At this year’s Billboard Philippines Women In Music, the festivities didn’t only illuminate some of the most prolific women in the Philippine music industry, but it also embraced a whole spectrum of sound, identity, and intent.
Beyond being a celebration that honored the past, present, and future of Filipino music, the event also featured several musical performances that went beyond the usual musical numbers, not just serving as mere interludes that took place between awards. Here, what transpired had formed the very backbone of the event, standing as a living, breathing argument for the depth and diversity of Filipina artistry today.
By the time the afternoon light filtered through the sleek interiors of the Maybank Performing Arts Theatre in Bonifacio Global City, the third iteration of Billboard Philippines Women in Music had established itself as a a carefully curated sonic narrative — one that weaved across a sequence of performances that unfolded with deliberate pacing, tracing the many faces of Filipina artistry, from emerging voices to enduring icons.
Here, Billboard Philippines takes a look back at all the amazing performances that took place at our Women In Music event, breaking down why exactly these numbers truly encapsulated the spirit of the afternoon.
ena mori
Photographed by Easel Manes.
Opening the program was Billboard Philippines’ 2024 Rule Breaker honoree, ena mori, whose live rendition of “19 Underground” from her recent EP, oRe, immediately set a contemplative tone for the day’s festivities. There lay a quiet magnetism to her stage presence, one that was understated yet deeply intentional as it sunk its teeth deeper into the audience.
The performance further leaned into atmosphere, with her airy vocals gliding over minimal instrumentation, creating a sense of introspection that felt almost cinematic (yet undeniably signature to ena’s pop sensibilities). As the event’s opener, ena mori’s performance didn’t merely demand attention but drew you in, asking the audience to meet her on her own terms.
G22
Photographed by Easel Manes.
The energy pivoted sharply with the arrival of G22, our Rising Star honorees for the year, who delivered a fiery medley of their hit singles “Pa-Pa-Pa-Palaban” and “Boomerang.” Where ena mori was restrained, G22 were explosive — every movement sharp, and every beat amplified by their commanding stage presence.
The medley format worked to their advantage, showcasing both their defiant edge and pop sensibility. What had transpired ended up becoming more than just a performance, but a declaration that P-pop’s next wave isn’t coming, for it’s already here, and it’s fearless with the spirit of the Female Alphas of P-pop.
Yeng Constantino
Photographed by Easel Manes.
Momentum gave way to emotional resonance as Yeng Constantino, this year’s Hitmaker awardee, took the stage. Her pairing of “Lapit” and “Ikaw” ended up becoming a masterclass in connection. It’s undeniable that Constantino has long built her career on relatability, and here, she leaned fully into it, with her voice — warm, textured, and unpretentious — carrying each lyric with sincerity, turning the theatre into something more intimate. This was the kind of set that didn’t rely on spectacle. Instead, it trusted the enduring power of a well-written song and a timeless voice that knows exactly how to deliver it.
Lolita Carbon
Photographed by Easel Manes.
With her set less like a performance and more of a cultural moment, Lolita Carbon, recipient of the Icon Award, delivered an impactful live rendition of “Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran” –– a song whose relevance has only deepened over time. There was a sense of reverence felt across the room as she sang, with it being akin to an unspoken acknowledgment not just of her legacy, but of the song’s enduring message. Stripped of excess, Carbon’s performance allowed its call to awareness to resonate fully, bridging generations in a shared moment of reflection.
Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
Photographed by Easel Manes.
Closing the event was none other than Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, the one and only Woman of the Year honoree for 2026. Her live rendition of “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” was (as expected) nothing short of commanding, with all eyes and ears drawn to her performance.
Even from here alone, it was clear that Asia’s Songbird doesn’t simply perform on stage, but fully inhabits any song, bending it to her will while elevating any musical number to something transcendent. Her voice soared with precision and power, with each note landing with the authority of an artist who has long defined excellence in OPM. It was a finale that felt both celebratory and definitive, standing as a prominent reminder of the standard she continues to set well into forty years of her career.
Taken all together, the performances at Billboard Philippines Women in Music 2026 formed quite a cohesive arc — one that moved seamlessly from introspection to exuberance, from personal storytelling, and even to collective memory. In the span of an afternoon, the stage became a living archive of Filipina musical expression, each artist contributing a distinct voice to a larger, resonant chorus.
If there was a through line across the event, it’s clearly that Filipina artists are no longer asking for space within a crowded musical landscape — as they are now defining it with various sounds, genres, and voices.