Imagine this: You’re in the car on a road trip to somewhere you don’t even know. It starts raining heavily and the ride is still long, so you put your earphones on and stare into the window, relapsing about the what ifs and what could have beens.

As if on cue, these are the songs that start playing:

1. Raining in Manila - Lola Amour

Since its release in 2023, Raining in Manila has been a staple for when the weather starts feeling cold and nostalgic. 

This song will make you think about your friends who you’ve lost contact with—whatever the reason may be—and how they’re doing, much like Lola Amour’s Pio Dumayas did when he wrote the song as he thought of his friends who left the country to pursue better lives in other countries. 

2. Heather - Conan Gray

“heather is the kind of song that deserves “heather - conan gray (crying alone in the rain)” edits” — Conan Gray.

The relapse does not end with friends, because as Conan Gray said, we all have a Heather in our lives. Someone we despise, but do not really have a reason to. Heather is for the brokenhearted lads who wish “Heather” was them. If that hit a bit too close to home, we hope you have tissues with you to wipe those tears away.

3. Rainy Days - V (BTS)

Melancholy and nostalgia, all in one song. 

V of BTS perfectly encapsulates the feeling of the rainy season with “Rainy Days,” as he sings of being unable to fall asleep, reminiscing about a relationship that has become a fragment of bittersweet memories. This song will make you vividly remember the happiest times in a relationship, but it will also remind you of a connection forever lost in time.

4. Basang-Basa Sa Ulan - Aegis

Of course, this playlist won’t be complete without the OG hit song for the rainy weather. 

As the pitter pattering sound of the rain transforms into loud thrums over the roof, Basang-Basa Sa Ulan is the perfect song to belt your heart out—as if in a battle for dominance with the droplets of water. This song by Aegis mirrors the hopelessness we face in many setbacks, yet we choose to desperately fight on.

5. Still With You - Jungkook  

“I’m still with you, even if you’re no longer with me”

There’s a certain kind of longing, holding on, and letting go that continuously lingers and whispers in the hush of memories. “Still With You” by Jungkook is a song that encapsulates the emotional in-between—where love still lives vividly in our hearts even after they’re gone, while stillness replays the words left unsaid. The sound of the rainfall, combined with the jazzy R&B instrumental, creates a rhythm of yearning between what ifs and what could have been—still reminiscing, still feeling, and still hoping. For the kind of days when rain drips down the window, this track sounds like a memory you never really moved on from. 

6. I Think I Like When It Rains - WILLIS 

While it plays like a cozy rainy day tune, this track hits just right for nostalgia and emotional relapse. “I Think I Like When It Rains” by WILLIS is a soft indie track that is perfect for unraveling thoughts you are not ready to forget. Like the lyrics. “And all that I can do is stop and think about the day”, This track is indeed introspective and conversational–where rain is a metaphor for the feelings that don’t just fall, but remember. This song indeed feels like a smile through the rain because it perfectly hits and sits with you, while it cradles you in a strange kind of comfort. 

7. Isip - Healy After Dark

POV: You said you’re over them, but somehow, their presence still lives rent-free in your mind. 

You swore to yourself that you had moved on, deleted all the chat conversations and photos, and suddenly “Isip” by Healy After Dark starts playing, like a memory on shuffle. Like the title of the song, one thing is for sure—they are stuck in your mind as you’re back at square one, mentally reliving your love for them. This track lingers on the thought of why a heart can’t forget what the mind constantly refuses to stop reminiscing. And even though you know that the person you like will never feel the same way anymore, you still think about them like a dream you didn’t want to wake up from. 

8. Umaasa - Calein 

“Umaasa” by Calein is the ultimate anthem for every person who still clings to that hope of rekindling the love, even though it tells you to “let go.”  Together with the guitar riffs, emotional, nostalgic, and melancholic lyrics and vocals, the song indeed feels like a confession wrapped in pain as you wait for someone who might never return and be with you. This song is the perfect soundtrack for holding on, while it quietly haunts you with all of the memories and heart-fluttering scenes of the past. Kahit alam mong wala na talaga—umaasa at umaasa ka pa rin. 

As the last few notes of the last song fade, the sun may already be shining again above the sky. But when the weather turns gloomy once more, let this playlist be your companion, sitting with you through the storm.

-

Written by Leana Infante, a Communication Arts major in Speech Communication at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and Ana Rufa Padua, a fourth-year Communication student from the Ateneo de Manila University. 

Cover art by Leana Infante

Kitchie Nadal’s New Ground concert is truly an event of many firsts for the renowned OPM Pinoy rock artist.

Nadal revealed that she is collaborating with Gen Z OPM artists Zild, Skusta Clee, and P-pop group Kaia for the first time in her upcoming Big Dome concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on June 21, Saturday.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kitchie Nadal (@kitchienadal)

“We’re doing something really out of the box this time, mixing genres and creating moments that are totally unexpected, something fans definitely haven’t seen from me yet,” Nadal stated in a previous press release.

Delving deeper into her upcoming performances, Nadal shared that she rearranged her songs to adapt to digital formats. “The way [the new arrangements] sound, it won’t change. To put it simply, the songs won’t be a sore thumb if there was a playlist,” she added.

In her future releases, Nadal mentioned that her new song “Landas” will be the first time that she has a horn section in her arrangement. She expressed excitement that listeners are now more open to varying genres such as reggae.

“New Ground is all about me exploring a new direction in my music career,” Nadal said. “You can expect fresh music, new collabs, and an even bigger experience than what we shared at the 20th Anniversary concert held last 2024.”

Kitchie Nadal's "New Ground Manila 2025" will take place on June 21, 2025, at the Araneta Coliseum. This iconic event is presented by RG Productions, Black Star Entertainment, and Flow Asia. Tickets are available at all Ticketnet physical branches and online at ticketnet.com.ph

-

Written by Ana Rufa Padua, a fourth-year Communication student from the Ateneo de Manila University. With a passion for storytelling, she hopes to shed light on the various realities, lives, and phenomena surrounding the communities she covers. In her free time, she indulges herself in watching movies and listening to K-Pop.

Art card by Leana Infante

If you tune in to Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition, you’ve probably come across at least one WillCa (Will Ashley and Bianca De Vera) edit—whether you support them or not—with the most heart-wrenching OPM song as its background music. 

Those eyes, which fans or even casual viewers mostly assume, paired with a carefully chosen song, unveil a silent longing that tugs at a string like a fragile thread hanging in the air, teasing with the possibility of what could be if fate were just a little kinder.

@biancadrjfts their song 🥹😔 #fy #fyp #pbb #pbbcollab #biancadevera #willashley #abscbn #gma #pinoybigbrother #pbbcelebrityedition #unbreakmyheart #willca #ashbi ♬ Multo - Cup of Joe

There’s a distinct charm about the way Filipinos portray longing and yearning in songs that just captures listeners’ attention and transcends even to global audiences. If you’ve heard Multo by Cup of Joe, you would know exactly what I mean. To quote the song: Hindi na makalaya, dinadalaw [ako] bawat gabi (I can’t escape, it haunts me every night).

When you search up the dictionary definition of the word yearning, Merriam-Webster defines it as “a tender or urgent longing.” Yet, even this description sounds tame compared to the emotions that are evoked by OPM songs. There are so many layers to the concept of yearning when you place it in the context of Philippine culture. 

Historically speaking, Filipinos have always been known as romantics. Before the Spaniards colonized the Philippines in 1565, Batangueños (then known as Comintanes) gave birth to the traditional dance-song of love and courtship called kumintang. After the Spanish colonization, the kumintang evolved into what Filipinos commonly known as the harana and the kundiman. 

@lee3dits_ oh, mr. antipatiko 😉 #willca #willbi #willashley #biancadevera #pbbwill #pbbbianca #pbb #pbbconnect #pbbcelebrityedition #fyp ♬ Mr. Antipatiko - Nadine Lustre

Now, if you compare these traditional approaches to modern OPM, you would notice that the latter still reflects the same touch of sentimentality and deeply-felt emotions that our ancestors had when they were courting or serenading their significant others. Although the terms harana and kundiman are rarely used nowadays (unless you’re in a family that believes in traditional courtship), OPM love songs still inherently have within them that intense feeling of longing. 

Oftentimes, yearning is portrayed as one-sided love or the “right person, wrong time” trope (Think Sana by I Belong To The Zoo and The One That Got Away by Katy Perry). While the deeper meanings behind OPM songs are easily understood by Filipinos, it is undeniable that modern OPM’s unique charm has found its way to the global market, with foreigners sharing their own reactions to songs that captured their souls.

Some renowned Korean personalities such as 10cm and Cha Eun Woo have even made their own renditions or music covers of OPM music. If I were to put myself in a foreign listener’s shoes, I’d describe listening to OPM in the same way as how I would react to watching a K-Drama without subtitles. I would not understand a single word the characters are uttering, but I would still cry and laugh along with them if their emotions reach me as they intended.

Maybe that’s why those WillCa edits hit so hard. Maybe that’s why we keep replaying them, even when we know the ending might hurt. Because OPM doesn’t just accompany these moments, it defines them. It’s the perfect soundtrack to almosts and to the kind of connection that leaves us asking, “What if?”

Nonetheless, I believe that there are more layers behind OPM’s portrayal of yearning that listeners frequently overlook. Nowadays, Filipino music does not only focus on the heartbreak and painful aspect of love, but also a more positive view of the concept. OPM has opened doors for yearning that speaks of patience, of a desire to be someone’s safe space, of a love that’s willing to endure no matter how many hurricanes may come its way. 

@heyykookie WHAT IF? 🤭 #mikbrent #mikasalamanca #brentymanalo #pbbmika #pbbbrent #fyp ♬ original sound - ✧ kookie ✧

OPM also has a knack for conveying its message and emotions, even with the instrumentals alone. If you try to take a peek into the songwriters’ and the producers’ minds, it would dawn on you that every beat, every measure, and every instrument has its own intention. Accompany these with lyrics and you have a song that’s bound to awaken your inner hopeless romantic (if you aren’t already).

So you see, OPM doesn’t just make you teary-eyed, it makes you weep. It doesn’t just make you smile, it makes you kilig. It’s not just about love, it’s about the deeper emotions behind them. It captures that silent, aching hope for something more, something less, or something yet to find closure—much like the gaze in WillCa’s eyes at the start of the season, or even as they begin to drift apart toward the end.

And that’s exactly why OPM executes the concept of yearning best.

-

Written by Ana Rufa Padua, a fourth-year Communication student from the Ateneo de Manila University. With a passion for storytelling, she hopes to shed light on the various realities, lives, and phenomena surrounding the communities she covers. In her free time, she indulges herself in watching movies and listening to K-Pop.

Cover art by Christian Gonzalo

Lola Amour’s “Raining In Manila” has been given special recognition at the first-ever Music Awards Japan (MAJ). The award has become a full-circle moment for the Filipino band as the track marked Lola Amour’s first foray into the popular Japanese music genre, city pop.

The record-breaking hit was awarded the Special Award for Philippine Popular Music, which recognized its status of excellence in the Philippines. 

At the country’s prestigious 2024 AWIT AWARDS, “Raining In Manila” took home four nods, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Recording, and Best Parody Recording (for their Michael V. collaboration, “Waiting Here Sa Pila”). Since its release in June 2023, the band’s massive hit single has garnered millions of streams across various streaming platforms, spurned countless covers, soundtracked hundreds of Reels and TikToks, and gained them fans across the globe.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lola Amour (@lolaamourph)

With the band having prior scheduled commitments, their longtime manager Mika Ordoñez flew to Kyoto to receive the award on their behalf. In a statement, Lola Amour vocalist Pio Dumayas shares, “Never in our wildest dreams did we think that we would receive international recognition and what an honor it has been to receive it at the Music Awards Japan 2025. ‘Raining In Manila’ was inspired by the themes of 80s city pop, so it hits even closer to home. To all our friends around the world that inspired ‘Raining In Manila,’ this one's for you!”

The Special Award for Popular Music was presented to six artists who have received outstanding recognition for their work in their respective countries. Other winners in the same category were SEVENTEEN (South Korea), Jeff Satur (Thailand), Zhou Shen (China), Salma Salsabil (Indonesia), and Tùng Dương (Vietnam).

Held on May 21 and 22 at the Kyoto’s Rohm Theatre, Music Awards Japan is dubbed as the “Asian version of the Grammy Awards,” and aims to recognize the best in Japanese and Asian music. For its inaugural edition, the awards show was graced by Hikaru Utada, Atarashii Gakko!, Number_i, Creepy Nuts, and more.

Celebrating nine years as a band, Lola Amour is set to celebrate the momentous milestone with a new single titled “Misbehave” and a free concert for fans at the Open Air Auditorium in Luneta Park on May 30. 

From the start, rising OPM artist Robledo Timido set out with a vision—to break into the mainstream and establish his place in Pinoy rap. 2024 saw him achieve exactly that. His relentless dedication to authenticity has earned him both critical and commercial success, proving he belongs in the ever-evolving landscape of OPM.

His viral hit "Gusto Ko Sakin Ka Lang" is proof of his rise. In just a year, the track has racked up over 60 million streams, turning Timido into one of the most exciting new voices in the scene. His debut album, "Salbahe," has only fueled the momentum, packed with raw lyricism and fearless energy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Robledo Timido (@robledotimido)

Reflecting on his whirlwind year, Timido expressed gratitude and growth: “This year has been a wild ride, mannn. A mix of triumphs and setbacks, higher highs and humbling lows. It’s been a rollercoaster, real shit… Pero sa lahat ng ‘yon, mas madami lang rin akong natutunan ngayong taon. I’m proud of the person/artist I’m becoming, and I’m really grateful sa naging takbo ng taong ‘to para sakin at para sa career ko.”

But Timido isn’t slowing down anytime soon. As he gears up for 2025, his drive remains unwavering, saying, “I’ve held onto my vision, pinangako ko sa sarili kong tatagos ako sa tenga ng karamihan at sa Pinoy rap ngayong taon, and I’m more determined to see it through next year, 2025.”

Acknowledging the people behind his success, he shared a message of gratitude: "To my family, friends, and syempre sa REALWRLD fam, kay Aaron Meneses, direk Kevin Benitez, at Mc Magistrado—thank you for opening doors for me, providing invaluable guidance, wisdom, and support. Sa mga producers, creatives, at artists na nakatrabaho ko this year, maraming salamat!"

With an ever-growing fanbase and an unyielding hunger for success, Robledo Timido is just getting started. As he confidently puts it, "Madami pa talaga. Warm-up pa lang ‘tong taong ‘to."

Dilaw is ringing in 2025 with a celebration of love and music for themselves and for their avid listeners. Known for their chart-topping hit “Uhaw,” the band is gearing up to release their highly anticipated new single “Mahal” on Jan. 24.

“Mahal” delves into the value of true love, showcasing themes of unwavering devotion and the courage to risk everything for a relationship despite the challenges. As the final piece of their Love Trilogy series, the song follows the previously released tracks “Nilalang” and “YIEE.” Together, these songs capture the different phases of love—from adoration and exhilaration to the fulfillment of shared affection. 

But that’s not all—Dilaw is also set to launch their much-awaited fan event series, “Lawdian Nights,” on the same day at Lyf Malate Manila. This gathering promises a night filled with fun activities, live performances, and meaningful interactions between the band and their supporters. Fans attending the event might even get an exclusive sneak peek of new, unreleased tracks.

With their new single and fan-centric initiatives, Dilaw is starting the year strong, setting the tone for what’s shaping up to be an exciting 2025. 

Young singer-songwriter Mizael continues to leave his own mark on the local music scene with the release of his sincere acoustic pop single, “Dahan-Dahan” under Universal Records Philippines. “Dahan-dahan” follows his previously released love song “Wag Naman” in 2021. Right now, Mizael is taking his time performing in different gigs around the metro with the help of his artist management team, Soupstar Entertainment.

Talking about this new single, the artist says that it’s about a person who loves someone so much but at the same time, feels like it’s already time to let go of that person — deliberately, little by little, and slowly but surely. 

Encapsulating the melancholic vibe of the song is a newly released cinematic official music video that will surely touch the viewers’ hearts, just in time for Love Month!

Mizael’s “Dahan-dahan” is included in both Fresh Finds and OPM Rising playlists on Spotify. Stream it now!

Following the positive reviews that SB19 and NOBITA earned for their unique spin on The Eraserheads’ beloved classics, more OPM acts have come together to pay tribute to the country’s biggest and most influential band of all time.

Multi-hyphenate pop soloist Ace Banzuelo reinterprets “Ang Huling El Bimbo” with intimate, soul-crushing details. Transforming the epic anthem into a spacey jam, the young hitmaker peels back the layers of the original with his brooding, bedroom-pop styling. He imprints his own identity to the material, while valuing the lyrical profundity and awe-inspiring bigness of the original.

“It's great that I'm allowed to give it the sound and approach that I want. A lot of the original was kept, but a lot was taken away. This project became meaningful to me throughout the process because I was producing it as if I had written the song."

ACE BANZUELO

Alt-rock newcomers of Mercury and Any Name’s Okay vocalist Sof Abrogar join young hip-hop virtuoso Alex Bruce in reinterpreting “ Superproxy ,” a cross-genre smash originally performed by The Eraserheads and legendary rap icon Francis M. The newly formed ensemble breathed new life into the timeless tune with a more jagged sonic direction that sounds both retro and
futuristic at the same time.

“I think we pretty much did our own thing, but left the structures and melody of the song. It was a pretty tricky song to work on given the genre, but we’re pretty happy with how it came out nonetheless.”

MERCURY

“It was honestly an honor for us to be able to cover an Eheads song and be able to incorporate our own flavor into it,” says of Mercury in a collective statement. Alex Bruce was grateful to be part of this project, and considers the song one of her go-to jams. “This song is a masterpiece. It’s iconic. I wanted to add a little spice, a little flavor, and a bit of contemporary oomph to it. Our reworked version is a fusion of old school and new school.”

Growing up in a big family with a collective love and fascination for ‘80s and ‘90s Pinoy rock, Any Name’s Okay lead vocalist Sof was initially intimidated by the project, but took the challenge to heart in hopes of fulfilling her childhood dream. “Besides what I mentioned earlier about my family, I take particular inspiration from The Eraserheads’ lyricism in Tagalog or Filipino...The band inspires me to really root my own music in my own
experiences and in empathy for others’."

"Even in my own music career with ANO, I try to use Filipino in our songs as much as I can, and I really think the Eraserheads use the language in all its richness and strength. I also love how they are unapologetic in writing about our culture, whether that’s as shallow as UP life or as large as national politics."

SOF, ANY NAME'S LEAD VOCALIST

Apart from the revamped tracks by some of today’s biggest hitmakers, five of The Eraserheads’ legendary albums were re-released in full 360-degree spatial sound to give listeners a new immersive music experience. These influential records include Ultraelectromagneticpop!, The 25th Anniversary Remastered Edition, Circus (25th Anniversary Remastered), Cutterpillow,
Fruitcake, and Sticker Happy.

Ace Banzuelo’s “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and of Mercury x Sof Abrogar x Alex Bruce’s “Superproxy” are out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Disney+ Philippines is making its heavily anticipated launch on November 17 in the Philippines and to celebrate the milestone they have collaborated with one of the most recognized voices in the country. Filipina singer Morissette has just released a new song titled “Imagine More” lending her vocal prowess to one of the most famous companies in the world.

“Imagine More” comes alongside a musical short film that features Filipinos enjoying the streaming platform and clips from some of the platform’s upcoming programs like: Encanto, Lightyear, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and BTS: PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE-LA. According to a press release, the music video/advertisement “pays tribute to Disney’s heritage of unparalleled storytelling and creativity.”

"Morissette’s powerful vocals ground the song, breezing through the high notes and will strike an emotional chord with every listener," said Disney.

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Star all in one place.