The music of the Philippines ( fil, Musika ng Pilipinas) includes the musical performance arts in the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
and the music of
Filipinos
Filipinos ( tl, Mga Pilipino) are the people who are citizens of or native to the Philippines. The majority of Filipinos today come from various Austronesian ethnolinguistic groups, all typically speaking either Filipino, English and/or othe ...
composed in various local and international
genres
Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...
and
styles. Philippine musical compositions are often a mixture of different
Asian,
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
,
Latin American
Latin Americans ( es, Latinoamericanos; pt, Latino-americanos; ) are the citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their diasporas are multi-eth ...
,
American, and
indigenous
Indigenous may refer to:
*Indigenous peoples
*Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention
*Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band
*Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...
influences.
Philippine folk music
The traditional music of the Philippines reflects the Philippines' diverse culture, originating from more than 100 ethnolinguistic groups and shaped by a widely varying historical and sociocultural milieu.
Like the folk music of other countri ...
has a strong Spanish and Latin American influence, derived from when the country was under the
Spanish crown for over 300 years.
Indigenous music
Notable folk song composers include the National Artist for Music
Lucio San Pedro, who composed the famous "
Sa Ugoy ng Duyan" that recalls the loving touch of a mother to her child. Another composer, the National Artist for Music
Antonino Buenaventura, is notable for notating folk songs and dances. Buenaventura composed the music for "
Pandanggo sa Ilaw".
Gong music
Philippine gong music today can be geographically divided into two types: the flat gongs commonly known as ''gangsà'' unique to the groups in the
Cordillera mountains and the
bossed gongs of
Muslim and
animist groups spanning the
Sulu archipelago, much of
Mindanao
Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
,
Palawan
Palawan (), officially the Province of Palawan ( cyo, Probinsya i'ang Palawan; tl, Lalawigan ng Palawan), is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of Mimaropa. It is the largest province in the country in t ...
, and the inlands of
Panay and
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh largest and eighth-most populous island in the Philippines. With a total land area of 10,571 km2 ( 4,082 sq.mi ) and has a population of 1,408,454 as of 2020 census. It is located off the southwestern coast of Luz ...
. The latter were once ubiquitous throughout coastal, lowland Philippine societies before widespread Christianization, and less frequently imports of
flat chau gongs from China.
Kulintang
Kulintang ( id, kolintang, ms, kulintangan)
is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums. As part of ...
refers to a racked
gong chime
A gong chime is a generic term for a set of small, high-pitched bossed pot gongs. The gongs are ordinarily placed in order of pitch, with the boss upward on cords held in a low wooden frame. The frames can be rectangular or circular (the latter ar ...
instrument played in the southern islands of the Philippines, along with its varied accompanying ensembles. Different groups have different ways of playing the ''kulintang''. Two major groups seem to stand out in ''kulintang'' music. These are the Maguindanaon and the Maranao. The kulintang instrument itself could be traced to either the introduction of gongs to Southeast Asia from
China before the 9th century CE or more likely, to the introduction of bossed gong chimes from
Java
Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...
in the 16th century. Nevertheless, the kulintang ensemble is the most advanced form of ensemble music with origins in the
pre-colonial epoch of Philippine history and is a living tradition in southern parts of the country.
The musical traditions involving the kulintang ensemble consist of regional musical styles and varying instrumentation transcending the present national borders of maritime Southeast Asia, comprising
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
, animist,
Muslim, and Christian peoples around
Borneo
Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and ea ...
,
lesser Sunda islands,
Sulawesi,
Maluku,
Sulu, and
Mindanao
Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...
. It is distantly related to the ''
gamelan
Gamelan () ( jv, ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, su, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ban, ᬕᬫᭂᬮᬦ᭄) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. T ...
'' ensembles of
Java
Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mos ...
,
Bali,
Sumatra & the Malay peninsula, and
south Borneo, even moreso the ensembles of
mainland Southeast Asia, primarily because of the usage for the same racked bossed gong chimes that play melody and/or percussion.
Hispanic-influenced music
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
ruled the Philippines for over three centuries, and as such, Hispanic influence is prevalent in folk and traditional music, of coastal lowland regions of
Luzon
Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...
,
Visayas
The Visayas ( ), or the Visayan Islands (Visayan: ''Kabisay-an'', ; tl, Kabisayaan ), are one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, ...
, and the predominantly Visayan
north
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.
Etymology
The word ''north ...
and
east
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from the fac ...
Mindanao alongside the westernmost tip of
Zamboanga.
Hispanic music in the Philippines is unique within the Hispanosphere where most musical forms and genres were derived almost exclusively from
Iberian and some
Mexican traditions, owing to the Philippine colony's
orientation as a distant entrepôt for resale of primarily Chinese and other Asian luxury goods across the Pacific to mainland
New Spain (present-day
Acapulco,
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
). In contrast, much of
Latin American music shows strong
African and occasional
indigenous American influences to varying degrees, resulting from their primary historical orientation as extractive colonies in the
Colombian exchange.
Aside from standardized genres are many precolonial musical forms syncretized with Catholic and general Hispanic idioms, typically involving in religious folk rituals. The
Pasyon
The ''Pasyón'' ( es, Pasión) is a Philippine epic narrative of the life of Jesus Christ, focused on his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. In stanzas of five lines of eight syllables each, the standard elements of epic poetry are interwoven wi ...
chants iniquitous to Christian Filipinos preserve prehispanicized vocal styles, and invocations of patron saints throughout many towns inherited
precolonial forms of ancestor and spirit worship. Examples include ''
Subli
The ''Sublî'' is a religious folk dance of the Tagalog ethno-linguistic group in the Philippines. It is mostly confined to several towns in the province of Batangas.
Description
The dance is considered a favourite in the barangays of Bauan and ...
'' (Batangas), ''
Sinulog
The Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival is an annual cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City and is the centre of the Santo Niño Catholic celebrations in the Philippines.
The festival is considered to be the fi ...
'' (Cebu), ''
Tinikling
Tinikling is a traditional Philippine folk dance which originated during the Spanish colonial era. The dance involves at least two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with on ...
'' (Leyte), and ''Bolibong Kingking'' (Bohol).
Rondalla
The ''
rondalla
The rondalla is an ensemble of stringed instruments played with the plectrum or pick and generally known as plectrum instruments. It originated in Medieval Spain, especially in the ancient Crown of Aragon: Catalonia, Aragon, Murcia, and V ...
'' is a traditional string orchestra comprising four-string,
mandolin-type instruments such as the
banduria and
laud; a
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...
; a
double bass
The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox additions such as the octobass). Similar i ...
; and often a drum for percussion. The rondalla has its origins in the Iberian ''rondalla'' tradition and is used to accompany several Hispanic-influenced song forms and dances.
Harana and kundiman
The
harana and
kundiman
Kundiman is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs. The lyrics of the kundiman are written in Tagalog. The melody is characterized by a smooth, flowing and gentle rhythm with dramatic intervals. Kundiman was the traditional means of sere ...
are popular lyrical songs dating back to the Spanish period and are customarily used in courtship rituals. The harana is rooted in the
Mexican-
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
from Spain, traditional and based on the rhythmic patterns of the
habanera. The kundiman, meanwhile, has pre-colonial origins from the
Tagalophone parts of the country, uses a triple meter rhythm, and is characterized by beginning in a
minor key
In Western music, the adjectives major and minor may describe a chord, scale, or key. As such, composition, movement, section, or phrase may be referred to by its key, including whether that key is major or minor.
Intervals
Some intervals ...
and shifting to a major one in the second half. But make no mistake, harana and kundiman are stylistically different. Whereas harana is in 2/4 time, kundiman is in 3/4. The formula is verse 1 on minor key (e.g. C Minor) followed by verse 2 on parallel major key (C Major) midway through.
In the 1920s, harana and kundiman became more mainstream after performers such as
Atang de la Rama,
Jovita Fuentes, Conching Rosal,
Sylvia La Torre
Sylvia Reyes La Torre-Perez de Tagle (June 4, 1933 – December 1, 2022), was a Filipino singer, actress, and radio star.
Early life
La Torre was born on June 4, 1933 to actress Leonora Reyes and director Olive La Torre.
Career Singing
La Tor ...
, and
Ruben Tagalog
Ruben Tagalog (October 18, 1922 – March 5, 1985) was a Filipino actor and musician, famous for his works in the Kundiman style. He was also one of the founders of the singing group Mabuhay Singers. He is known as the ''Father of Kundiman''. H ...
introduced them to a wider audience.
Tinikling
The
Tinikling
Tinikling is a traditional Philippine folk dance which originated during the Spanish colonial era. The dance involves at least two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with on ...
is a dance from
Leyte
Leyte ( ) is an island in the Visayas group of islands in the Philippines. It is eighth-largest and sixth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 2,626,970 as of 2020 census.
Since the accessibility of land has be ...
which involves two individual performers hitting bamboo poles, using them to beat, tap, and slide on the ground, in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between poles. It is one of the most iconic Philippine dances and is similar to other Southeast Asian bamboo dances.
Cariñosa
The
Cariñosa
The ''cariñosa'' (, meaning loving or affectionate) is a Philippine dance of colonial-era origin from the Maria Clara suite of Philippine folk dances, where the fan or handkerchief plays an instrumental role as it places the couple in a roma ...
(meaning "loving" or "affectionate one") is the national dance and is part of the María Clara suite of Philippine folk dances. It is notable for the use of a
fan and
handkerchief
A handkerchief (; also called a hankie or, historically, a handkercher or a ) is a form of a kerchief or bandanna, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric which can be carried in the pocket or handbag for personal hygiene purposes such as wi ...
in amplifying romantic gestures expressed by the couple performing the traditional courtship dance. The dance is similar to the Mexican
Jarabe Tapatío
''Jarabe tapatío'', often referred to as the Mexican hat dance, is the national dance of Mexico. It originated as a courtship dance in Guadalajara, Jalisco, during the 19th century, although its elements can be traced back to the Spanish '' zamb ...
, and is related to the Kuracha, Amenudo, and Kuradang dances in the Visayas and Mindanao Area.
Popular music
Manila sound
Manila sound is a musical genre that began in the mid-1970s in the city of
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
. The genre flourished and peaked in the mid to late-1970s. It is often considered the "bright side" of the
Philippine martial law era and has influenced most of the modern genres in the country, being the forerunner to
OPM.
Original Pilipino Music (OPM)
Original Pilipino Music, more commonly referred to as OPM, a term coined by
Danny Javier of the
APO Hiking Society, originally referred only to a genre of Philippine pop songs, mostly ballads, that became popular after the collapse of its predecessor, the Manila sound of the 1970s. Currently, the term ''"OPM"'' has been a catch-all description for all popular music composed and performed by Filipinos, originating from the Philippines.
Before the emergence of OPM in the 1970s, popular music in the Philippines throughout the 50s and 60s was a varied showcase for songs with
vernacular
A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...
and
movie themes interpreted by recording artists such
Pilita Corrales
Pilar Garrido Corrales (born August 22, 1937) is a Filipino pop singer, songwriter, actress, comedian and television presenter. She is dubbed as "Asia's Queen of Songs" and is widely known for her rendition of "Kapantay ay Langit" which eventu ...
,
Sylvia La Torre
Sylvia Reyes La Torre-Perez de Tagle (June 4, 1933 – December 1, 2022), was a Filipino singer, actress, and radio star.
Early life
La Torre was born on June 4, 1933 to actress Leonora Reyes and director Olive La Torre.
Career Singing
La Tor ...
,
Diomedes Maturan
Diomedes Maturan (August 16, 1940 – April 7, 2002) (tagged the "Perry Como of the Philippines" and "The Golden Voice") was an actor who played in ''Botika sa Baryo'' (1960) and a grand champion in ''Tawag ng Tanghalan''.
Early life
Diomedes wa ...
,
Ric Manrique Jr.,
Ruben Tagalog
Ruben Tagalog (October 18, 1922 – March 5, 1985) was a Filipino actor and musician, famous for his works in the Kundiman style. He was also one of the founders of the singing group Mabuhay Singers. He is known as the ''Father of Kundiman''. H ...
,
Helen Gamboa,
Vilma Santos,
Edgar Mortiz
Edgardo Mortiz (born August 30, 1954) is a Filipino actor, comedian, singer and director who is currently affiliated with GMA Network and Brightlight Productions. He previously directed numerous shows under ABS-CBN, until its shutdown where he ...
,
Carmen Camacho, among many others.
In the 1970s, popular OPM artists were
Nora Aunor,
Tirso Cruz III
Tirso Silvano Cruz III (born April 1, 1952) is a Filipino actor, comedian, and singer. He currently serves as the Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Regarded as a "matinee idol", Cruz is a FAMAS Award and Gawad Ur ...
,
Eddie Peregrina,
Ramon Jacinto
Ramón Pereyra Jacinto (born June 3, 1945), best known by his initials RJ, is a Filipino businessman, musician and radio TV personality. He previously served as Undersecretary for Government Digital Broadcast Television and the Digitization of ...
,
Victor Wood, and
Asin. The more major commercial
Philippine pop music artists were
Claire dela Fuente,
Didith Reyes
Maria Helen Bella Avenila Santamaria (September 17, 1949 – December 10, 2008), better known as Didith Reyes, was a Filipino people, Filipina actress and singer best known for recording a string of hit love ballads in the mid-1970s like "Araw-ara ...
,
Rico Puno,
Ryan Cayabyab
Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab (born ; May 4, 1954), known professionally as Ryan Cayabyab, is a Filipino musician, composer and conductor. He was the Executive and Artistic Director for several years for the defunct San Miguel Foundation ...
,
APO Hiking Society's
Danny Javier,
Jim Paredes, and
Boboy Garrovillo
Jose Teves Garrovillo Jr. (born in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte) Better simply known as Boboy Garrovillo, is a Filipino singer, composer, television host, and actor. He is known as one of the members of the popular musical trio APO Hiking Socie ...
,
Basil Valdez,
Celeste Legaspi,
Hajji Alejandro,
Rey Valera,
Freddie Aguilar,
Imelda Papin
Imelda Arcilla Papin (born January 26, 1956) is a Filipino singer and politician. Dubbed the "Sentimental Songstress", Papin sang songs such as "Bakit (Kung Liligaya Ka sa Piling ng Iba)" and "Isang Linggong Pag-ibig".
Early life
Papin was bor ...
,
Eva Eugenio,
Marco Sison,
Nonoy Zuñiga,
Leah Navarro,
Cinderella
"Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...
,
Tillie Moreno,
Ric Segreto,
Janet Basco
Janet Macabasco is a Filipino singer. She is known for her hits "You Made Me Live Again", "Minsan Pa", and "My Girl, My Woman, My Friend" in a duet with Jose Mari Chan. In the music video version of this song, she is seen sitting on the sofa eati ...
,
Boyfriends,
Hotdog
A hot dog (uncommonly spelled hotdog) is a food consisting of a grilled or steamed sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun. The term hot dog can refer to the sausage itself. The sausage used is a wiener (Vienna sausage) or a fra ...
,
VST & Co., and many others.
Between the 1980s and the 1990s, OPM was led by artists such as
Regine Velasquez
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez ( ; born April 22, 1970) is a Filipina singer, actress, and record producer. She is considered one of the most influential figures in Philippine popular culture and is known for her vocal range and beltin ...
,
Pops Fernandez,
APO Hiking Society,
Kuh Ledesma,
Jose Mari Chan,
Dingdong Avanzado
Fernando Cyril "Dingdong" Veloso Avanzado (born July 7, 1968) is a Filipino singer, actor, politician and TV host.
Early life
Avanzado was born on July 7, 1968 in Quezon City.
He was born to the political Veloso Family of Samar, to Fernando ...
, Tito Mina,
Rodel Naval
Rodel Belvis Naval (February 16, 1953 – June 11, 1995) was a Filipino actor, singer, and songwriter. He is best remembered for such songs as "Lumayo Ka Man" and "Muli".
Background
Rodel (or Ody as he was called by those who knew him) was b ...
,
Janno Gibbs,
Ogie Alcasid
Herminio Jose Lualhati "Ogie" Alcasid Jr. (; born August 27, 1967) is a Filipino singer-songwriter, television presenter, comedian, parodist, and actor. He is currently the President of OPM (Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit).
Early care ...
,
Joey Albert
Joey Albert (born March 19, 1960) is a Filipina pop and jazz singer, musician, lyricist, and songwriter. An alumna of St. Theresa's College Manila and Assumption College San Lorenzo, she began her professional singing career in 1981. In 1982, she ...
,
Lilet,
Martin Nievera,
Manilyn Reynes
Manilyn Reynes-Jimenez (born April 27, 1972), simply known as Manilyn Reynes, is a Filipino actress, singer, TV host and commercial model. In the Philippines, Reynes has been referred to as "The Star of All Decades" and is recognized as one of ...
,
Lea Salonga,
Kristina Paner,
Richard Reynoso
Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...
,
Rachel Alejandro
Rachel Jingco Alejandro (born February 18, 1974) is a Filipino singer and actress.
Biography Early life
Alejandro's mother and father separated when she was four. Her mother then remarried and moved to the United States. Together with her fat ...
,
Raymond Lauchengco
Raymond Lauchengco (born November 29, 1964) is a Filipino actor, artist, and singer with roots in musical theater. His foray into showbusiness began at the age of 12 when he played the role of Louis, son of Anna, in the Repertory Philippines stagi ...
,
JoAnne Lorenzana,
Francis Magalona
Francis Michael Durango Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009), also known by the moniker Francis M, was a Filipino rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, actor, and television personality. Born in Manila, He became a significant influ ...
, Gino Padilla,
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Gamboa Cuneta-Pangilinan ( , ; born January 6, 1966) is a Filipino actress, singer, television host, and socialite. Regarded as one of the most successful and highest-earning individuals in the Philippine entertainment industry, she has ...
,
Sheryl Cruz,
Keno,
Lou Bonnevie
Maria Lourdes Rosario Perello Bonnevie, better known by her stage name Lou Bonnevie (born October 6, 1965 in Bicol), is a Filipina pop rock musician. She has released several albums since the beginning of her career in 1984. Her music was also u ...
,
Zsa Zsa Padilla and
Gary Valenciano, among many others.
In the 1990s, famous artists include
Eraserheads
Eraserheads (sometimes stylized as ERASƎRHEADS or ƎRASƎRHƎADS) are a Filipino alternative rock band formed in 1989. With a line-up comprising Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro, and Raimund Marasigan, the band became one of the most ...
, Rockstar (Arkasia),
Siakol,
the Company,
April Boy Regino,
Smokey Mountain,
Rivermaya
Rivermaya is a Filipino alternative rock band. Formed in 1994, it is one of the several bands who spearheaded the 1990s Philippine alternative rock explosion.
Rivermaya is currently composed of original members Mark Escueta and Nathan Azarc ...
,
Jaya,
Agot Isidro
Maria Margarita Amada Fteha Isidro (born July 20, 1966), known professionally as Agot Isidro, is a Filipino actress. She is the fourth of the six children of Jose Isidro, an architect, and Palestinian mother Edwarta Fteha. She graduated from t ...
,
Dessa
Margret Wander (born May 23, 1981), better known by her stage name Dessa, is an American rapper, singer, writer, and former record executive. She is a member of the indie hip hop collective Doomtree.
Early life
Dessa was born to Robert Wander ...
,
Isabel Granada,
Vina Morales
Sharon Garcia Magdayao (born October 17, 1975), known by her stage name Vina Morales (), is a Filipino singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and model. Dubbed as the “''Ultimate Performer''” by various media outlets, she has won 2 Awit ...
,
Donna Cruz,
Neocolours,
Jolina Magdangal
Maria Jolina Perez Magdangal-Escueta (; born November 6, 1978) is a Filipina singer, actress, television presenter, and entrepreneur. She is referred to in the Philippines as the Queen of Pinoy Popular Culture (or simply as Pop Icon) and is ...
,
Jessa Zaragoza
Richelle Ann Mallari Loyola-Avanzado (born January 31, 1979), better known by her stage name Jessa Zaragoza, is a Filipina commercial model, singer and actress. She is known as the "Phenomenal Diva" and "Jukebox Queen of the 90s" for her first ...
,
Ariel Rivera
Jose Ariel Jimenez Rivera, professionally known as Ariel Rivera (born September 1, 1966), is a Filipino recording artist and actor.
Rivera was born in Manila, Philippines but has since migrated with his family to Canada. He has since become ...
,
South Border
South Border is a Filipino pop and R&B band formed in the early 1990s who gained widespread recognition in the music scene in the mid 1990s to the 2000s.
Origins and early years
Originally formed in 1993, the band whose name is a tribute to ...
,
Carol Banawa,
Yano
Yano is a Filipino folk/ punk rock band formed in 1993. The band members were originally composed of Dong Abay on vocals and Eric Gancio on guitar. Onie Badiang later joined them to play bass. Nowie Favila was the usual drummer but declined t ...
,
Teeth
A tooth ( : teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, t ...
,
Introvoys
INTRoVOYS is a Filipino pop rock band formed in 1986 by 3rd-G Cristobal, Paco Arespacochaga and Jonathan Buencamino. The band is now based in Los Angeles, California.
History
Formation and early years: 1986-1988
INTRoVOYS was formed in Manila, ...
,
AfterImage
AfterImage is a Filipino rock band formed in 1986, best known for their songs "Habang May Buhay", "Next in Line", and "Mangarap Ka". They disbanded in 1997 and became active again in 2008 after they reunited and released their fourth studio alb ...
,
Side A
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...
,
Andrew E.
Andrew Ford Valentino Espiritu (born July 30, 1967) is a Filipino rapper, record producer, actor, toy collector and comedian. He is best known in the Philippines for his 1990 debut hit single "Humanap Ka Ng Panget" (''Look For Someone Ugly''). ...
,
Lani Misalucha,
Ella May Saison
Ella May Saison (also credited as Ella Mae Saison) is a Filipino people, Filipino singer referred as the original ''Philippine Queen of Soul''.
Career
Saison began her recording career at age 19. Prior to landing a recording contract, she was a s ...
,
Joey Ayala
José Íñigo Homer Lacambra Ayala (born June 1, 1956 in Bukidnon, Philippines), professionally known as Joey Ayala, is a Filipino singer, songwriter and former chairman of the music committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. ...
,
Parokya ni Edgar,
Viktoria, April Boys, Color It Red,
Roselle Nava
Roselle Paulino Nava-Tan (born March 28, 1976), professionally and more commonly known as Roselle Nava, is a Filipino singer, film and television actress, and former politician. She is a multi-platinum female singer in the Philippines and one ...
and
Blakdyak, among many others.
In the 2000s and the 2010s, leading OPM artists include
Sarah Geronimo
Sarah Asher Tua Geronimo-Guidicelli (, , born July 25, 1988) is a Filipino singer, performer and actress. Geronimo rose to prominence after winning the television singing contest '' Star for a Night'' earning her a recording contract with Vi ...
,
Julie Anne San Jose
Julie Anne Peñaflorida San Jose (; born May 17, 1994) is a Filipino singer, songwriter, actress, host and television personality. She is dubbed as "''Asia's Limitless Star''" for her singing prowess and achievements.
San Jose is regarded as ...
,
Angeline Quinto
Angeline Ticman Quinto (; born November 26, 1989) is a Filipina singer, actress, entrepreneur and winner of '' Star Power: Sharon's Search For The Next Female Pop Superstar'' in 2011.
Quinto has been dubbed as the "''Philippines’ Queen of ...
,
Aicelle Santos
Aicelle Anne Coronel Santos-Zambrano (born February 24, 1985), is a Filipino singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress who. She has been known as the "First Undefeated Pinoy Pop Superstar", when she achieved eight straight wins in GMA Network's ...
,
Gerald Santos
Gerald Padua Santos (born May 15, 1991) is a Filipino singer and actor. He was the grand champion of ''Pinoy Pop Superstar'' (Season 2) on GMA Network in 2006 and dubbed as "The Prince of Ballad". In November 2013, Gerald released his third studi ...
,
Jonalyn Viray,
Morissette,
Rachelle Ann Go
Rachelle Ann Villalobos Go-Spies (born August 31, 1986) is a Filipina singer and actress. She began her career by participating in and winning several singing competitions, the first of which was in the long-running Philippine variety show ''E ...
,
Christian Bautista,
Kitchie Nadal
Anna Katrina Dumilon Nadal-López (born September 16, 1980) is a Filipina singer-songwriter who was formerly the lead vocalist for the alternative rock band, Mojofly. Her popularity in the female OPM niche grew after she released a self-tit ...
,
Yasmien Kurdi,
Moonstar88,
Itchyworms
The Itchyworms is a Filipino rock band. The band is composed of Jazz Nicolas on drums, Jugs Jugueta on guitars, Kelvin Yu on bass guitars and Chino Singson on lead guitars. The group made their name in the OPM (Original Pilipino Music) scene in ...
,
Rocksteddy
Rocksteddy is a Filipino rock band signed to 12 Stone Records.
History and singles
Formerly known as Acoustic Faith, Rocksteddy was founded in March 2003 by fellow church members, a trio of Christian rockers including singer Teddy Corpuz, ...
,
Aiza Seguerra,
Toni Gonzaga
Celestine Cruz Gonzaga-Soriano (; born January 20, 1984), better known as Toni Gonzaga, is a Filipino singer, host, actress, producer, vlogger and entrepreneur. She is the former lead host of long-running reality show, ''Pinoy Big Brother''. To ...
,
Richard Poon,
Nina,
Yeng Constantino
Josephine Eusebio Constantino-Asuncion (born December 4, 1988), professionally known as Yeng Constantino, is a Filipino pop rock singer-songwriter, occasional actress and host. She is referred to as the ''Philippines Pop Rock Royalty'' and ...
,
Piolo Pascual
Piolo Jose Nonato Pascual (, born January 12, 1977) is a Filipino film and television actor, singer, model, and producer.
Early life
Piolo Jose Nonato Pascual was born on January 12, 1977, in Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center located in Malat ...
,
KZ Tandingan,
Nyoy Volante,
Daniel Padilla
Daniel John Elago Ford (born April 26, 1995), better known by his screen name Daniel Padilla (), is a Filipino actor and recording artist. Padilla made his television debut with a supporting role in the soap opera ''Gimik 2010'' (2010), befor ...
,
Kamikazee,
Hale,
Spongecola,
Mark Bautista,
Jennylyn Mercado
Jennylyn Anne Pineda Mercado-Ho (; born May 15, 1987) is a Filipino actress, singer, and songwriter. She was the winner of the first season of the reality talent competition '' StarStruck''. Mercado garnered acclaim at a young age for her act ...
,
Jake Zyrus
Jake Zyrus (formerly known under the mononym Charice; born 10 May 1992) is a Filipino singer and television personality.
In 2007, after some appearances on Philippine television, Zyrus sang on ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'', and the followin ...
,
Jed Madela
John Edward Tiña Tajanlangit (born July 14, 1977), professionally known as Jed Madela, is a Filipino singer, recording artist, songwriter, TV host, entertainer, and occasional actor. He was the first Filipino to win the World Championships o ...
,
Erik Santos
Rhoderick Ramos Santos (born October 10, 1982), more commonly known as Erik Santos, is a Filipino singer, actor, TV host, commercial model, and the first Grand Champion of the ABS-CBN singing competition '' Star in a Million Season 1'' in 2003 ...
,
Parokya Ni Edgar,
Ben&Ben
Ben&Ben (formerly known as The Benjamins) are a folk pop band in the Philippines. Formed in 2015, the band have since been known for their popular hits that include " Pagtingin" and " Lifetime", among others. One of the most popular acts in th ...
,
TNT Boys,
Moira Dela Torre
Moira Rachelle Bustamante Dela Torre (born November 4, 1993) is a Filipino singer-songwriter. Born in Olongapo, Philippines, she began as a voice artist for corporate jingles and theme songs. In 2013, she competed in ''The Voice of The Philip ...
,
James Reid,
Sheryn Regis,
Gloc-9,
MNL48
MNL48 (read as ''M.N.L. Forty-eight'') is a Filipino idol girl group based in Manila, Philippines. Formed in 2018, they are the fourth international sister group of AKB48, after Indonesia's JKT48, China's SNH48 (''former''), and Thailand's B ...
,
SB19, and
Skusta Clee, among many others.
In the 2020s, current OPM artists include
Zack Tabudlo,
Arthur Nery
Arthur Madrigalejos Nery (born January 28, 1996) is a Filipino singer and songwriter. He signed a record deal in 2019 with Kean Cipriano's label O/C under Viva Records, and released his debut album ''Letters Never Sent'' in the same year. He b ...
,
Adie, Nobita,
Bandang Lapis, Ace Banzuelo,
SB19,
BGYO,
Bini,
Alamat, Kenniah, mrld, Lo Ki, Rob Deniel, and many others.
Underground bands emerged; along with them were their perceptions of idealism and self-expression. The famous lyricist of Circle's End, Geno Georsua landed on top as the melodramatic expressionist. Bassist Greg Soliman of UST Pendong grasps the title as the best bassist of underground music.
Since its origin, OPM has been centered in Manila, where Tagalog and English are the dominant languages. Other ethnolinguistic groups such as the Visayans, Bikolanos, and Kapampangans, who make music in their native languages, rarely break into the popular Filipino local music scene, with only a handful of exceptions, which include the
Bisrock
BisRock is a subgenre of Pinoy rock, propagated by the Cebu rock music industry in the Philippines. The term, which is in the blended form, comes from the Cebuano words ''Bisaya'', referring the Visayan languages, and "rock", for rock music. The ...
(Visayan rock music) song "Charing" by 1017, a Davao-based band, and "Porque" by Maldita, a Zamboanga-based Chavacano band. A lot of compositions of Bisrock are contributed by bands such as Phylum and Missing Filemon.
Following suit are the Kapampangans. The debut music video of "Oras" ("''Time''") by Tarlac City-based Kapampangan band Mernuts penetrated MTV Pilipinas, making it the first-ever Kapampangan music video to join the ranks of other mainstream Filipino music videos. ''RocKapampangan: The Birth of Philippine Kapampangan Rock'', an album of modern remakes of Kapampangan folk extemporaneous songs by various Kapampangan bands was also launched in February 2008, and was regularly played via Kapampangan cable channel Infomax-8 and via one of Central Luzon's biggest FM radio stations, GVFM 99.1. Inspired by what the locals call "Kapampangan cultural renaissance", Angeles City-born balladeer
Ronnie Liang
Ronnie de Guzman Liang is a Filipino singer, actor, model, and influencer. He is also an Army Reservist and a licensed private pilot. He is currently studying as a commercial pilot and instructor pilot training at the Pilipinas Space and Aviat ...
rendered Kapampangan translations of some of his popular songs such as "Ayli" (Kapampangan version of "Ngiti"), and "Ika" (Kapampangan version of "Ikaw") for his repackaged album.
Despite the growing clamor for non-Tagalog and non-English music and the greater representation of other
Philippine languages
The Philippine languages or Philippinic are a proposed group by R. David Paul Zorc (1986) and Robert Blust (1991; 2005; 2019) that include all the languages of the Philippines and northern Sulawesi, Indonesia—except Sama–Bajaw (languag ...
, the local Philippine music industry, which is centered in Manila, is unforthcoming in venturing investments to other locations. Some of the major reasons for this include the language barrier, small market size, and socio-cultural emphasis away from regionalism in the Philippines. An example would be the Ilokano group The Bukros Singers, who swept through Ilocandia in the 1990s and became a precursor for other Ilokano performers into the 2000s, but rarely broke through other music markets in the Philippines.
The country's first songwriting competition,
Metro Manila Popular Music Festival, was first established in 1977 and launched by the Popular Music Foundation of the Philippines. The event featured many prominent singers and songwriters during its time. It was held annually for seven years until its discontinuation in 1985. It was later revived in 1996 as the "Metropop Song Festival", running for another seven years before being discontinued in 2003 due to the decline of its popularity. Another variation of the festival had been established called the
Himig Handog
Himig Handog (Eng: A Musical Offering) is a multimedia songwriting and music video competition in the Philippines based in Quezon City. The competition is operated by ABS-CBN Corporation and the media conglomerate's music subsidiary Star Music. Th ...
contest which began in 2002, operated by
ABS-CBN Corporation
ABS-CBN Corporation is a Filipino media company based in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is the largest entertainment and media conglomerate in the Philippines. It is a subsidiary of Lopez Holdings Corporation which is owned b ...
and its subsidiary music label
Star Music (formerly Star Records).
Five competitions have been held so far starting in 2000 to 2003 and were eventually revived in 2013. Unlike its predecessors, the contest has different themes which reflect the type of song entries chosen as finalists each year. In 2012, the
Philippine Popular Music Festival The Philippine Popular Music Festival (also known as Philpop) is an annual songwriting competition organized by the Philpop MusicFest Foundation and was launched in 2012. The creation of the festival was inspired by the defunct Metro Manila Popular ...
was launched and is said to be inspired by the first songwriting competition. Another songwriting competition for OPM music being held annually is the Bombo Music Festival, being conducted by the radio network
Bombo Radyo, first conceived in 1985.
Pinoy pop (P-pop)
From 2010s to nowadays Philippine pop music or
P-pop went through a huge resurgence, with increased quality, budget, investment, and variety, mirroring that of the country's rapid
economic growth, and an accompanying social and cultural resurgence of its Asian identity. Heavy influence from
K-pop and
J-pop
J-pop ( ja, ジェイポップ, ''jeipoppu''; often stylized as J-POP; an abbreviated form of "Japanese popular music"), natively also known simply as , is the name for a form of popular music that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the ...
, Asian style ballads, idol groups, and EDM music can be heard, with less reliance on Western genres, mirroring the
Korean wave and similar Japanese wave popularity among millennial (born 1980-1994) and Gen Z (born 1995-2015) Filipinos and mainstream culture. Famous P-pop music artists who define the growth of this now mainstream genre include
4th Impact
4th Impact is a Filipino girl group composed of sisters Almira, Irene, Mylene and Celina Cercado. The group competed in the twelfth season of the British singing contest ''The X Factor'', where they finished in fifth place. They are also known ...
,
Sarah Geronimo
Sarah Asher Tua Geronimo-Guidicelli (, , born July 25, 1988) is a Filipino singer, performer and actress. Geronimo rose to prominence after winning the television singing contest '' Star for a Night'' earning her a recording contract with Vi ...
,
SB19, 1st.One,
KZ Tandingan,
Morissette,
Erik Santos
Rhoderick Ramos Santos (born October 10, 1982), more commonly known as Erik Santos, is a Filipino singer, actor, TV host, commercial model, and the first Grand Champion of the ABS-CBN singing competition '' Star in a Million Season 1'' in 2003 ...
,
Yeng Constantino
Josephine Eusebio Constantino-Asuncion (born December 4, 1988), professionally known as Yeng Constantino, is a Filipino pop rock singer-songwriter, occasional actress and host. She is referred to as the ''Philippines Pop Rock Royalty'' and ...
,
MNL48
MNL48 (read as ''M.N.L. Forty-eight'') is a Filipino idol girl group based in Manila, Philippines. Formed in 2018, they are the fourth international sister group of AKB48, after Indonesia's JKT48, China's SNH48 (''former''), and Thailand's B ...
,
Regine Velasquez
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez ( ; born April 22, 1970) is a Filipina singer, actress, and record producer. She is considered one of the most influential figures in Philippine popular culture and is known for her vocal range and beltin ...
,
BGYO,
Bini,
Alamat, Press Hit Play, and PPop Generation.
Other popular music
Choir music
Choral music has become an important part of Philippine music culture. It dates back to the choirs of churches that sing during mass in the old days. In the middle of the 20th century, performing choral groups started to emerge and increasingly become popular as time goes by. Aside from churches, universities, schools, and local communities have established choirs.
Philippine choral arrangers like Robert Delgado, Fidel Calalang,
Lucio San Pedro,
Eudenice Palaruan among others have included in the vast repertoires of choirs beautiful arrangements of OPM, folk songs, patriotic songs, novelty songs, love songs, and even foreign songs.
The
Philippine Madrigal Singers
The University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers (UPMS), also known as the Philippine Madrigal Singers or simply Madz, is one of the major choral groups based in the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Its current conductor, musical direct ...
(originally the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers) is one of the most famous choral groups not only in the Philippines, but also worldwide. Winning international competitions, the group became one of the most formidable choral groups in the country. Other award-winning choral groups are the
University of Santo Tomas Singers
The University of Santo Tomas Singers or UST Singers is the premiere mixed choral ensemble of Asia's oldest university, the University of Santo Tomas
The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal ...
, the Philippine Meistersingers (Former Adventist University of the Philippines Ambassadors), the
U.P. Singing Ambassadors, and the
U.P. Concert Chorus, among others.
Rock music
The
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
occupied the Islands from 1898 until 1946 and introduced American
blues,
folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
,
R&B and
rock & roll which became popular. In the late 1950s, native performers adapted Tagalog lyrics for North American rock & roll music, resulting in the seminal origins of Philippine rock. The most notable achievement in Philippine rock of the 1960s was the hit song "Killer Joe", which propelled the group,
Rocky Fellers, reaching number 16 on the American radio charts.
1970s
Up until the 1970s, popular rock musicians wrote and produced songs primarily in English. In the early 1970s, rock music began to be written using local languages, with bands like the
Juan Dela Cruz Band being among the first popular bands to do so. Mixing Tagalog and English lyrics within the same song was also popular, an example of which includes the song "Ang Miss Universe Ng Buhay Ko ("''The Miss Universe of My Life''") by the band
Hotdog
A hot dog (uncommonly spelled hotdog) is a food consisting of a grilled or steamed sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun. The term hot dog can refer to the sausage itself. The sausage used is a wiener (Vienna sausage) or a fra ...
, who was a primary innovator in the
Manila sound scene. The mixing of the two languages (known as "Taglish"), while common in casual speech in the Philippines, was seen as a bold move, but the success of Taglish in popular songs, including
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Gamboa Cuneta-Pangilinan ( , ; born January 6, 1966) is a Filipino actress, singer, television host, and socialite. Regarded as one of the most successful and highest-earning individuals in the Philippine entertainment industry, she has ...
's first hit, "Mr. DJ", broke the barrier.
Philippine rock musicians' acts were influenced by
folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
and other various cultures, helping to lead to the 1978 breakthrough success of
Freddie Aguilar. Aguilar's "
Anak
Anak (; he, , homophone to a word for "giant, long neck, necklace"; ) is a figure in the Hebrew Bible. His descendants are mentioned in narratives concerning the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites. According to the Book of Numbers, Anak was a ...
" ("''Child''"), his debut recording, is the most commercially successful Filipino recording, and was popular throughout Asia and Europe, and has been translated into numerous languages by singers worldwide.
Asin also broke into the music scene in the same period and was popular. Other similar artists included
Sampaguita, Coritha,
Florante,
Mike Hanopol, and
Heber Bartolome
Heber Gonzalez Bartolome (November 4, 1948 – November 15, 2021) was a Filipino folk and rock singer, songwriter, composer, poet, guitarist, bandurria player, bluesman, and painter. His music was influenced by the "stylistic tradition" of Phi ...
.
1980s
Folk rock
Folk rock is a hybrid music genre that combines the elements of folk and rock music, which arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music revival. Performers s ...
became the Philippine protest music of the 1980s, and Aguilar's "
Bayan Ko" ("''My Country''") became popular as an
anthem during the
1986 EDSA Revolution
The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of c ...
. At the same time, a counterculture rejected the rise of politically focused lyrics. In
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
, a
punk rock scene developed, led by bands like Betrayed,
the Jerks, Urban Bandits, and Contras. The influence of
new wave was also felt during these years, spearheaded by
the Dawn.
1990s
The 1990s saw the emergence of
Eraserheads
Eraserheads (sometimes stylized as ERASƎRHEADS or ƎRASƎRHƎADS) are a Filipino alternative rock band formed in 1989. With a line-up comprising Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro, and Raimund Marasigan, the band became one of the most ...
, considered by many Filipinos as the number one Filipino musical artist. The wake of their success saw the emergence of a string of influential Filipino rock bands such as
True Faith,
Yano
Yano is a Filipino folk/ punk rock band formed in 1993. The band members were originally composed of Dong Abay on vocals and Eric Gancio on guitar. Onie Badiang later joined them to play bass. Nowie Favila was the usual drummer but declined t ...
, Siakol, The Youth, Introvoys, After Image,
Teeth
A tooth ( : teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, t ...
,
Parokya ni Edgar and
Rivermaya
Rivermaya is a Filipino alternative rock band. Formed in 1994, it is one of the several bands who spearheaded the 1990s Philippine alternative rock explosion.
Rivermaya is currently composed of original members Mark Escueta and Nathan Azarc ...
, each of which mixed the influence of a variety of rock sub-genres into their style. A 1990s
death metal (Skychurch
Genital Grinder Death After Birth, Disinterment, Kabaong ni Kamatayan, Mass Carnage, Apostate, Murdom, Exhumed, Sacrilege, Rumblebelly,
Disinterment (Death Metal Philippines), Dethrone, Aroma) emergence had bands as prominent fixtures at
Club Dredd of the "Tunog kalye" era.
2000s
Filipino rock in the 2000s also developed to include
punk rock,
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier p ...
,
emo,
hard rock,
heavy metal, and
alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or commerci ...
, with acts like
Razorback
The feral pig is a domestic pig which has gone feral, meaning it lives in the wild. They are found mostly in the Americas and Australia. Razorback and wild hog are Americanisms applied to feral pigs or boar-pig hybrids.
Definition
A feral p ...
,
Wolfgang,
Greyhoundz,
Slapshock, Queso,
Typecast
In film, television, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character, one or more particular roles, or characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ...
,
Chicosci,
Kamikazee,
Bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, ...
,
Franco
Franco may refer to:
Name
* Franco (name)
* Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975
* Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître"
Prefix
* Franco, a prefix used when ref ...
,
Urbandub,
Tanya Markova, Kiko Machine, and the
progressive bands Paradigm, Fuseboxx, Earthmover, and Eternal Now.
2010s
The 2010s saw the rise of various unsigned acts of different sub-genres from another format of rock,
independent music
Independent music (also commonly known as indie music or simply indie) is music that is produced independently from commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, a process that may include an autonomous, do-it-yourself approach to recording a ...
which included
indie
Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Gaming
*Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies
*Indie game, any game (board ...
acts such as
Autotelic, Snakefight, Jejaview,
Bullet Dumas
Bullet Dumas (born April 10, 1986) is a Filipino indie singer-songwriter. Dumas is best known for a contemporary folk style which has been described by critics as "raw, earthy," and distinctively Filipino, characterized by the use of the acoustic ...
,
Ang Bandang Shirley,
Cheats
Cheating generally describes various actions designed to subvert rules in order to obtain unfair advantages. This includes acts of bribery, cronyism and nepotism in any situation where individuals are given preference using inappropriate crit ...
,
BP Valenzuela,
She's Only Sixteen
SOS (formerly She's Only Sixteen) is a 4-piece alternative rock band from the Philippines. The band is composed of Roberto Seña on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Andrew Panopio on lead guitar, Anjo Silvoza on bass, and King Puentespina on drums. ...
,
The Ransom Collective,
Oh, Flamingo!
Oh, Flamingo! is a Filipino indie rock band from Manila, formed in 2013. The band consists of Howard Luistro (vocals, guitar), Billie Dela Paz (vocals, bass), Pappu de Leon (guitar), and Pat Sarabia (drums).
The band released their debut self- ...
,
Sud,
Jensen and The Flips,
MilesExperience,
Tom's Story
Degs and Gabba, formerly known as Tom's Story, is an indie instrumental rock trio based in Manila, Philippines. The band is composed of original members: Tom Naval on bass, Gabba Santiago on guitars, and Christer "Degs" de Guia on drums.
The b ...
, Lions & Acrobats,
Ben&Ben
Ben&Ben (formerly known as The Benjamins) are a folk pop band in the Philippines. Formed in 2015, the band have since been known for their popular hits that include " Pagtingin" and " Lifetime", among others. One of the most popular acts in th ...
,
December Avenue,
IV of Spades, CHNDTR,
Clara Benin
Clara Benin (born February 19, 1994) is a Filipina indie singer-songwriter best known for her track "Parallel Universe". As of October 2019, Benin has amassed tens of millions of streams in Spotify.
Personal life
Clara Benin is the eldest daught ...
,
Reese Lansangan,
Unique Salonga,
This Band,
I Belong to the Zoo,
Brisom,
Lola Amour,
Luncheon
Lunch is a meal eaten around the middle of the day. It is commonly the second meal of the day, after breakfast, and varies in size by culture and region.
Etymology
According to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED''), the etymology ...
,
Munimuni
Munimuni is a Filipino indie folk band from Quezon City, Philippines. The band currently consists of Adj Jiao (guitar, vocals), John Owen Castro (flute, vocals), Jolo Ferrer (bass), Josh Tumaliuan (drums), and Ben Ayes (guitar).
History Formatio ...
,
Over October, Agsunta, and
Leanne and Naara, among others.
Rock festivals have emerged through recent years, becoming annual events for rock/metal enthusiasts. One big event is the
Pulp Summer Slam
Pulp Summer Slam was an annual music festival in the Philippines. It was founded and produced by Pulp Live World Productions, Inc. The festival consisted of local and international rock and metal bands with the occasional line-up of hip hop, ska, ...
where local rock/metal bands and international bands such as
Lamb of God,
Anthrax,
Death Angel, and
Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup from Halmstad, formed in 1995. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, The Agonist, Nevermore, and Eucharis ...
have performed. Another all-local annual event,
Rakrakan Festival, is one where over 100 Pinoy rock acts perform.
The neo-traditional genre in Filipino music is also gaining popularity, with artists such as
Joey Ayala
José Íñigo Homer Lacambra Ayala (born June 1, 1956 in Bukidnon, Philippines), professionally known as Joey Ayala, is a Filipino singer, songwriter and former chairman of the music committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. ...
,
Grace Nono
Grace Nono is a Filipino singer, known for her musical style based on traditional Filipino rhythms. She is also an ethnomusicologist, scholar of Philippine shamanism, and cultural worker.
Early life and education
Grace Nono was born on May 6, 1 ...
,
Bayang Barrios, Kadangyan and
Pinikpikan reaping relative commercial success while utilizing the traditional musical sounds of many indigenous tribes in the Philippines.
Hip hop
Filipino hip-hop is
hip hop music performed by musicians of Filipino descent, both in the Philippines and overseas, especially by Filipino-Americans. The Philippines is known to have the first hip-hop music scene in Asia, emerging in the early 1980s, largely due to the country's historical connections with the United States where hip-hop originated. Rap music released in the Philippines has appeared in different languages such as Tagalog, Chavacano, Cebuano, Ilocano, and English. In the Philippines,
Francis M
Francis Michael Durango Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009), also known by the moniker Francis M, was a Filipino rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, actor, and television personality. Born in Manila, He became a significant influ ...
,
Andrew E.
Andrew Ford Valentino Espiritu (born July 30, 1967) is a Filipino rapper, record producer, actor, toy collector and comedian. He is best known in the Philippines for his 1990 debut hit single "Humanap Ka Ng Panget" (''Look For Someone Ugly''). ...
, Vincent Dapalong, Michael V., Denmark and
Gloc-9 are cited as the most influential rappers in the country, being the first to release mainstream rap albums. A new breed of hip hop/rap/trap artists like
Abra, Bassilyo, Curse 1, Flict-G, Smugglaz, Dello, Loonie,
Shehyee
Christopher John Rosales Ongkiko (born February 13, 1992), who records under his stage name Shehyee, is a Filipino rapper, songwriter and internet personality best known for his 2013 hit single, Trip Lang, and his participation in the popular Fl ...
,
Shanti Dope,
Al James
Alvin James P. Manlutac (born August 19, 1991), known professionally as Al James, is a Filipino rapper and songwriter. He is known for his songs "Pahinga", "Pa-Umaga" and "Latina".
Career
Al James graduated with a degree in fine arts and design a ...
, Because, Bugoy na Koykoy, Nik Makino, Honcho,
Skusta Clee,
Flow G
Archie Basilio dela Cruz (born August 15, 1996), known professionally as Flow G, is a Filipino rapper, singer-songwriter, and member of the Filipino hip-hop collective Ex Battalion.
Career
On January 17, 2020, Gloc-9 released a collaborativ ...
,
Ex Battalion
Ex Battalion (colloquially abbreviated as Ex B) is a Filipino hip hop collective from Muntinlupa City, Philippines, primarily known for the hit singles "Hayaan Mo Sila" in 2017 and "No Games" in 2016. The group was originally formed as a rap b ...
,
ALLMO$T
ALLMOST (styled as ALLMO$T) is a Filipino Hip hop music, hip hop group which consists of members Clien Alcazar, Russell dela Fuente, Jomuel "Jom" Casem and Angelo Luigi "Crakky" Timog.
History
Olongapo-based rappers Russel dela Fuente and A ...
, and
O.C. Dawgs would later follow in the late 2000s and Nowadays.
Other genres
Many other genres are growing in popularity in the Philippine music scene, including several alternative groups and tribal bands promoting cultural awareness of the Philippine Islands.
Pinoy jazz
Likewise,
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
experienced a resurgence in popularity. The initial impetus was provided by W.D.O.U.J.I. (Witch Doctors of Underground Jazz Improvization) with their award-winning independent release ''Ground Zero'' distributed by the now-defunct N/A Records in 2002, and Buhay, led by
Tots Tolentino, in the year before that. This opened up the way for later excursions, most notable of which is the Filipino jazz
supergroup Johnny Alegre Affinity, releasing its eponymous debut album in 2005 under London-based
Candid Records. The
Kapampangan singer likewise reinvented his persona as a premier jazz vocalist, winning the London International Jazz Competition for Vocalists in 2006. Among the female jazz singer-songwriters, the British-Filipino Mishka Adams became very popular as a flagship artist of Candid Records, releasing two well-received albums.
Other notable names were guitarist Bob Aves with his ethno-infused jazz, and Akasha, led by Mar Dizon, which anchored Monday-night jazz jams during the early 2000s in Freedom Bar, a venue located in
Cubao
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 2,960,048 people. It was fou ...
,
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 2,960,048 people. It was fou ...
. The
spoken-word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
fusion ensemble
Radioactive Sago Project
Radioactive Sago Project is a Filipino jazz rock band formed in 1999 in Quezon City, Philippines. The band's sound is a fusion of spoken-word poetry, bebop jazz, and punk. Subjects in their material range from politics, drugs, alcohol, random mu ...
also displayed very strong jazz underpinnings. In recent years, after-hours jazz jams in a venue called Tago Jazz Cafe, also located in Cubao, became an incubator for groups like Swingster Syndicate
and Camerata Jazz.
Novelty pop
Pinoy
novelty song
A novelty song is a type of song built upon some form of novel concept, such as a gimmick, a piece of humor, or a sample of popular culture. Novelty songs partially overlap with comedy songs, which are more explicitly based on humor, and wit ...
s became popular in the 1970s up to the early 1980s. Popular novelty singers around this time were
Reycard Duet,
Fred Panopio
Alfredo 'Fred' Panopio (February 2, 1939 – April 22, 2010) was a Filipino singer and actor who rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s.
He is known for having made the yodeling style of music famous in the Philippines. This particular kind of musi ...
and
Yoyoy Villame
Roman Tesorio Villame (November 18, 1932 – May 18, 2007), better known as Yoyoy Villame, was a Filipino singer, composer, lyricist, actor and comedian.
Early life
A native of Calape, Bohol Province, Villame was the youngest of ten children ...
. Novelty pop acts in the 1990s and 2000s included
Michael V.,
Bayani Agbayani
Bayani Agbayani (born January 3, 1969) is a Filipino host, actor, singer, and comedian. After 15 years at ABS-CBN, he shuttled between his original home studio GMA Network and TV5 for the time being from 2008 to 2014 before moving back to ABS-C ...
, Grin Department, Masculados,
Black Jack Vhong Navarro
Ferdinand Hipolito Navarro (born January 4, 1977), known professionally as Vhong Navarro, is a Filipino comedian, actor, dancer, recording artist and television host. He is a regular host on ABS-CBN's noontime variety show '' It's Showtime''. H ...
, Lito Camo,
Sexbomb Girls
The SexBomb Girls (also known as SB Girls, SBG, SexBomb Dancers, and now SB NewGen) is an all-female singing and dancing group in the Philippines. They were initially only dancers for ''Eat Bulaga!'', the midday variety show in the Philippines ...
,
Joey de Leon
Jose Maria Ramos de Leon Jr. (born October 14, 1946), professionally known as Joey de Leon, is a Filipino comedian, actor, television presenter and songwriter. He hosts the noontime variety show ''Eat Bulaga!'' He is a member of the comedy trio ...
("Itaktak Mo"),
Viva Hot Babes
The Viva Hot Babes are a Filipino pop girl group composed of actresses and models, founded in Manila by producer Vicente "Vic" del Rosario, Jr. in 2003. They were mainly spearheaded by actresses Maui Taylor, Katya Santos and Andrea del Rosario. ...
, and
Willie Revillame
Wilfredo Buendia Revillame (; born January 27, 1961), popularly known as Willie Revillame, is a Filipino television host, comedian, singer, songwriter, actor, and businessman.
Career
Revillame started out as the host of GMA Network's noontime ...
.
Latin genres
The prevalence of
Bossa nova and
Latino music in Philippine popular music had been very evident, in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and onwards. Performers such Annie Brazil and her son Richard Merk, the Katindig family of musicians (Eddie Katindig, Romy Katindig, Boy Katindig
Tateng Katindig Henry Katindig), Bo Razon, Eileen Sison, and more recently,
Sitti
Sitti Katrina Baiddin Navarro-Ramirez (born November 29, 1984 in Las Piñas), known professionally as Sitti, is a Filipino bossa nova singer. After releasing her first album, ''Café Bossa'', in 2006, other bossa nova acts in the Philippines foll ...
, achieved popularity and commercial success with their infectious Latin-derived performances and recordings.
Reggae
While there has long been a flourishing underground
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
and
ska
Ska (; ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a walki ...
scene, particularly in
Baguio
Baguio ( ,
), officially the City of Baguio ( ilo, Siudad ti Baguio; fil, Lungsod ng Baguio), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...
, it was only recently that such genres were accepted into the mainstream scene. Acts like
Tropical Depression,
Brownman Revival
Brownman Revival is a Filipino reggae band founded in November 1994. They count Bob Marley, Big Mountain, Aswad, Inner Circle, and UB40 among their musical influences as well as Filipino reggae group Tropical Depression and OPM acts such as E ...
,
Put3ska,
Roots Revival
A roots revival (folk revival) is a trend which includes young performers popularizing the traditional musical styles of their ancestors. Often, roots revivals include an addition of newly composed songs with socially and politically aware ly ...
of Cebu, and The Brown Outfit Bureau of
Tarlac City
Tarlac City, officially the City of Tarlac ( pam, Lakanbalen ning Tarlac; pag, Siyudad na Tarlac; ilo, Siudad ti Tarlac; fil, Lungsod ng Tarlac ), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to ...
have been instrumental in popularizing what is called "Island Riddims". There is also a burgeoning
mod revival, spearheaded by Juan Pablo Dream and a large indie-pop scene.
Electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroa ...
began in the mid-1990s in the Manila underground spearheaded by luminaries like Manolet Dario of the Consortium. In 2010, local artists started to create
electropop songs themselves. As of now, most electronic songs are used in commercials. The only radio station so far that purely plays electronic music is 107.9 U Radio. The 2010s also saw the rise of
budots from
Davao City
Davao City, officially the City of Davao ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Dabaw; ), is a first class highly urbanized city in the Davao Region, Philippines. The city has a total land area of , making it the largest city in the Philippines in terms of lan ...
, regarded as the first "Filipino-fied" EDM, as well as high-profile
nightclub
A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music.
Nightclubs gener ...
venues such as The Palace Manila (BGC, Taguig) and Cove Manila (
Okada Manila in Parañaque). Indie electronic producers, DJs, and artists like that of
Somedaydream, Borhuh, Kidwolf, Zelijah, John Sedano, MVRXX, MRKIII, Bojam, CRWN, NINNO, Kidthrones, and Jess Connelly have also gained popularity. Some mainstream club DJs, including the likes of Ace Ramos, Mars Miranda, Marc Marasigan, Martin Pulgar, Katsy Lee, Patty Tiu, and David Ardiente, has also made their names on popular club concerts and festivals which featured international DJs.
See also
*
Rondalla
The rondalla is an ensemble of stringed instruments played with the plectrum or pick and generally known as plectrum instruments. It originated in Medieval Spain, especially in the ancient Crown of Aragon: Catalonia, Aragon, Murcia, and V ...
*
List of Philippine-based music groups
*
Manila sound
*
Pinoy pop
*
Adobo Jazz (anthology series)
Adobo Jazz is a series of ''" Pinoy Jazz"'' CD compilations originally released in early 2002 by Rhany Torres and continued by Richie Quirino (late 2002) and George Almaden (2019).
Series One Adobo Jazz: ''A Portrait of the Filipino as a ...
*
Pinoy reggae
*
Pinoy rock
Pinoy rock, or Filipino rock, is the brand of rock music produced in the Philippines or by Filipinos. It has become as diverse as the rock music genre itself, and bands adopting this style are now further classified under more specific genres or c ...
*
Pinoy hip hop
References
Sources
*
Further reading
*
External links
Audio clips: Traditional music of the Philippines. Musée d'ethnographie de Genève. Accessed November 25, 2010.
Fiesta Filipina, Music of the Philippines*
ttp://www.yesfm.com.ph/music-atbp/top-ten/ best OPM songs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Music Of The Philippines
Philippine music
Philippine culture
Asian music