“OPM Lives”: A Night At The 37th Awit Awards

Another year, another night of celebrating Filipino music at the Awit Awards.

For close to four decades now, the revered awards ceremony has become a yearly celebration of OPM and everything that powers it. Last night (December 5, 2024), the Awit Awards held its 37th edition at San Juan’s famed Music Museum. From Lola Amour and Unique scoring the night’s grandest awards to BINI walking home with five wins and Parokya Ni Edgar being honored with the distinguished Dangal ng Musikang Filipino Award, this year’s Awit Awards spotlighted some of the most talented names in Filipino music.

But, beyond awarding and recognizing the many songs, albums, and artists that made up a vibrant year for the local industry, the night also saw a diverse lineup of performances that showcased the many colors of the music scene and that proved that OPM is truly alive.

The night kicked off with an opening set from the scene’s favorite funk-pop band Lola Amour, who brought to stage an exciting performance of their latest lead single “Namimiss Kita.” They ended their set with their viral breakout song “Raining In Manila,” getting everyone to sing along to the hit track that later would win both Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

Jayda and Arthur Miguel soon stepped onstage to perform a dramatic rendition of their heartfelt duet, “Right Lover, Wrong Time.” Full of anguish and yearning, the duo put on an emotional performance that you couldn’t help but be so engrossed by as they sing of regret and longing of a love they once swore to last forever.

Syd Hartha then took the audience from heartache to bliss with her latest single, “damdamin!” Armed with a guitar and backed by a live band, the singer-songwriter — who later won Best Traditional Contemporary Folk Recording for her 2023 track “gabay” — sang of life’s simple joys and the transformative power of self-love.

The rest of the evening continued with the soulful grooves of Chocolate Factory and the passionate vocals of Joey G, the night’s winner of the Best Performance by a Solo Artist award, while Midnasty, despite their evident technical difficulties, showcased the very best of Visayan rap.

With a music culture as rich and diverse, there’s no celebrating Filipino music without first looking back all those who paved the way. As we reached the middle of the night, the PCSO Chorale took to the stage not only to slow things down but to also pay ode to the many influential artists and creatives who have left us. From iconic musicians to industry pioneers, it was solemn moment to celebrate the life they’ve lived and all their contributions to the industry.

As we reached the latter part of the night, the energy picked right back up as anticipation for night’s biggest awards drew near. To usher the crowd into the second half of the show was Demi who, backed by a live band, performed her viral hit “Pakundangan.”

Later on in the evening, in tribute to the incomparable and iconic Filipino rock band, Parokya Ni Edgar, Ice Seguerra performed a mesmerizing acoustic rendition of the classic “Harana.” After a touching acceptance speech from Parokya Ni Edgar, who were also greeted with video messages of appreciation from the many musicians and artists they inspired, Sky Garden took the stage to perform a cover of “Mr. Suave.”

Closing out the evening were back-to-back performances from Greyhoundz and Dionela. The alternative metal band — who won Best Rock/Metal Recording for “XXV” — their years of mastery and artistry to the stage with “Krus”, proving why they continue to stand the test of time.

While Dionela, who won Best R&B Recording for “Oksihina,” showed why he’s taking over Billboard Philippines‘ Top Philippine Songs chart. Passionate and genuine, the singer-songwriter laid out his heart and soul on stage as her performed his award-winning track “Oksihina” and his chart-topping hit “sining”, where he brought out Filipino R&B icon Jay-R.

It’s rare to have the industry’s brightest and most talented names all in one place, let alone hear so many genres all on one stage. As a constitution that has always prided itself on championing Filipino music, the 37th Awit Awards was no different as it continued to bring together a diverse lineup of artists and bands, and celebrate the biggest names in the music scene. While consistent technical issues made it difficult to enjoy and fully immerse yourself in every performance, the night was still as memorable as ever.