Every story needs a storyteller: someone who sets the scene, builds the atmosphere, and gives each word its emotion. For PodHub’s horror podcast Panaghoy, that storyteller is Camille Peng. Her work has now earned the show a spot in Spotify RADAR Creators Philippines.
For the former radio DJ turned digital creator, the recognition caps a leap of faith.
“Taking that leap from traditional radio into this digital space was really scary… having Spotify RADAR recognize us literally feels like a massive warm hug of validation,” Peng expressed.
Bringing Panaghoy to Life
Camille Peng’s soft yet unsettling voice has become an unmistakable part of Panaghoy’s identity. As its storyteller, she brings narratives of Filipino history, folklore, and urban legends into immersive fictional stories that engage audiences and inspire their curiosity.
With a restrained yet expressive delivery, she guides listeners through real-life-inspired stories of fear, grief, mystery, and loss, allowing the story to unfold not only through what is heard but also through the hidden emotions between the lines.
Her subtle facial expressions and controlled presence also tell narratives beyond what ears can hear, further complementing the audio-visual storytelling of the podcast and completing the overall immersive experience.
A Voice Shaped by Theater and Radio
Before becoming the voice of Panaghoy, Camille Peng had already mastered the art of storytelling as a theater artist and radio personality.
During her five-year stint as DJ Robin Sienna on 90.7 Love Radio, she has spent years learning to tailor her tone and emotions to the story or message. Her range has extended across various forms and genres of storytelling, from drama and comedy as a radio DJ to the horror stories she now narrates through Panaghoy.
Alongside this, she also grew her presence beyond the radio booth, using TikTok and other platforms to share inspirational and advice-related content. Her work earned her a nomination in 2023 for the TikTok Awards Philippines for Top Education Creator, etching her name as a notable voice in the industry.
Her background in theater has also contributed to shaping her storytelling skills, allowing her to bring added depth and authenticity to the stories she narrates in Panaghoy.
“For me, it's definitely internalization. Theater gives you the technical foundation like diction and breathing, but more importantly, it teaches you how to live inside the story. It's a very practical skill that I apply everywhere: sa voice acting, hosting, general storytelling, and even to everyday content creation. Hindi lang siya pang-horror; it applies just as much to the drama and comedy genres I've done before,” she said.
“But for Panaghoy, internalization is everything. I use my imagination to fully absorb what the characters are going through. Kapag naramdaman ko na siya, the delivery becomes automatic. It dictates the pacing, the subtle emotions, and those exact pauses that make the listeners feel completely immersed,” she explained.
Beyond the Walls of the Radio Booth
Today, Peng continues to share various types of content on TikTok and other social media platforms, centering around life tips and advice, lifestyle content, inspirational messages, and her well-known relationship advice and “signs” content. With more than 1.4 million followers on TikTok, over 600,000 followers on Facebook, and over 100,000 followers on Instagram, her online presence reflects the connection she has built with audiences.
For many, Peng has become one of the nation’s most trusted “Ate’s” who offers stories that feel relatable to everyday life.
Panaghoy's Spotify RADAR Creators Milestone
For Peng, being part of Spotify RADAR Creators Philippines is more than just a professional milestone. It is a testament to the hard work she has put into her career and an affirmation of the years of her storytelling journey.
“Hindi pa rin [ako] makapaniwala pero sobrang nakakataba ng puso. Ang pinaka-role ko talaga is to pour my heart into the storytelling—'yung internalization sa bawat karakter para mabigyan ng justice ang bawat kwento. Kaya having Spotify RADAR recognize us... it literally feels like a massive warm hug of validation na nagsasabing worth it lahat ng tiwala at sakripisyo, tuluy-tuloy lang. This isn't just my win; it’s really a huge win for the whole village behind me,” Peng stated.
The recognition also serves as a reminder for Peng that, despite the uncertainty she faced at the start of her journey, her voice has a place in the ever-evolving landscape of digital storytelling.
"I remember a year ago not knowing who I'm going to be or what I would do after my career on the radio. All I had was pure faith and trust that my passion for creation and storytelling would lead me somewhere. Now, as an independent artist, this truly is a milestone and being part of this group of creators and storytellers, somehow, gives me a sense of belongingness. Na sa dinamidami ng gifted, passionate, massive talents, my voice as Camille Peng has a place... and that there's a team—PodHub—ang a platform—Spotify that sees exactly what someone like me has to offer. And for that, I'm truly grateful," she said.
Camille Peng, Reinvented
Compared to her bubbly and bright personality online, Peng’s approach in Panaghoy takes a deliberate shift.
In this podcast, her delivery becomes more restrained. Her voice is held back and slowed down. Rather than immediately revealing the emotions in the story, she allows tension to build through slight pauses, subtle changes in tone, and carefully controlled expressions. It is a reinvention of the Camille everyone once knew.
Beneath this complete transformation, she still relies on the fundamental skill throughout the heart of her career—storytelling.
Familiar Voice, Different Story
At its core, her experience as a host, theater artist, radio DJ, and digital creator have equipped her with the tools to connect to audiences. She makes use of these same skills in Panaghoy, only now to evoke an entirely different feeling and emotion. While her usual content may offer comfort and advice, Panaghoy creates tension and uneasiness.
Still, she remains a trusted “Ate” who once guided listeners in relationship and friendship advice to now guiding audiences in a world dimmed in grief, mystery, and loss. The trust and relatability she has nurtured with audiences over the years allow listeners to take her hand and join her on this immersive journey as they navigate darker stories.
“As cliché as it may seem—it is both an honor and a huge responsibility. Ever since my radio days and doing advice content online, I’ve never seen my platform as just a social media page with followers—I see it as a real community of people who crave warmth and connection, which is needed in this digital age more than ever. Doing Panaghoy now is an extension of that. Even if it's horror, the goal is still to make them feel understood and na may kasama sila,” Peng reflected.
“Hearing that people appreciate what I do is such an honor, but more importantly, it reminds me of my responsibility to be even more intentional with my words and to keep pouring passion into my craft and to every story I tell,” she continued.
More Podcasting Experience
Apart from Panaghoy, the former radio DJ has also ventured into the podcast landscape through her solo production Buhay Hacks, which is also part of PodHub’s network.
Buhay Hacks gives signs, tips, and gentle reminders to listeners looking for advice on how to navigate through the highs and lows of everyday life. While Panaghoy and Buhay Hacks may be on opposite ends of the spectrum, they both rely on Peng’s ability to draw people to listen and tell a story.
A Storyteller at Heart
Storytelling and Peng have truly become inseparable. From the radio booth to social media, from life advice to horror, from Buhay Hacks to Panaghoy, Peng continues to connect to various audiences. Her performance in Panaghoy shows that storytelling is not confined to a single genre, that it is a skill that can shift depending on the emotions a story demands. All it takes to bring a story to life is a voice—and for Panaghoy, that voice is Peng’s.
Tune into more spine-chilling episodes of Panaghoy every Friday, 6:00 PM, on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and podhub.com.ph
