Entertainment

HER COMING-OF-AGE MASTERPIECE IS AMPLIFIED WITH UPGRADED VISUALS, SURPRISE NEW TRACKS, AND SPANISH LANGUAGE SONGS, INCLUDING COLLABORATIONS WITH MALUMA AND THE LATE SELENA

B’DAY (20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) IS AVAILABLE NOW LISTEN HERE | ORDER THE CD & VINYL HERE

Today marks Beyoncé’s birthday and the release of a voluminous remastered B’DAY, her coming-of-age second album. When it was released on September 4, 2006, music fans around the world were introduced to a 25-year-old woman with a bold, new voice. Not just a powerful singing voice, but an artist determined to take over her career as a singer, songwriter, producer, and visual artist. She recorded the album in a two-week session, fully cemented at the helm, and knowing exactly what she wanted to create. She was pushing herself, revealing layers to her innovative approach to recording, writing, and producing. That fierce and urgent approach was extended to all her collaborators, with each one digging a little deeper to define the sound of her deeply personal album.

“I wanted the album to be big, percussive, hard, up-tempo, and energized, and it was important to me that we used live instrumentation,” she recalls. “Hip-hop was taking over at the time, but I was fighting to preserve the bridges, melodies, and harmonies that have always been at the heart of R&B. The goal was to blend those two worlds through the art of sampling. I loved the minimalism of a beautiful vocal arrangement over a simple drum loop or a classic guitar like ‘Irreplaceable’…but only if that 808 was banging underneath.”

B’DAY was essentially her first visual album, with short films that explored the making of a relationship in full, through every turn. It was a conceptual project, urgent and captivating. Its themes of finding one’s confidence, liberation, audacity and compatibility are as relevant today as they were two decades ago.

And in preparing for this milestone release, Beyoncé once again went back to the boards and worked on remastering songs. The videos, originally captured on 35mm are now remastered and re-colored and finished in 4k, including “Déjà Vu,” featuring JAY-Z, and directed by Sophie Muller, also out today.

Images, shot on location in New Orleans, and never seen before, are also included. New Orleans, where Beyoncé’s family has deep roots, was working on rebuilding following the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The Big Easy’s resilience and fortitude served as inspiration for Beyoncé who wanted to contribute in her own way to the city’s revitalization.

When news of the B’DAY (20th Anniversary Edition) broke last July 4th, it was ushered in by the song “MORNING DEW (DONK).” Astute fans quickly pointed to the history of the song, which leaked in 2023. A remix of the track, featuring JAY-Z, was delivered on August 4th, solidifying the song’s placement among the twenty-three-year plus history of collaborations between the Carters.

B’DAY 20th Anniversary Edition is replete with a celebratory offering of Spanish language songs that speak to Beyoncé’s love and admiration for the culture and the incredible artists who contributed and continue to build on the genre. “Cuerpo Tumbao (Get Me Bodied) feat. Maluma” marks a first-time collaboration with the Colombian artist, one of the leading voices in Latin music. She has been a fan of his work and feels flattered to finally work with this multi-genre artist. A philanthropist in every way, Beyoncé applauds Maluma for the work he does in his country to help young people through the arts, and through humanitarian efforts following the recent earthquake. The song contains a sample of Afro-Cuban star, Celia Cruz’s “La Negra Tiene Tumbao.” Beyoncé has long admired Cruz’s pride in her African culture; her refusal to bend in the wake of racism, colorism and the narrow definition of beauty. In a time when society wanted her to be bitter and broken down, she boldly claimed her Blackness. The sample was the perfect fit for a song that pushes strength and confidence on the dancefloor and in life. The song was produced by Beyoncé, Edgar Barrera, CASTA and co-produced by Ali “Ali Ali” Alvarez.

“Irreemplazable (Como La Flor) featuring Selena” is a momentous inclusion. Selena was one of the most celebrated Mexican American entertainers and was known as the “Queen of Tejano Music.” Since her passing in 1995, her estate rarely grants use of her music. This resounding approval for Beyoncé from Selena Quintanilla’s estate made it possible for this timely and meaningful duet. Two women from Texas. Two unmistakable and irreplaceable voices that broke down and continues to break down barriers.

Beyoncé revered Selena and remembers listening to her on the radio in Houston. She credits her for inspiring the recording of Irreemplazable, her Spanish EP released in 2007.

B’DAY 20th Anniversary Edition – Deluxe Vinyl – a 4LP edition pressed on 180G Bayou Blue Vinyl. It features “MORNING DEW (DONK),” Spanish recordings, and B-Sides. It comes with a 60-page commemorative booklet and two collectible double-sided art prints. The Deluxe Vinyl is jampacked with massive, new gems including “Can I Watch You”, produced by Beyoncé and Pharrell, and “My First Time,” which was originally recorded for Beyoncé’s debut solo album, DANGEROSUSLY IN LOVE, but was taken off the final track list. Also included here are “Lost Yo Mind,” “Creole” and “Back Up,” B-sides that were not included on B’DAY in 2006.

B’DAY (20th Anniversary Edition), is available in standard and deluxe volumes on vinyl and CD, as well as a deluxe digital offering.

B’DAY 20th Anniversary Edition – Standard Vinyl is a limited edition 180G 2LP with new sequencing and new tracks/remixes. It features “MORNING DEW (DONK)” and a 16-page collectible booklet with never-before-seen imagery.

B’DAY 20th Anniversary Edition Digital Deluxe – All tracks on the deluxe vinyl plus two digital-only bonus additions, “Cuerpo Tumbao (featuring Maluma)” and “Irreemplazable (Como La Flor) Featuring Selena.”

B/DAY 20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION -DIGITAL DELUXE (31 TRACKS)

1. DÉJÀ VU (FEAT. JAŸ-Z)
2. GET ME BODIED
3. SUGA MAMA
4. UPGRADE U (FEAT. JAŸ-Z)
5. RING THE ALARM
6. KITTY KAT
7. FREAKUM DRESS
8. GREEN LIGHT
9. IRREPLACEABLE
10. CHECK ON IT (FEAT. SLIM THUG)
11. BEAUTIFUL LIAR (BEYONCÉ & SHAKIRA)
12. FLAWS AND ALL
13. RESENTMENT
14. LISTEN
15. MORNING DEW (DONK)
16. MY FIRST TIME
17. CAN I WATCH YOU (FEAT. PHARRELL)
18. WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD (FEAT. JAŸ-Z)6
19. LOST YO MIND
20. CREOLE
21. BACK UP
22. GET ME BODIED (EXTENDED MIX)
23. CUERPO (TUMBAO) FEAT. MALUMA
24. IRREEMPLAZABLE (COMO LA FLOR) FEAT. SELENA
25. AMOR GITANO (BEYONCÉ & ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ)
26. LISTEN (OYE)
27. BEAUTIFUL LIAR (BELLO EMBUSTERO)
28. IRREPLACEABLE (IRREEMPLAZABLE)
29. GET ME BODIED (TIMBALAND REMIX) [FEAT. VOLTIO]
30. IRREPLACEABLE (IMPLAZABLE) [NORTEÑA REMIX]
31. GET ME BODIED (MUEVE EL CUERPO)

ORDER THE VINYL HERE

Gigi de Lana, Bino of Sunkissed Lola, HEY JUNE!, and Jet Pangan join the veteran band for a free celebration at Eton Centris

After building a legacy of generation-defining anthems and a lasting connection with the Filipino audience, 6cyclemind will celebrate 25 years of making music with a special concert at Eton Centris in Quezon City on September 12, 2026.

The anniversary concert serves as a homecoming for OPM music fans who have watched the band grow and earn their rightful place in pop culture—thanks to their accessible yet heartfelt pop-rock tunes and earnest songwriting that reflect everyday Filipino life.

To make the event even more special, the free show will feature a cross-generational lineup of artists, including Gigi de Lana, Bino of Sunkissed Lola, HEY JUNE!, and The Dawn’s Jet Pangan. CLNO, the band formed by former 6cyclemind member Chuck Isidro, will open the concert.

According to 6cyclemind, reaching 25 years goes far beyond legacy. “We consider every anniversary a milestone,” says bassist Bobby Cañamo. “25 years is such a special milestone kasi mas ramdam namin yung era na natawid ng banda. Also, this time, may opportunity kami i-celebrate yung milestone nang mas grand.”

Since its formation in the early 2000s, 6cyclemind has released six studio albums and maintained a solid spot in OPM history. Songs such as “Sandalan,” “Sige,” “Upside Down,” and “Biglaan” have continued to find listeners decades after its peak, taking on new meanings as both the band and its audience have moved past it.

For drummer Vic Aquino, the longevity of the band’s music can partly be traced to its relatability and to the band’s decision to keep playing. Its songs, he notes, have become part of different listeners’ lives through gigs, videoke sessions, family playlists, and everyday listening.

Official poster

Live shows remain central to 6cyclemind’s identity: a place they call home, bringing comfort and familiarity. The band began its career playing bar gigs and small events, eventually performing across the Philippines in festivals as a headlining act. After decades onstage, the members still regard live performance as one of the most rewarding aspects of being in the band.

“A live show always seems like a reunion with our audience for us,” manager and 6th member
Darwin Hernandez says, reflecting on the band’s extensive touring history. “We were blessed that we were able to build a connection with our audience through our songs.”

The anniversary celebration arrives as the band steps into a new era. 6cyclemind is currently working on a new album with Isidro serving as producer.

As 6cyclemind enters its 26th year, the band remains grounded in the same commitment that has sustained it for a quarter-century: making music, performing, reaching new listeners, and growing alongside the Filipino music community.

“We just want to share our music and be an inspiration to others,” Aquino says. “Gaya nung lyrics, ‘di kami tumigil, itinuloy namin through ups and downs and lineup changes ng members ng banda.”

The 25th anniversary concert therefore stands not simply as a look back, but as a marker of continuity: celebrating where 6cyclemind has been while opening the door to whatever comes next.

The Filipino-Australian artist brings her own versions of the songs that shaped her career to the Philippine stage

A decade after embarking on her professional music career, Ylona Garcia is coming home to the Philippines for two special shows that celebrate her journey while looking ahead to the next chapter of her career.

The two-part anniversary celebration will feature songs from her 10-year journey in the music industry, reimagined through her personal interpretations and the perspective she has gained as an artist.

The homecoming celebration kicks off on September 4 with Backyard Live: Ylona Garcia Spotlight, a Manila-exclusive show at Backyard Warehouse Studio in Baesa, Quezon City. By invitation only, the intimate and music-centered event will give a limited audience an exclusive first look at Ylona’s 10th anniversary celebration.

The following day, September 5, Ylona brings the celebration to a wider public audience with 10 Years of Ylona Garcia: Live at Venice Grand Canal Mall in McKinley Hill, beginning at 7 p.m.

“Celebrating 10 years in music is a reminder of how far I’ve come, but also of what really matters to me,” Ylona shares. “Personally, the first five years were a great challenge as I was learning more about my culture and how showbiz worked. However, the last five years have been some of the hardest years of my life. I lost someone very important to me, went through experiences where I allowed people to take advantage of me emotionally, and found myself alone in another country for the second time. Artistically, though, those experiences taught me a lot about the difference between being a singer and being an artist.”

The two live experiences will eventually be part of Ylona Garcia’s 10th Anniversary Live Album, a nine-track collection featuring her versions of the songs from the past decade. The project also serves as a bridge to her long-awaited second EP, with elements of her emerging new sounds and inspirations woven intricately into the anniversary performances.

Ylona’s journey in music has always been rocky but filled with delightful surprises. After establishing herself as a pop star with a loyal following in the Philippines, she signed with Paradise Rising, 88rising’s Filipino-focused imprint, and subsequently relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her music internationally. Her work has included a performance at 88rising’s Head in the Clouds festival and “Entertain Me,” released in partnership with Riot Games’ VALORANT. At the same time, her growing international profile has led to recognition from outlets such as V Magazine.

As Ylona Garcia returns to the Philippines to mark her 10th year in music, she is revisiting the songs, experiences, and lessons that have shaped her journey, while looking ahead to the future. For the project, the versatile artist is teaming up with Sony Music Entertainment to give her existing catalog a fresh take through exciting new interpretations.

“This is my third time working with a music label, and collaboration truly means a lot to me,” Ylona explains. “So, through this project, being able to figure out what collaboration looks like between Sony Music Entertainment and me has actually been a very healing experience. I’ve learned a lot about what it means to bring my vision into a room, listen to other people’s perspectives, and build something together without losing what I came there to say.” 

Catch Ylona Garcia as she celebrates her tenth anniversary as an artist:

Event 1: Backyard Live: Ylona Garcia Spotlight
Date: Sept. 4, 2026
Location: Backyard Warehouse Studio, Baesa, Quezon City

By invitation (registration link): http://ylonagarcia.lnk.to/Ylona_At_Backyard_Live

Event 2: 10 Years of Ylona Garcia: Live at Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill
Date: Sept. 5, 2026
Location: Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill
Event Time: 7:00 PM

Register to get free tickets: http://ylonagarcia.lnk.to/Ylona_at_Venice

Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown, and Christchurch are set to experience the band’s celebrated blend of catchy hooks, clever lyrics, and irrepressible Filipino spirit

Filipino pop-rock favorites The Itchyworms are bringing their music to New Zealand this September 2026 as the headliners of the Akin Ka Na Lang New Zealand Tour. The band is set to perform across four major cities: Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown, and Christchurch.

Celebrated for their clever songwriting, catchy guitar-driven sound, and memorable anthems, The Itchyworms continue to push OPM to new audiences. Their upcoming New Zealand tour will give Filipinos abroad a chance to reconnect with home through music while introducing international listeners to the distinct sound, spirit, and creativity of Original Pilipino Music.

According to Jugs Jugueta, the tour is about reconnecting with Filipino communities and rediscovering the best the Philippines has to offer. “It’s very humbling. It’s really great that the world is now discovering all things Filipino,” he says, noting the growing global appreciation for Filipino culture, artists, and music.

With the tour covering four cities across New Zealand, Jugueta is excited to share the experience with both Filipino fans and their Kiwi friends. He encourages Filipinos in New Zealand to bring along their friends and family and let them experience firsthand how Filipinos know how to celebrate.

Meanwhile, drummer and vocalist Jazz Nicolas describes the band’s cross-generational songwriting as one of the things Filipinos and foreigners should look forward to: “It’s like hiding medicine in chocolate. We like to put petty or tragic lyrics inside a catchy pop melody.” That distinctive balance of humor, heartbreak, and melody has helped make The Itchyworms’ music appeal across borders. Nicolas also sees the tour as an opportunity to introduce OPM to an even wider audience.

NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES:

AUCKLAND — September 18 | Galatos

WELLINGTON — September 19 | Notre Dame Performing Arts Center

QUEENSTOWN — September 25 | Queenstown Memorial Center

CHRISTCHURCH — September 26 | Christ’s College Auditorium

Tickets are priced at $99 NZD for Standing VIP (including a photo opportunity) and $69 NZD for Standing General Admission. Tickets are available here: https://fastevents.com.au/ticket_category/the-itchyworms-new-zealand-tour-2026-tickets

The acclaimed debut is now available in physical formats, offering listeners a tangible way to reconnect with the record that helped define the band’s early years

Nearly a decade into their career, Ben&Ben revisits where much of their story began with the physical release of the band’s acclaimed 2019 debut studio album, Limasawa Street—now available on CD and vinyl.

Recorded when the band was still finding its footing, the record introduced Ben&Ben’s expansive, lush take on folk-pop while giving music fans a taste of their distinct songwriting style.

“Sabi nga nila: you never forget your first,” shares the nine-piece collective. “The energy we had going into creating our very first album was one of the things we would never forget about that era of ours. It was the first time we collectively immortalized our music together in a body of work as ‘nine,’ especially since we weren’t technically complete yet when the EP was recorded. Revisiting an album like that brings back so many memories of the entire creation process, especially our Limasawa Street tour. That album brought us to so many places; it introduced so many people to us and our music, and up to now all the songs remain near and dear to us.”

Their maiden release eventually became one of the most important Filipino records of its time, earning multi-platinum certification from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI). It produced modern classics such as “Pagtingin” and “Araw-Araw”– songs that resonated then and continue to be relevant now. The critically acclaimed release also bagged major industry recognitions, including Album of the Year honors at the 33rd Awit Awards. The album’s success led to an extensive multi-city tour that brought the album and the band to audiences across the Philippines and Singapore.

“Limasawa Street was always meant to be a work of its time: an exploration of fresh ideals and a new heart, a new start,” Ben&Ben explains. “We have always been very open about how our albums serve as bookmarks in our lives, meant to encapsulate our beliefs, feelings, and outlook on love and life at that specific moment in time. We hear all of that and remember exactly the people who recorded those songs back in 2019. We still hear us; we still hear the beginnings of our current sound—and we are very grateful to those versions of ourselves who dared to dream and build a world of their own.”

Remastered for vinyl and CD by Grammy-award-winning sound engineer Jett Galindo, its arrival in physical formats gives fans a new way to experience a record that has long lived through streaming and live performances.

For Ben&Ben, the physical release also meant preserving a game-changing phase in their journey: the beginning of an illustrious period that transformed them into bona fide artists. In an era shaped by digital consumption, owning a physical record offers something that lasts: a relic of time you can hold, revisit, and pass down.

The chart-topping band adds: “Many of us have always been massive fans of physical media, especially vinyl. To finally have our very own press feels surreal. We still can’t quite believe it because we haven’t seen them in person yet, so we’re super excited—and even more so for our listeners who have been waiting for us to release our music in a format that they can really collect and have in their hands and homes.”

Pre-orders for Ben&Ben’s Limasawa Street CD and vinyl open this Saturday, August 29, at 12 noon via Backspacer Records.

More details here: https://benandben.lnk.to/shop-limasawastreet

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.”