The award-winning band revisits its enduring classic with a grander sound and a deeper reflection on healing, forgiveness, and human vulnerability

Nearly a decade after “Leaves” made a dent in pop culture consciousness with its unassuming tenderness, Ben&Ben reinterprets the heartwarming ballad with “Leaves (Reimagined),” a new rendition that transforms the original into a more mature reflection on forgiveness, second chances, and the complexities of growing together.

Instead of recreating the original, “Leaves (Reimagined)” approaches the track from a different emotional vantage point, mirroring the profound depths and tensions of life in sonic form. The orchestral elements do not make the track bigger or more ambitious; instead, they give the emotional peaks and quiet moments greater dimension and more room to sink in.

The multi-awarded band explains, “We wanted to highlight how much more dynamic life is emotionally when you grow up and grow older, and for this project, we wanted to explore the use of orchestral sounds playing alongside the band. This is because we wanted to make the quiet parts more nuanced and the grand parts more emotional, but in a ‘lived-in’ way.”

The new version continues the story not from the perspective of who they were when they first recorded it, but from where they are now: as musicians who have matured alongside a community that has experienced its seasons of love, loss, uncertainty, and change.

“Since we have grown up—and so have our Liwanag—in the past nine years, we wanted to encapsulate what that experience is like through the lyrics of this song,” Ben&Ben shares. “We think that if we are to live a life with someone constant with us, whether it be family, a best friend, or a romantic partner, the concept of giving someone another chance will always be a given.”

Following the success of “Lifetime (Reimagined),” the band considers the reimagined version of “Leaves” as a distinctly different creative process: one that allows the song to reveal new possibilities rather than recreate what came before it.

“Leaves definitely demanded a different creative process,” Ben&Ben says. “One cool discovery we had was that even in the process of breathing new air into each song, continuing their respective stories leads into very different trajectories in many layers: melodically, lyrically, and musically. Each song really has a life of its own.”

In June, Ben&Ben were named Duo/Group Artist of the Year at the 17th PMPC Star Awards for Music, with the recognition citing their stellar work on their latest album, The Traveler Across Dimensions.

The band has also earned multiple nominations at the 39th Awit Awards, including Record of the Year, Best Performance by a Group, and Best Pop Recording for “Saranggola.” The nominations further solidify Ben&Ben’s consistent presence at the forefront of OPM, leading up to the grand celebration of music, friendship, and memories via their upcoming major show, Saranggola: The Concert, happening on October 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ben&Ben’s “Leaves (Reimagined)” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

The feel-good collaboration with Luke April previews the more assured musical direction of his upcoming album, honey, i’m home

James Reid embraces the freedom of simply being in the moment with “Sunny Side,” his new single featuring producer and artist Luke April, out August 27, 2026, via Sony Music Entertainment.

Driven by vibrant production, an easygoing rap section, and an experimental blend of filtered drums and guitars, the alternative pop track carries an infectious sense of movement without ever feeling rushed. Bright and effortlessly laid-back, “Sunny Side” also captures the feeling of having nowhere to be and being completely at ease with wherever the day might lead.

There’s more to “Sunny Side” than its carefree disposition. For Reid, the song explores a more assured understanding of personal freedom: choosing who he wants to be rather than being defined by outside perceptions.

“Yes, it’s about freedom, but it’s also about feeling untouchable,” the award-winning multi-hyphenate shares in a press statement. “Who I am is not defined by what people think; it’s who I choose to be despite what people think. Say what you want, I’ll be here on the sunny side.”

“Sunny Side” was conceived in an unusually relaxed, spontaneous recording environment. The song, along with several other songs from Reid’s forthcoming album, was produced by Luke April during a week-long creative session in a makeshift outdoor studio in the back garden of an Airbnb. With instruments scattered around, artists and producers coming in and out, and no fixed expectations for what the sessions needed to produce, the collaborators allowed the music to take shape organically.

Reid describes the atmosphere as instrumental to the record’s laid-back outcome, with the lack of pressure creating room for instinct and experimentation. The track itself was largely developed through improvisation rather than an overly structured approach.

Luke April, meanwhile, brought an alternative pop-rock sensibility to the production, inspired by artists such as Dominic Fike. “Each section of the song sounds a tiny bit different from each other, which makes the listening experience more fun and journey-like,” April points out. “For every project that I do, whether it’s for someone else or my own, I turn off my smarty-pants brain and just let the ‘source’ do its thing. No overthinking, keep mistakes, be patient for happy accidents, and make sure everyone’s having fun during the session.”

The result is a track that feels deliberately loose and lived-in while maintaining the energy and polish of a contemporary alt-pop release. The musical references behind “Sunny Side” reinforce its sun-soaked, carefree character. April cites Dominic Fike’s “Sunburn” and Jean Dawson’s “Bruiseboy” as inspirations during the making of the track, while the finished record naturally lends itself to spontaneous drives, sunny afternoons, casual get-togethers, and days without a fixed itinerary.

“Sunny Side” will be part of the actor-musician’s forthcoming album, honey, i’m home, which will drop on September 10, 2026. The new release marks a confident leap, both lyrically and sonically, positioning Reid as a reliable hitmaker with a good ear for globally ready music.

According to James Reid, the album represents an arrival of sorts, one defined by acceptance and a more assured relationship with himself. As James puts it, “Honey, I’m home comes from a place of quiet confidence: a self-assuring kind of love, from freedom as acceptance, not rebellion. Home is where I’m most myself.”

“Sunny Side,” by James Reid featuring Luke April, is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

After 12 years, the Chinese-Filipino American singer-songwriter comes home with a deeply personal pop/R&B release about love, heartbreak, and knowing your worth

Chinese-Filipino American singer-songwriter Eila returns to the Philippines for the first time in 12 years with a new single that reveals an important chapter in her personal life. Based in New Jersey, USA, the fast-rising artist is set to release “Loving Me Wrong,” a vulnerable exploration of love, heartbreak, and self-worth.

Blending alternative R&B with contemporary pop, Eila has steadily carved out a distinct musical identity through atmospheric, soulful productions that showcase her emotional range and vocal versatility. Alongside her original music, she has built a growing audience on TikTok and Instagram through vocal performances, music and lifestyle content, and playful vocal impressions—an unconventional path that has ultimately helped lead listeners toward her original work.

“Loving Me Wrong” follows her recent single “Living Proof,” a heartfelt, feel-good anthem about the excitement of genuine love that also offered an early glimpse into the sonic direction of her forthcoming EP. While “Living Proof” leans into the warmth and exhilaration of love, her new single turns inward, confronting the complicated emotions that come with remaining in a relationship that no longer serves you.

“Loving Me Wrong takes me right back to being young and naively in love, when I was caught in that volatile cycle of constant highs and lows,” Eila shares. “You convince yourself that you’re just one argument away from turning it all around.”

Rather than reducing the experience to simple heartbreak, the song recognizes the emotional contradictions that can exist within an unhealthy relationship. Eila hopes the track can offer listeners a sense of validation while also encouraging them to recognize their worth.

“I hope that anyone who’s been there can listen to the track and feel validated without any judgment,” she says. “It is completely possible to feel genuine happiness and devastating heartbreak at the exact same time. I also hope that ‘Loving Me Wrong’ can serve as a turning point and a reminder to never settle for less than you deserve.”

The song also represents a significant step forward in Eila’s development as a songwriter and performer. She describes her growth as an artist as a less linear journey than her personal development, with much of her progress coming from learning to embrace experimentation, collaboration, and vulnerability.

That evolution became particularly clear during a songwriting camp where “Loving Me Wrong” was born. Early in her songwriting journey, Eila often found herself too self-conscious to experiment freely around other writers, sometimes leaving the room simply to test melodies or lyrics on her own. Over time, however, that same collaborative environment became one of the most rewarding aspects of her creative process.

“Being in that collaborative space was a beautiful reminder that music is ultimately about connection,” she says. “That writing camp was actually where ‘Loving Me Wrong’ was born, and it really represents my evolution toward embracing vulnerability in both my music and myself.”

Eila’s return to the Philippines adds another meaningful dimension to the release. The singer was last seen in the country in 2014, when she performed a cover on the television program Walang Tulugan. At the time, she says, she did not yet have the confidence to perform her material. Twelve years and 18 releases later, she returns with a clearer sense of identity and a newfound confidence in the artist she has become.

“Looking back, I definitely lacked the confidence to sing my music,” Eila recalls. “Twelve years and 18 song releases later, I’m back and finally ready to show everyone a much more confident Eila.”

Her Philippine visit is also a personal homecoming. Both of Eila’s parents grew up in the Philippines before immigrating to the United States, and her Chinese-Filipino heritage has played an important part in shaping her relationship with music. From family karaoke sessions to her parents’ unwavering support for her aspirations as a performer, Eila credits her upbringing with nurturing her passion for music and showing her how music can bring people together.

“I owe so much of my passion for music to my Chinese-Filipino roots,” she says. “More than anything, it’s the way music naturally brings our community together.”

That connection is already reflected in her growing Filipino audience. The Philippines is currently Eila’s second-largest listening market on Spotify, making her return particularly significant as she introduces “Loving Me Wrong” to Filipino listeners.

“Having that kind of support from my community gives me the energy to keep pursuing my dreams, and I’m excited to connect with even more listeners,” Eila says. She also plans to continue sharing covers of Filipino songs as a way of honoring artists who paved the way for greater Asian representation while celebrating her roots.

Eila’s new single “Loving Me Wrong” will be released on August 26, 2026, via Symphonic Distribution.

The Awit Awards Best New Artist nominee turns an intimate wedding vow into a tender anthem for enduring love

Gab Cabangon continues to build momentum as one of the country’s most promising solo acts, recently earning a nomination for Best New Artist at the Awit Awards—the Philippines’ version of the Grammys. The nod comes as Cabangon expands his growing body of soulful, earnest guitar-pop music, using his platform to create anthems that capture the complexities, grey areas, and frustrations of being human.

Now, the Filipino singer-songwriter finds his groove back to love with his new single, “ngayon at kailanman,” which is his gift for his wife. The track was eventually performed as the surprise bridal march to his wedding, turning a private promise into a powerful musical statement that transcends its limits and becomes a romantic serenade every listener can call their own.

Serving both as a wedding vow and a love song, “ngayon at kailanman” speaks to the hope of finding a romantic relationship that endures amidst life’s uncertainties. Inspired by the serene simplicity of songs like Johnoy Danao’s “Ikaw at Ako,” Ebe Dancel’s “Cuida,” and TJ Monterde’s “Palagi,” the tune is dedicated to those yearning for a love that feels equally reassuring and enduring.

Through the release of the song, the folk-pop newcomer hopes that people can find a love that also helps them grow. “I want my listeners to feel like they are in a warm, tight embrace whenever they hear the song. I also hope my listeners learn through the song that love and relationships are never perfect. We are all people, and we all go through our own stumbles and challenges. But we try to choose each other even when things are difficult. Because I think we also become better individuals when we find love that is assuring and earnest.”

True to its core, the stripped-down tune is about the conscious choice to stay. Veering away from presenting the concept of romance as a perfect, absolute feeling, “ngayon at kailanman” recognizes the flaws and uncertainties that inevitably come with relationships and the value of choosing each other through them. It’s a warm embrace in song form.

The song’s intimacy played a pivotal role in the production process and overall sound. Cabangon and producer David Lina embraced a deliberate “less is more” approach, inspired by the vulnerable, soul-baring musicality of Joseph Solomon. The arrangement keeps the instrumentation understated, allowing the words to soar and speak for the material.

“I always imagined ngayon at kailanman as a wedding vow being done in a very private, intimate space, so I wanted to preserve that vision by keeping the production very simple with more emphasis on the lyrics,” he adds.

Originally not intended for a public release, much like his earlier song “Pieces,” the track eventually found its place within Cabangon’s highly anticipated EP. Its inclusion completes another piece of a larger narrative about learning to love again, whether after experiencing heartbreak, personal distance, indifference, or loss of something once deeply cherished.

Cabangon reveals, “The upcoming EP is really going to be about going through the process of falling out of love and finding our way back to the things that we were once passionate about. Based on the first couple of songs that my listeners have experienced, I think my audience can expect that introspective singer-songwriter feel that’s very common with a lot of the tracks.”

Following “Pieces,” “Kama,” and “Ikot Ulit,” the forthcoming EP continues Cabangon’s singer-songwriter journey, moving from falling out of love toward rediscovering passion, hope, and the courage to love once more, whether it’s about love, life, and everything in between. With “ngayon at kailanman,” he offers perhaps his most tender song yet: a simple promise that, amidst an uncertain world, choosing one another can still be an act of faith.

LOLO MARCELO: THE MAN BEHIND THE HERO, curated by Pax Pineda, offers a personal look at the sacrifices and humanity behind one of the Philippines’ foremost propagandists

Pax Pineda

At 17, Pax Pineda turns his personal connection to Philippine history into a public exploration of one of the country’s most influential propagandists.

Running from September 4 to October 17, 2026 at the 2F Lobby of Ayala Museum‘s Diorama Experience Gallery, LOLO MARCELO: THE MAN BEHIND THE HERO (Reflections on the Legacy of Marcelo H. Del Pilar) bridges the gap between history and personal heritage, transforming Del Pilar from a mere historical icon into a relatable figure whose spirit continues to inspire.

Pax & Bella Pineda, Great Great Great Grandchildren of Marcelo H. Del Pilar

Pax Pineda, the great-great-great-grandson of Marcelo H. Del Pilar collaborates with Ayala Museum and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to present a collection of artifacts, letters, and artworks that examines not only Del Pilar’s contributions to the Propaganda Movement, but also the lesser-known truths behind his legacy.

Pineda frames the exhibit as an opportunity to see Del Pilar from a relatable lens: equally as a hero, a journalist, a lawyer, and a husband, a father, and a Filipino who made profound sacrifices for a cause larger than himself.

“I am very grateful to have this opportunity to tell, show, and share my Lolo Marcelo’s story the same week as what would have been his 176^th birth anniversary. Last month at NHCP’s HistoEx, Lolo Marcelo’s journey was also shown and discussed in an exhibit there and I’m so happy it was well attended. But I also want to share the other side felt by his family, and how their lives were marked by profound sacrifice. He left his family and his homeland in 1888 to escape persecution and continue his fight for justice in Madrid. He not only edited it, wrote for it, but also ended up financing La Solidaridad when funds dried up leaving him penniless. Yet, his legacy endures. His dedication to the cause of freedom, coupled with his roles as a devoted father and husband, humanizes his storied life.” Ayala Museum curator, Tenten Mina adds that MH Del Pilar is particularly interesting and relevant as we celebrate the Year of Diplomatic History and Diaspora during history month 2026. Mina adds, “he endured physical separation from family and loved ones for the sake of the greater good—a sacrifice many Filipinos still make today.”

Known by his pen name Plaridel, Marcelo H. Del Pilar was one of the leaders of the Propaganda Movement that fought for reform and equal rights for Filipinos during the twilight years of the Spanish Colonial Era. While his written works, Dasalan at Tocsohan and La Solidaridad are widely remembered by the public as his major contributions to our independence, the personal sacrifices of the propagandist to launch and sustain these efforts are less-known.

The exhibit also aims to shine a light on the more intimate dimension of Del Pilar’s life. Born in Bulacan, Del Pilar trained as a lawyer before becoming a journalist, writer, and reform advocate. He left the Philippines in 1888 amid persecution and continued his campaign for reforms in Spain. His commitment came at considerable personal cost, including prolonged separation from his family and financial hardship from personally supporting La Solidaridad. He died of tuberculosis in Barcelona in 1896, far from the country he sought to serve.

Ayala Museum Building Facade

“Ayala Museum is more than happy to collaborate with young individuals who would want to share these important stories of Filipino heritage with their peers. Projects such as this illustrate our deeply held belief at the museum that history and culture carry values relevant to each generation and that it is our job to provide a space for these conversations to happen,” shares Jorell Legaspi, Senior Director for Arts and Culture at Ayala Foundation.

Marcelo H. Del Pilar Shrine

The artifacts featured in the exhibition are on loan from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and transported from the Marcelo H. Del Pilar Shrine in Bulakan, Bulacan — a national shrine and museum dedicated to the Filipino propagandist, journalist, and lawyer. Ayala Museum and the NHCP have been long-time collaborators and partners in the promotion of a deeper understanding of the story of the Filipino nation. Aprille Tijam, Associate Director at Ayala Museum adds “we envision that this pocket exhibition will be the first of many more curatorial projects that seek to explore significant events and figures in Philippine history not featured within the Ayala Museum’s 60 Dioramas of Philippine history.”