room full of people, Caleb stood out most gently.
For Caleb, on the other hand, it was something he prayed for. He shared that they weren’t able to get to know each other after they worked together the first time. So in prayer, he said that if Hazel were the one, they would eventually meet to work again. And what he prayed for finally happened a year later when their paths crossed the second time through another project.
This time, Caleb knew it was meant to be, and this time, he didn’t let the moment pass. In Caleb’s words,
“Lord, eto na yun. Manliligaw na ako.”
Indeed, Hazel and Caleb proved that love didn’t rush them. It actually revealed itself to them.
A collaboration of a lifetime
When love found them, it changed the way they saw themselves individually. Hazel got braver. She shared that for the first time, love didn’t demand perfection. Instead, it allowed her to be seen fully.
“What was different was unconditional ‘yung love. And so I didn’t have to try to be perfect, I didn’t have to hide my scars… I didn’t have to feel afraid that one day somebody would walk out on me. And because he showed me, I don't have to be perfect to be loved. And that helped me love myself too.” - Hazel
Meanwhile, Caleb became productive. He admitted that no one was there to push him to continue creating, not until he found the right one, the one who filled the gaps.
In Caleb’s words,
“Sa kanya ko nakita ‘yung tunay na pagmamahal. And in terms of being a partner, being a collaborator, lalo sa work namin kasi more on siya sa songwriting, ako sa music production. Parang 'pag nag-blend ‘yung work namin… it overflows.”
This just proved that with the right person, a relationship you asked for in prayer will truly blossom into something deeper. And to be able to bloom fully together, two must work and adjust. And that’s what Hazel and Caleb did. They always come together to be in oneness whenever they face challenges along their journey. Hazel said,
“We bring it to the Lord, and we pray for each other.”
With the Lord, being what Caleb described as the ‘third party’ in their relationship, love will truly continue to bloom on its own.
When music becomes a shared language
Music has always been a part of their lives individually. Hazel is a singer-songwriter behind Kinikilig at Di Na Kita Mahal, and sometimes appears in movies and series. While Caleb is a singer, a music producer, and a former member of the P-Pop boy group ‘XLR8.’
They may have come from different backgrounds and different creative paths, but their God-led relationship still brought them to align uniquely, and that’s through collaborating.
In creating music and in songwriting, Hazel writes from instinct, emotion, and imagination, while Caleb brings structure, sound, and form. For Hazel, Caleb makes her dreams come true every single time in music, while for Caleb, she gives life and meaning to every piece of music he’s creating.
Their creative partnership, which started when they began collaborating on YouTube, truly worked out because of the constant exchange of trust in one another. Despite their differences, their individuality as singer-songwriter and producer didn’t clash, instead it actually complemented each other’s craft. Eventually leading them to produce and write songs not just for themselves, but for others.
Hazel revealed that she has a lot of written songs that just didn’t align with her genre and branding. While leaning toward Caleb in arranging the song, she always finds a perfect artist to sing them.
She said,
“Marami rin ako nasusulat na kanta na hindi talaga bagay sa akin, image-wise and also like creativity-wise… Ang ginagawa ko na lang, I look for the perfect person to sing this song. Caleb helps me with arranging and, happy kami kasi, our clients believe in the song. And that's what's most important.”
And when they are done producing and making music, that is when they realize why they keep on creating in the first place– it’s the realization that they made it together and that the song they have written leaves a trace and carries pieces of them when sung by a brand new artist.
A ‘brand new’ love
While Hazel and Caleb have been happily married for 4 years, their latest new song “Brand New” was inspired by their wedding day, and more than that, from a realization that love, when it is right, lasts. It becomes ‘brand new.’
For Hazel, the song captures a love that is certain and lasting, while sharing that Caleb is her last love, and yet with him, love feels like a first love. She said,
“It's just pure. And that makes me feel brand new.”
For Caleb, on the contrary, ‘Brand New’ feels like a first dance at a reception, a lasting love. Like that moment he recalled when he first met Hazel.
Unlike their previous collaborations, which leaned into themes of longing and heartache, their Valentine’s Day special offering “Brand New” delivers a different emotion. In collaboration with musician Silver Belen, the song moves in joy and reimagines a new take on wedding songs.
“I think Brand New is more on my genre naman and we're also blessed dahil we collaborated with an amazing musician, Silver Belen. It's a new take on what you would call a wedding music or it's a new take on love songs.”
Years from now, they imagine the same things still mattering: faith, music, grace, and choosing each other. Caleb will keep writing songs for Hazel and for the Lord, while Hazel will keep fighting for love.
As they share their ‘Brand New’ song to the world, they hope listeners hear more than a love song. They hope people believe again that true love exists, and that they continue to believe that “every love is a brand new love. It’s never fading away. Every day is brand new with the right person.”
‘Brand New’ is now out on streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and more.
HAZEL & CALEB TEAM
Photo by Silver Belen
HMUA by Jearmayn Silleva
Styling by John Recepcion
- Layout 1:
Caleb: Sleeveless top inspired by “Hinahon” Philippine florals, Vandro Casiwan in collaboration with Nina Alagao Flores
Shorts, Vandro Casiwan
Hazel: Full outfit from Plains and Prints - Layout 2:
Caleb: Sleeveless Plaid Wrap Vest by Vandro Casiwan @vandrocasiwanatelier
Pants by: Jhay Layson
Hazel: Strapless, floor-length gown from Aecia - Layout 3:
Caleb: White double-breasted suit with flared trousers by Jhay Layson
Hazel: White halter-neck gown from Aecia
Artist Manager: Rose Ariane Pearl Lope
Caleb and Hazel would like to thank:
Hair by Hairshaft Salon
Skin by Dr. A’s Beauty and Wellness Center
Hazel’s nails by Vanity Cosmetique Beauty Studio
THE PIPOL TEAM
Publisher: Richard de Quina & John Luke Chica
Managing Director: Inyi Yruma
Editor-in-Chief: John Luke Chica
Creative Director: Devon May Seron
Communications & Partnership Manager: Kyra Custodio- Alberto
Sales and Marketing Manager: Regino Rubi
Senior Writer: Beatrice Ulibarri
Multimedia & Digital Head: Sachii Del Mundo
Executive Assistant: Dreamboy Dubria, JC Bolante
Finance Head: Mylene Dela Reyna
AUTHORS
Bea Ulibarri
Senior Writer
