APO Hiking Society, Homer Flores, Lorrie Ilustre Named 2025 Ryan Cayabyab Awardees
Highlighting the songwriters, producers, and artists who have shaped the sound of what we know today as Original Pinoy Music (OPM), the Ryan Cayabyab awards were bestowed upon APO Hiking Society, Homer Flores, and Lorrie Ilustre.
Photographed by Easel Manes
Over the weekend (November 28 to 30), this year’s iteration of the Pinoy Playlist Music Festival brought out the best in Filipino music, from collaborative stages shared by legendary artists to insightful roundtable discussions.
At the end of every night, as well, the festival would spotlight artists whose music and craft have made a great impact on the Filipino sonic landscape, namely, Homer Flores, Lorrie Ilustre, and the APO Hiking Society. Furthermore, the awarding ceremony shed a special light on the legacy of Pilita Corrales, with a moving performance by Jackie Lou Blanco and Ryan Cayabyab himself.
Upon receiving the prestigious Ryan Cayabyab award, Boboy Garrovillo shared a sincere speech of gratitude on behalf of the APO Hiking Society: “Maraming salamat, maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga nagbigay-pugay sa amin at sa inyo, mga nakarating ngayong gabing ito para ma-share sa amin itong award na ito. At sa maraming marami na nasa labas na para sa amin na ginagawa rin ‘yung dapat naming gawin na sa kalye ngayon at nagmamartsa at nagpuprotesta kaya sinasabi namin gawin.“
“Sabi nga kanina, nabanggit nga ni Bam (Aquino), ni Senator Bam, ngayon lang namin na-realize talaga na medyo ‘yung mga awitin namin ay nakatawid na ng mga ilang henerasyon, at natutuwa kami at lalong nagagalak na nung nakatanggap kami ng award na ganito, parang lalong na-confirm na tama ‘yung ginagawa namin.“
(Thank you very much, thank you very much to everyone who paid tribute to us, and to you who were able to come here tonight to share this award with us. And to the many, many out there who are for us, who are also doing what we should be doing out on the streets right now, marching and protesting, which is why we say we should do it.)
(As was said earlier, Senator Bam Aquino mentioned, it’s only now that we’ve really realized that our songs have crossed over several generations, and we are happy and all the more delighted that when we received an award like this, it somehow confirmed even more that what we’re doing is right.)
The APO Hiking Society, formed in 1969, is widely regarded as one of the cornerstones of Original Pilipino Music (OPM), with their work helping define what would later be known as the “Manila Sound” through hits like “Panalangin,” “When I Met You,” and many others. In the same way, Lorrie Ilustre — musician, arranger, and music director — has created anthems that have been described as a “hallmark of memories” for several generations of Filipinos. Likewise, Homer Flores has been recognized as a “master sculptor of the Filipino soundscape,” having produced, composed, and written many of the arrangements that helped shape the Philippines’ sonic identity.
In the 2024 iteration of the Pinoy Playlist Music Festival, the Ryan Cayabyab Awards were bestowed upon Filipina pop culture pioneer Celeste Legaspi and legendary songwriter Odette Quesada.