Honoring OPM Excellence: Revisiting The First-Ever Filipino Music Awards
The first iteration of the annual awards ceremony was a night that honored the current artists, the icons who paved the way, and the entire music industry shaping the sound of the local music scene today.
SB19: Photographed by Easel Manes
SB19: Photographed by Easel Manes
A year ago, the Filipino Music Awards (FMA) held its inaugural edition and brought together industry legends, chart-toppers, hitmakers, and rising artists for a prestigious night to remember.
The first-ever FMA gathered the Philippine music industry for a celebration that brought the excellence of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) into the spotlight — from artists, songwriters, producers, musicians, engineers, record labels, executives, and creative professionals alike.
Beyond just an awards ceremony, the FMA also set the stage for future generations that will shape the local music scene.
Photographed by Easel Manes
Held on October 21, 2025, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the ceremony honored 18 awardees through four major categories: Genre Awards, People’s Choice Awards, Legacy Awards, and Grand Awards.
Before the stage was set for the ceremony, the red carpet gave way for the glamorous entrances from guests and artists, including SB19, BINI, Cup of Joe, Ely Buendia, IV OF SPADES, Yeng Constantino, Ashtine Olviga, and G22, among others.
Photographed by Easel Manes
Hosted by Joey Mead King, Michael Sager, and Elijah Canlas, the first FMA highlighted artists and musicians across generations and genres that continue to beat the heart of what OPM was, is, and what it can be.
Photographed by Easel Manes
IV OF SPADES opened the ceremony with a live rendition of their comeback single “Aura.” The performance was a monumental one, as it was one of the performances where we saw Unique, Zild, Blater, and Badjao back together again. The indie-alternative quartet also took home Rock Song of the Year for “Aura,” which further solidified their grand return as a fantastic four-piece.
Photographed by Easel Manes
With one generation to the next, the night showcased a showstopping performance from the Philippines’ “Pop Rock Royalty” Yeng Constantino and Pinoy folk-rock legend Lolita Carbon of Asin, together with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, in their rendition of “Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran.”
From one rock legend to another, Ely Buendia also took the stage with a live performance of “Kandarapa,” a track from his acclaimed sophomore album, Method Adaptor.
Photographed by Easel Manes
Photographed by Easel Manes
On the P-pop front, audiences were treated to what the genre has been cooking for the last few years. BINI brought their dreamy visuals and outfits to the stage with their performance of “First Luv.” The Nation’s Girl Group captivated their beloved Blooms and the audience at MOA Arena with a performance that proved themselves as a truly dominant force.
Photographed by Easel Manes
The Aces of P-pop, on the other hand, delivered a roaring medley of their tracks featuring Pop Song of the Year nominee “All These Ladies.”
Photographed by Easel Manes
Another highlight performance was from OPM rap icon Gloc-9, who delivered an electrifying rendition of “Upuan,” which serves as a reminder with its deeply political message. Meanwhile, a noteworthy milestone win included Morobeats winning Hip-Hop Song of the Year with the powerful “GUBAT NG SIYUDAD,” a track that speaks of the city as a place for survival and touches on themes of injustice and resilience.
Arguably, the biggest OPM song of 2025 was “Multo” by Cup of Joe, which earned Song of the Year.
Photographed by Easel Manes
Meanwhile, SB19 took home a total of six awards, including Artist of the Year, Concert of the Year for Simula at Wakas World Tour Kickoff, and Pop Song of the Year for “DUNGKA!” The Kings of P-pop also performed their track “DAM” as one of the closing performances, before they shared the stage with Ben&Ben for a monumental live rendition of “Kapangyarihan.”
Photographed by Easel Manes
With over 8,000 attendees and 300 Filipino artists, the ceremony — the first FMA was a celebration of the local music scene at large.
From the icons, legends, and artists who paved the way for what OPM is today to the hitmakers and gamechangers currently shaping the sound of OPM — the first iteration of FMA was a landmark night for the past, present, and future of Filipino music.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first Filipino Music Awards was held on October 21, 2025, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The ceremony drew over 8,000 attendees and 300 Filipino artists, and honored 18 awardees across four categories: Genre, People’s Choice, Legacy, and Grand Awards.
SB19 won Artist of the Year at the first Filipino Music Awards. The group took home six awards in total, including Concert of the Year for the Simula at Wakas World Tour Kickoff and Pop Song of the Year for “DUNGKA!”
Cup of Joe’s “Multo” won Song of the Year at the first Filipino Music Awards. Other winners included IV OF SPADES’ “Aura” for Rock Song of the Year, Morobeats’ “GUBAT NG SIYUDAD” for Hip-Hop Song of the Year, and SB19’s “DUNGKA!” for Pop Song of the Year.
Performers included IV OF SPADES, who opened with “Aura”; Yeng Constantino and Lolita Carbon with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra; Ely Buendia; BINI; SB19; Gloc-9; and Ben&Ben, who shared the stage with SB19 for “Kapangyarihan.” Hosts were Joey Mead King, Michael Sager, and Elijah Canlas.
The first Filipino Music Awards was an industry-wide celebration of OPM, gathering artists, songwriters, producers, musicians, engineers, record labels, and executives. It spanned generations and genres, from rock and folk-rock legends to P-pop and hip-hop acts, and set the stage for future generations.
