original filipino music

1. PHILIPPINE
POPULAR MUSIC

2. The one thing that comes to mind when we think of
contemporary Philippine music is the type commonly
termed as Original Philippine Music, or OPM for short. It
was originally used to refer only to Philippine pop songs,
particularly ballads, such as those popular after the
collapse of its predecessor, the Manila sound, in the late
1970s up until the present.

3. In the 1960s to 1970s, Nora Aunor, Pilita Corales, Eddie
Peregrina, Victor Wood, Asin, APO Hiking Society and
others were highly popular OPM singers. In the 1970s to
1980s, the major commercial Philippine pop music artists
were Claire Dela Fuente, Didith Reyes, Rico Puno, Ryan
Cayabyab, Basil Valdez, Celeste Legaspi, Hajji Alesandro,
Rey Valera, Freddie Aguilar, Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio,
Nonoy Zuniga and many others.

4. ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC (OPM)
The 1980s to 1990s are also regarded as the
golden era of Philippine
ballads. Among the classics that emerged were
those created by:
Ryan Cayabyab (Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,
Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang)
George Canseco (Kapantay ay Langit,
Kastilyong Buhangin, Tubig at Langis)
Willie Cruz (Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas,
Bituing Walang Ningning)
Jose Mari Chan (Beautiful Girl, Please Be
Careful With My Heart, Constant Change)
Gary Valenciano (Sana Maulit Muli)
Ryan Cayabyab
Gary Valenciano
George Canseco

5. Most of these compositions made use of Western-type
melody and harmony, while expressing uniquely Filipino
emotions in movingly poetic lyrics. These came to be known
as OPM, and were popularized by solo artists like Pilita
Corales, Nora Aunor, Basil Valdez, Celeste Legaspi, Hajji
Alejandro, Leah Navarro, Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera,
Gary Valenciano, ZsaZsa Padilla, Regine Velasquez, and
Ogie Alcasid.

6. At the start, OPM was centered in Manila, where Tagalog and English are the dominant
languages. However, other ethno-linguistic groups such as the Visayan, Bikol,
Kapampangan, and Ilocano also began to sing and record their songs in their native
dialects.
Between the 1980s and 1990s, OPM was led by artists such as Martin Nievera, Gary
Valenciano, Lea Salonga, Regine Velasquez, Sharon Cuneta, Vina Morales, Raymond
Lauchengco, Francis Magalona, Pops Fernandez, José Mari Chan, Dingdong Avanzado,
Janno Gibbs, Ogie Alcasid, Joey Albert, Manilyn Reynes, among many others.

7. In the 1990s, the famous solo artists and
bands included The Eraserheads, Smokey
Mountain, Donna Cruz, Jessa Zaragoza, Ariel
Rivera, Southborder, Afterimage, Andrew
E., Jaya, Rivermaya, Parokya ni Edgar, among
many others. Underground bands emerged
and along with them were their perceptions
of idealism and self-expression.
More recently, OPM stars have included Yeng
Constantino, Sarah Geronimo, Aisa
Seguerra, and international singers Arnel
Pineda (of the international rock group,
Journey),
Charice Pempengco, and others.
Sarah Geronimo
Charice Pempengco
Arnel Pineda

8. PHILIPPINE POPULAR MUSIC
Pop music in the Philippines started as an adaptation or
translation, if not complete
imitation, of Western hits. It started with Bobby
Gonzales’ Hahabol-habol (Hot
Pursuit), a local version of the rock and roll songs of the
1950s, and Rico Puno’s Luneta, a local adaptation of The
Way We Were. This immediately clicked with the youth
and
eventually gained wide acceptance even among the
“burgis”
(bourgeois or elite) crowd.
Rico J. Puno

9. Among the proponents of the Manila Sound were the Hotdog,
Cinderella, The Rainmakers,
and the Apo Hiking Society. After waning briefly in the 1990’s, this sound
regained
The start of the “Manila Sound” in the mid-1970s
gave rise to songs using a colloquial
language called Taglish, a combination of Tagalog
and English. These Filipino lyrics sung
to pop melodies resulted in highly singable songs
with contemporary appeal.
Among the proponents of the Manila Sound were
the Hotdog, Cinderella, The Rainmakers,
and the Apo Hiking Society. After waning briefly in
the 1990’s, this sound regained
popularity in recent years with remakes of the
1970’s originals by contemporary rock
Bands.
Hotdog
Apo Hiking Society

10. PHILIPPINE JAZZ
Philippine musicians have also been inspired by jazz
music. Among them are jazz
pianist and recording artist Boy Katindig, who comes
from the well-known clan of
musicians that includes jazz piano legend Romy
Katindig and saxophonist Eddie Katindig.
The Katindig family pioneered Latin jazz in Manila.
Other notable Filipino jazz musicians include Lito
Molina, Angel Peña, Emil Mijares, and
internationally known jazz pianist Bobby Enriquez
Lito Molina and the Jazz Friends

11. PHILIPPINE ALTERNATIVE FOLK MUSIC
The Philippines also saw the rise of alternative folk music
which was different from the traditional and popular
form. This new form combined ethnic instrumentation
with electronic accompaniment, while presenting themes
or issues of society and the environment. Some of the
Filipino composers who championed this style were Joey
Ayala, Grace Nono, and Edru Abraham of Kontragapi
(“Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino”).

12. Among other Filipino composers
whose styles ranged from folk to
semi-ethnic were
Freddie Aguilar, best known for his
song Anak; Yoyoy Villame,
composer of Magellan;
Florante, composer of Ako’y Isang
Pinoy; and Gary Granada,
composer of Ka Bayani.
Freddie Aguilar

13. PHILIPPINE ROCK
The year 1973 saw the birth of Philippine or
“Pinoy” rock music which successfully merged
the rock beat with Filipino lyrics. This new sound
was introduced by the legendary Juan de la Cruz Band
(with their song Ang Himig Natin) which had for its
members Joey “Pepe” Smith, Wally Gonzales, and
the originator of Jeproks, Mike Hanopol, who later
became a major symbol of Pinoy rock.
Other early exponents of Pinoy rock included the band
Maria Cafra; Sampaguita, the
female rocker; and folk-rock singer Heber Bartolome
and his Banyuhay band, whose
songs expressed strong messages of nationalism.
Juan Dela Cruz Band

14. Continuing this legacy of Pinoy rock
today are vocal groups
and bands that include River Maya,
The Dawn, True Faith,
The Eraserheads, Wolfgang,
Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Hale,
Sandwich, SugarFree, Sponge
Cola,and others.
Bamboo
Parokya ni Edgar

15. PINOY RAP
In the Philippines, rap was also made popular by such
composers and performers as
Francis Magalona (Mga Kababayan Ko and Watawat) and
Andrew E (Humanap Ka
ng Pangit).
Francis Magalona was born on October 4, 1964 and died on
March 6, 2009. He is also known as FrancisM, “Master
Rapper,” and “The Man From Manila.” He was a Filipino
rapper, songwriter, producer, actor, director, television
host,
and photographer. He is often hailed as the “King of Pinoy
Rap” and is considered a legend in the Philippine music
community.
Francis Magalona

16. With the success of his earliest albums, Magalona was the
first Filipino rapper to cross over to the mainstream. He is
also credited for having pioneered the merging of rap
with Pinoy rock, becoming a
significant influence on artists in that genre as well. He
was later awarded a posthumous
Presidential Medal of Merit “for his musical and artistic
brilliance, his deep faith in the
Filipino, and his sense of national pride that continue to
inspire us.”

17. POP MUSIC COLLABORATIONS
Philippine pop artists have also collaborated with classical artists and orchestras in a
number of their recordings and concerts. Some of the concerts of Martin Nievera, Gary
Valenciano, Regine Velazquez, Lea Salonga, and Sharon Cuneta have featured the
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the ABS-CBN Orchestra, and the Manila Philharmonic
Orchestra in performances at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), both known venues for classical
music,
as well as at the Araneta Coliseum and Folk Arts Theater (FAT). Classical musicians have
also performed in malls and other commercial venues to popularize classical music,
popular
music, and OPM.

18. SUMMARY:
From theater tunes to rock and roll, pop, standards, hip hop, rap, and contemporary
ballads—whether in the West, in the Philippines, or anywhere else in the world—these all
provided a rich and diverse musical background in the development of Philippine
contemporary music. The development of Philippine music was also influenced by the
history of the country—from its pre-Spanish roots, through the Spanish and American
periods, up to the present. It has since evolved to have its own rich and distinct identity

19. QUIZ TIME!

20. 1. What does OPM mean?
a. Original Palawan Music
b. Original Philippine Mathematics
c. Original Philippine Music
d. None of the above

21. 2.It was originally used to refer only to Philippine pop
songs, particularly ballads, such as those popular after
the collapse of its predecessor, the Manila sound, in
the late 1970s up until the present.
a.OPM c.Pop songs
b.Music d.Manila sound

22. 3. Who composed the songs Beautiful girl,
Please be careful with my heart, constant
change?
a.Gary Valenciano c.Ryan Cayabyab
b.Jose Mari Chan d.Willie Cruz

23. 4. At the start, OPM was centered in ______,
where Tagalog and English are the dominant
languages.
a.Palawan c.Manila
b.Bicol d.none of the above

24. 5. The start of the “Manila Sound” in the mid-1970s
gave rise to songs using a colloquial
language called ______, a combination of Tagalog
and English.
a.TagEng c.Taglish
b.TagFil d.Tagalish

25. 6. The Philippines also saw the rise of
alternative folk ____ which was different
from the traditional and popular form.
a.Dance c. song
b. Jazz d.Music

26. 7. “Anak” is a song composed by _______.
a.Francis Magalona c.Jose Mari Chan
b.Freddie Aguilar d.Willie Revillame

27. 8. The year 1973 saw the birth of Philippine or
“Pinoy” rock music which successfully merged
the rock beat with ______ lyrics.
a.British c.Korean
b.American d.Filipino

28. 9. Who composed the song “Humanap ka ng
pangit”?
a.Freddie Aguilar c.Garry Vallenciano
b.Francis Magalona d.Andrew E.

29. 10. With the success of his earliest albums,
Magalona was the first Filipino rapper to cross over
to the mainstream. Fancis Magalona was one of the
composers and performers of
a.OPM c.Pinoy Rap
b.Philippine Jazz d.Philippine Rock

30. Answer Key:
1.C 6.D
2.A 7.B
3.B 8.D
4.C 9.D
5.C 10.C