Celebrating The Rich Diversity Of OPM At ‘Pinoy Playlist Music Festival 2025’

The Pinoy Playlist Music Festival (PPMF) returned for its eighth year and delivered an ensemble of acts spanning various OPM genres — from classical and indie to pop, singer-songwriters, and industry legends — celebrating not only what makes Filipino music rich but also highlighting how it continues to evolve.

This year’s edition proved that there is plenty of room for OPM music lovers of all kinds, with the theme, “Halo-Halo. Sapin-Sapin. Sabay-Sabay,” highlighting the festival’s promise of offering an assortment of genres and performances. Held across three stages in the BGC Arts Center — the Globe Auditorium, the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, and the Sun Life Amphitheater — the festival treated attendees to diverse musical performances. The three-day festival was curated by National Artist for Music, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, with Noel Ferrer, Moy Ortiz, and Maria Isabel Garcia.

The festival opened not with a performance, but with an insightful conversation — one that went straight to the heart of the festival’s existence. In the “Outliving the Uso” panel, Cayabyab, singer/songwriter Nonoy Zuniga, and Dulce discussed how to keep OPM alive amidst fleeting trends. The first of three conversations in the PPMF Conversations series, the panel perfectly set the tone for a festival dedicated to showcasing all aspects of OPM. After all, Filipino music has never been just one thing, spanning across various niches and styles. After the panel, this all-star lineup of OPM’s finest didn’t leave attendees waiting, treating them to an impromptu performance.

The collaborative and almost “educational” set featuring Rachelle Gerodias, Byeong In Park, and Tinig Kayumanggi spotlighted “old school” Filipino genres like kundiman, a traditional love song written romantically and often used to serenade someone for whom one’s heart beats. This proved that Filipino music has always been meant to move — whether the heart or the body in dancing.

Meanwhile, songwriter-music producer KIKX and Day One, joined by Khimo and Tim Pavino, delivered an electrifying set that was purely modern and contemporary. Celebrating his 15th anniversary in the industry, KIKX brought a sense of community to the stage, performing some of his most notable songs.

One of the festival’s surprises was the set by rising P-pop girl group VVINK. Their ability to integrate uniquely Filipino tropes, like their campy charm and a distinct style that evokes the 1990s through a fresh yet familiar revival of Donna Cruz’s “Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso,” reminds us that Filipino pop culture has an emotional vocabulary all its own, and VVINK is fluent in it.

As the second day kicked into gear, the gloomy march toward evening didn’t stop audiences from experiencing another round of the festival. Classical performances were highlighted and paid homage to the past. Renowned Filipina concert pianist Zenas Lozada, along with an orchestra, performed “Pinilakang Tabing” — a medley of scores from classic Philippine cinema. The performance included iconic pieces such as “Dahil sa Iyo” from Bituing Marikit, “Hindi Kita Malimot from Rosa Birhen, “Maaalala Mo Kaya,” and “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” among others.

Choir performances from Bukas Palad, the Philippine Roman Catholic music ministry, filled their performance with songs of praise, worship, hope, and inspiration. Meanwhile, tenor soloist Ervin Lumauag showcased his moving vocal prowess for an intimate audience at the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall. The festival also embraced a contemporary flair, featuring energetic rock numbers like blues-rock duo Hoochie Coochie Mikkie. Singer-songwriters Gab Cabangon and Chickoy Pura of the seminal OPM rock band The Jerks brought their distinct musical styles to the forefront in their respective stages.

On the festival’s third and final day, acts like Dingdong Avanzano, Team Noel (comprised of Kakki Teodoro, Vic Robinson, Sheila Francisco, Phi Palmos, Mike Shimamoto, Toma Cayabyab, and Arman Ferrer), and more took the stage, with the night filled with various kinds of Filipino music from carols to reinterpretations of folk songs in jazz.

The special Ryan Cayabyab Awards segments, which closed all three nights, celebrated the notable contributions of some of the Filipino music industry’s finest in composition, arrangement, and performance. This year’s honorees included Homer Flores, Lorrie Ilustre of Hotdog, and the APO Hiking Society.

Ending the night on a heartwarming note, fellow OPM icons and close friends of APO Hiking Society, Leah Navarro and Noel Cabangon, shared their heartfelt sentiments on growing up with the trio and the legacy they left on Filipino music before breaking into their tribute performances. Following this, the Itchyworms took over with an electric performance of “Akin Ka Na Lang,” and soon after the awarding ceremony, joined forces with Jim Paredes and Boboy Garavillo themselves for a joint live rendition of “Awit ng Barkada.”

As the ceremony came to its close, the audience joined in chorus together for two of the band’s greatest hits, “Panalangin” and “Ewan,” serving as a message of gratitude for APO’s decades of impactful songwriting.

Looking back, the festival offered attendees a taste of almost everything in the OPM landscape. But beyond seeing the artists they already love, it also became a hub for discovery — whether it was exploring new genres, reconnecting with artists they’d only known by name, or uncovering fresh sounds that could easily find a place in their playlists.