Esremborak’s “Mahal Magmahal” is not your usual love song. The Filipino five-member band takes a familiar relationship problem and connects it to something many people struggle with every day – the rising cost of living.

The title itself carries two meanings. In Filipino, “mahal” can mean love, but it also means expensive. The band uses this wordplay to tell a story about wanting to be in love when even buying food has become a challenge.

There is a particularly funny but relatable part of the song where the band mentions the rising prices of rice and canned sardines. The message is simple: falling in love is one thing, but how do you maintain a relationship when your money cannot cover basic expenses? It sounds humorous, but anyone struggling with inflation will understand the point.

Vocalist MC Mislan wrote the song, drawing from his own experiences. Interestingly, the recording started as part of a three-and-a-half-year master’s thesis project focused on creating music that could also help teach Filipino.

The song was originally released in January 2025, but its popularity took a different turn after TikTok users began sharing it. It eventually entered the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 at No. 69 before climbing to No. 9 on the chart dated September 26, 2026.

Esremborak has managed to turn an everyday financial struggle into a song people can laugh about while recognising the truth behind it.

Listen to “Mahal Magmahal” and tell us honestly, is love becoming too expensive these days?