When the bass drops in “Multo,” our hearts drop with it. It’s the kind of song that squeezes your chest and makes you feel things you didn’t even know you were holding in. Cup of Joe really said we got you, and we felt it.
Inspired by the five stages of grief, Cup of Joe’s debut album Silakbo takes us on an emotional ride—and “Multo” sits right in the thick of stage four: depression. And it shows. The track doesn’t just tug at heartstrings—it grabs them. Currently sitting at No. 1 on the Philippines Hot 100 and dominating platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, “Multo” hit different. Sure, the haunting melody pulls you in, but it’s the message that really sticks. It gave people the space to feel, reflect, and finally let it all out.
“My brother and I wrote ‘Multo’ noong 2020. Just two brothers stuck in a room na 'di namin alam i-process 'yung mga pinagdaanan namin at saka mga nararamdaman namin, so sumulat kami ng kanta,” One of the band's lead vocalisy, Rapha Ridao shared in an Instagram reel.
“Nilabas namin doon lahat ng mga feelings namin—yung longing, lahat ng lungkot na hindi namin inakalang kaya namin harapin. After namin nasulat 'yung song, parang may sense of relief. Para bang nabawasan yung bigat sa dibdib namin.” He added. “It’s about how no matter where you go, your feelings follow you... Kahit ilang taon na ang lumipas, bigla ka na lang maaalala. Hindi ka lilisanin. Minumulto ka ng damdamin mo.”
On TikTok, users began sharing their own “multo”—not literal ghost stories, but emotional ones that spoke of longing, heartbreak, and memory. It was less about scares and more about scars. Now, here are some of the “multo” that netizens made us feel:
"My "Multo" is either a person nor my past, it's my future."
@stvr._x so much potential, but might end up achieving nothing. #fyp #foryoupage #multocupofjoe #relatable #unsaidthoughts ♬ Multo - Cup of Joe
There’s nothing scarier than the future—and for a lot of us, it’s not the past that haunts us, but what lies ahead. One user put it perfectly: “My multo isn’t a person or my past, it’s my future.”
And honestly, that hits.
While many entries in the “Multo” trend talk about heartbreaks, people we've lost, or moments we can't move on from, this one stands out because it speaks to a different kind of ghost. It's the kind that hasn’t even happened yet. The pressure of expectations, the weight of uncertainty, the constant fear of messing up. It all lingers like a shadow we can't shake off.
Multo gave people a way to name that fear. Whether it's the fear of not being enough, not knowing where life is headed, or being stuck in the same place forever, the song became a safe space to pour those feelings out. And maybe that’s what makes it so powerful—it doesn't just help us grieve what was, but gives us permission to sit with what might be. Because sometimes, the scariest ghosts are the ones we haven’t even met yet.
"My "Multo" is the opportunities i chose to let go due to doubts"
@user901721890 all the opportunities i've missed in this lifetime will forever haunt me #college #senior #fyp ♬ original sound - rivizar"
“My Multo is the opportunities I chose to let go due to doubts,” one user said, and honestly, that hits deep.
Doubt has a way of keeping us stuck, making us second-guess every decision, every step forward. It whispers that we’re not ready, not good enough, or that the risk isn’t worth it. And in doing so, it stops us from reaching for what could’ve been.
The thing about doubt is that it’s silent but powerful. It’s like a shadow that follows us around, clouding our judgment and making us question ourselves until we lose the courage to act. And then, when those opportunities slip away, the regret comes rushing in. It’s not just about what we missed—it’s about the what-ifs that linger. What could have happened if we didn’t hold back? What might we have become if we took that leap?
“My Multo is that reality that I don’t have a dream of my own.”
@ngyleeee It scares me how I don’t remember what I want to be, ‘cause I have been the supporter, never prioritizing myself, now I don’t know what I dream to be.
♬ Multo - Cup of Joe
This one really speaks to a deeper kind of emptiness—the kind that comes from feeling lost or disconnected from your own desires and aspirations. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the expectations of others, the noise of the world, or just surviving day to day, that we forget to ask ourselves what we actually want. We let other people's dreams overshadow our own, and before we know it, we’re stuck in a life that doesn’t feel like ours.
That multo is the haunting feeling of not having a clear purpose or direction. It’s the uncomfortable realization that we’re drifting, unsure of what we're working toward, and even worse, unsure of what we should be working toward. It’s the fear of living a life where we haven’t yet claimed our own dreams or carved out a path that’s truly ours.
“My "multo" will always be my younger self who never experienced a great childhood.”
@kimaubreyf kaya sorry kung lagi ako healing my inner child ☹️ deserve ko naman diba?
♬ original sound - rivizar"
This multo represents all the things that were missing during your formative years—the love, the care, the moments of joy that every child deserves. It’s the child inside you who never got to fully experience the freedom of a happy childhood, left to navigate the world too soon. And though those years can never be relived, there’s something important to remember: we don’t have to be a product of our past.
Let’s not let our childhood define who we are today. We are not bound by the limitations or losses of our early years. We have the power to choose who we become now, in this very moment. Healing comes when we refuse to be stuck in what we didn’t get, and instead focus on what we can create for ourselves now. We are not the sum of our past struggles, but the potential of who we choose to be today. It’s never too late to start rewriting our story and build the life we deserve, free from the ghosts of our past.
“My "multo" is the old version of me.”
@knivvvl want to say sorry to my past self :( #fyp #multo #adulting #knivvvl ♬ Multo - Cup of Joe
It’s easy to look back and long for that confidence, to wish you could be that person again. The truth is, we all go through seasons of change, and sometimes those changes leave us feeling lost or disconnected from the version of ourselves we once knew.
But here’s the thing: just because you’re feeling lost now doesn’t mean you’ll always be. The ghost of your old self isn’t here to haunt you; it’s a reminder of the strength you once had—and still have. You can’t go back, but you can find your way forward. Healing starts with recognizing that feeling lost is just a part of the journey, not the end of it. Your confidence will return, not because you're going back to who you were, but because you’re discovering who you’re meant to be now.
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