Ten Best Filipino Music Videos (OPM) Featuring Philippine Culture | Part 2 – 2015-2019

I must admit, this list was far more difficult to put together than the first one I compiled five years ago. It’s almost as if we suddenly awoke to an awareness of national identity, resulting in an explosion of Filipino elements even in mainstream music. This should be a good thing really, except now, there are too many videos to pick just ten from.

Similar to my previous list, this one is entirely subjective and unsupported by formal polling or numerical analysis. My personal picks are based on visual appeal and style, thematic clarity and cohesion, and the presence of a PH factor, that is, tangible and intangible aspects of Philippine culture, history, natural heritage and society. Of course, the videos have to be for songs written and composed by Filipinos (Original Pilipino Music – OPM).

Read Best Filipino Music Videos Part 1 list here.

Here’s my pick for the top ten best from 2015-2019.

#10 – Ibong Malaya

Free Bird

I grappled with the decision to include this or not. This is, after all, a music video list, and the full video for this one is missing! I know there is one though, because it was shown during the 2018 Earth Hour event and there are clips of it strewn about online. In the end, I decided this was too precious not to share. What we have at the moment is the audio on the left, and a teaser of the video to the right. I share these with the conviction that the full video will one day surface. I will find it.

PH Factor: Isabelle de Leon, dressed in white and looking every bit a diwata (fairy) of the forest, sings a soaring tribute to the majestic Philippine Eagle, our national bird, and a symbol of our hopes and aspirations. As a critically endangered species, our eagles also echo our lament and fierce desire to preserve and protect the gifts of Bathala (the Creator).  

#9 – Mapa

Map

This was another pick that took a bit of mulling over. Aside from perhaps being the simplest in lyrical and visual composition in this list, it can also be argued that the aesthetics draws a great deal from foreign influence. Then again, it might be more Filipino than we think.

PH Factor: Here, Autotelic clearly capitalizes on nostalgia. Those who have lived through the pre-digital age will recognize in Mapa a generous dose of the 80s and early 90s. These were the colors, fonts and beats that came out of Philippine television in the good old days, from Harry Gasser’s straight news to then matinee idol and now Manila mayor Isko Moreno’s lively choreography in That’s Entertainment. While it can be argued that the visuals reflect a touch of 80s western styling, ours actually feel less angular and bright, and more rounded and subdued.  

There is one other thing that makes this video decidedly Filipino, the humor — literal, irreverent, sometimes deadpan, somewhat self-deprecating and decidedly generous with puns. Pabs on vase indeed!

Favorite Moment: Those closing credits are a gem, and come on, you gotta love the directing credits to Quentin Tolentino!

Bonus Trivia: The two guys dancing with the band members are actually really named MAPA! They are the Mapa brothers, 90s actor Jao and musician Diego.

#8 – Huwag Ka Nang Humirit

Don’t Object

I know of purists who would flinch at the seeming desecration of historical landmarks with the infusion of pop culture. I, on the other hand, do not wholly object, especially if the veritable meeting of old and new serves to suggest the importance of heritage conservation.

PH Factor: James Reid’s nocturnal romp around the Manila Central Post Office is, I think, stylishly executed, bringing to the fore, the structure’s strikingly elegant lines. The muted colors bring even greater depth and, in my opinion, some measure of respect to one of Manila’s old treasures.

Designed following the neo-classical style by Juan Arellano, Tomas Mapua and Ralph Doane, the building features imposing Ionic columns and wide, high-ceilinged spaces. Completed in 1926, it has stood for nearly a century as a mute witness to the ever vigorous flux of the life and times of ‪‎Manila‬.

Favorite Moment: That looming interior and the play of light and shadow in the hallway sequences… oh, and that smooth as silk mic tip.

#7 – Dati

Back in the Old Days

This may be a bit of a controversial pick, because if clearly aligns itself with conservative values. But my biggest objection about it is its ending. Other than being wholly predictable, it can also be potentially offensive to those with keener eyes. I could be mistaken, but you may wonder, did they purposefully settle on certain  defining qualities of the male object of the girls’ approval?

PH Factor: Getting these thoroughly modern girls to wear 1800s garb in a tastefully executed pop dance is a wonderful touch, but it’s the underlying theme that makes this video relevant to local culture. The girls lament the fast and easy ways of modern courtship and pine for the good old days when Filipino suitors went to greater lengths to win the approval of a lady and her family.

Naturally, there is no need for us to roll back standards too far. Potential partners need not carry buckets of water, offer gifts of chicken and eggs or endure the withering looks of burly uncles to prove their worth. But even the more liberal among us will agree, there is some merit in being more circumspect and deliberative in matters of the heart.   

Favorite Moment: The girls dancing in long skirts — absolutely enchanting. Who would’ve thought period clothing could blend so elegantly with pop music, and with a certain degree of deference even.

#6 – Go for Gold

There were a number of Filipino themed, feel good uplifting music videos that came out in the last five years. I picked this one for its neat and cohesive editing. Watching this is like getting a taste of a more organized and purposeful version of our irrepressible spirit.

PH Factor: Truth be told, being an athlete in the Philippines must be one of the most grueling and thankless jobs on the planet, which begs the question, why would anyone choose this path? It must truly be for love of their sport and of country, because previous champions uniformly say there has always been a dearth in training, equipment and funds. To this day, it stings that a chess grandmaster has had to supposedly leave us for these very reasons.

If the recent SEA games is any indication though, I suppose one day things may improve in the manner in which our athletes are handled and supported, but until then, it is a some consolation that they know they are appreciated and cheered for.

Also worth noting are Karencitta’s Cebuano lyrics. It’s about time OPM embraced more of our local tongues.

Favorite Moment: Our athletes coming together at the end look so cool, they radiate awesomeness just by standing there.

#5 – Sagwan

Oar

Gloc-9 truly is the hyperactive son of OPM, having once again gone on a creative overdrive, with each piece of work a thoughtful social commentary. Sifting through his work was therefore once again a challenging task. Sagwan floated up the top for me, because this one exposes a reality that has become every bit a part of our modern identity.

PH Factor: According to a senate press release, there were 700,000 Filipino seafarers in 2018, 380,000 of whom worked in foreign ships,^[1] so it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to say that most Filipinos know at least one seafarer, or someone who is the relative of one. What Gloc-9 shows us goes beyond celebrating their ubiquity. He peels the veneer of financial success and prosperity to reveal the overwhelming intangible cost of going out to sea.

The video is plain but so appropriately laid out, we can almost visualize Domingo and his grimy uniform, Rey and his secret affliction, Tonio and his profligate family. In the end we sense Gloc-9 exposes all these as a salute to our long-suffering men and women of the sea.      

Favorite Moment: The look on the old seaman’s face at the bridge as Gloc-9 raps about Tonio’s troubles is quite evocative. That look sums up the weight of his troubles.

#4 – In My Prison

IVOS’ first video as a trio is all at once arresting, sleek and sophisticated. What is even more interesting about it is its sense of coherence even in the absence of a linear story. Every element flows nicely and is lock and step with the equally dark melody and lyrics. For these reasons, this video deserves to rank with the best. Of course, it’s included in my list for other reasons.

PH Factor: I make no secret of my love for old houses, which was what originally drew my eye to this video. I was certain the intricate surroundings were a link to some bygone era, and although the house isn’t as old as I’d imagined, having been built in the 1960s, it has quite the storied past.

The house was designed by Pablo S. Antonio, a National Artist for Architecture, and belonged to Felipe Sangil Juico, whose family set up the first travel agency in the Philippines. Its most recent evolution was the result of restoration and renovation work undertaken by Jose “Jerry” Acuzar, the same visionary behind the colonial era themed resort featuring ancestral houses in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan.

As if this cultural wealth wasn’t enough, the house is also home to three paintings by Fernando Amorsolo, also a National Artist. That includes the painting of the woman in the green skirt, the original lady of the house, Lily Juico.

Favorite Moment: I loved all the shots of the house of course, but the elegantly decked boys make a very close second favorite.

#3 – Aurora Sunrise

The first time I heard Franco sing, I was mesmerized by his deep, powerful voice. Beyond the sonorous vocals however, the band itself emits a refreshingly different vibe. My experience with rock has often revolved around sad or dark themes. Time and again, Franco has been extra generous with the positivity.

PH Factor: While some people may not associate nature with local culture, our natural heritage is every bit a part of who we are, as it shapes our experiences and perspectives. Here, Franco gives us a front seat view of the breathtaking beauty of  Baler, Aurora. Perhaps it is our proximity to such rolling hills, fine beaches and inviting waters that explains our enduring happy spirits.

Bonus Trivia: Because of its position facing the Pacific Ocean, Baler has long been a prime destination for surfers. As the story goes, when Francis Ford Coppola’s crew wrapped up shooting for the movie Apocalypse Now, they left behind some surf boards which brothers Noel and Raul Tolentino and a few other locals used to continue surfing, and the sport took off ever since.

Favorite Moment: Franco singing atop a cliff overlooking Aurora’s waves is simply breathtaking.

#2 – Susi

Key

For a band with such a unique sound, so unfamiliar to ears more accustomed to generic pop, Ben&Ben’s songs are strangely comforting, like pandesal and sikwate in the morning or a nap in a hammock under a mango tree. They bring the same sense of comfort to Susi, a song meant to accompany the doleful story of a young man’s heroic last stand and tragic fate.

PH Factor: Like In My Prison, parts of the Susi music video were shot at Casa Juico, but the house takes a back seat to the historical figure, Gregorio Del Pilar. Susi is the theme song of the movie, Goyo, the movie adaptation based on the final months of the boy general’s life, leading up to his death in battle at the age of 24.

If you have never seen the movie, listen to the song and watch the music video first. They go together. You can almost hear the soothing tones of Ben&Ben as you witness Goyo’s battles with his inner demons, and as you watch a flawed but  delicate spirit march to a certain death. Ben&Ben somehow saves us from the despair of seeing the passing of a young life.

Favorite Moment: Goyo surveying the view from the top of Mount Tirad is a memorable shot. In an earlier scene on the same spot, Lieutenant Garcia explains his reasons for continuing to fight, remarking that if Aguinaldo fell, another would take his place, but nothing could replace what they had before them (gesturing to the surrounding mountains). My heart ached.

#1 – Hanggang Wala Nang Bukas

Until There’s No More Tomorrow

Before Goyo, there was Heneral Luna, both movies and their music videos directed by the same creative force, Jerrold Tarog, and yet the two productions are quite disparate, which is a testament to Tarog’s skill. He has the excellent instinct for determining which elements go well together, so that while Susi explores a more delicate, internal examination more fitting with Goyo’s struggles, Luna’s theme takes on a more spirited tone almost inciting external action, as the general himself would probably demand.    

PH Factor: This is the theme song of Heneral Luna, Tarog’s first movie in his historical movies trilogy. Antonio Luna was the chemist and pharmacist turned fierce general who fought during the Philippine-American war until he was supposedly betrayed and assassinated. He is credited for having founded the Philippine Military Academy.

Although I do think Susi is more polished and better stitched, Hanggang Wala Nang Bukas takes my top spot, because the forceful energy in both song and video is almost a rousing call to action. It’s almost as if Heneral Luna himself, is calling us, perhaps no longer to die for the country, but to continue to sacrifice and serve, whatever that may mean for our generation.

Favorite Moment: If you ever want to know what an inspiring wake up call sounds like, it’s whatever those drummers beat. Tarog himself took main drumming duties in the video, and his used, patched up kit almost felt like it represented Luna’s ragtag troops. Oh, and hats of to Manong kawal’s badass drumstick twirls.

Honorable Mention

GOT Theme Cover

Reference Note:

1. Senate of the Philippines. “Villanueva seeks passage of proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers Act.”senate.gov.ph. https://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2018/0924_villanueva3.asp (accessed May 17, 2020).