The Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) honored OPM (Original Pilipino Music) standouts for year 2009 with the staging of the 23rd Awit Awards, held last September 30 at Centerstage, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
This year's installment of the annual prestigious local music event carried the theme of a live concert—significantly reducing the time allotted on nominee presentations and sidelights commonly seen on awards night.
Hosting the pre-awarding event were radio disc jockeys turned celebrities Nicole Hyala and Chris Tsuper who, incidentally, were nominated in the Best Novelty Recording category for their single "Mahal Kita Kasi."
Singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino and 6cyclemind drummer Tutti Caringal of ABS-CBN's late-night show Music Uplate Live served as lead hosts for the second part of the program together with singer-actress Karylle.
Folk singer-songwriter Noel Cabangon emerged as one of the big winners, taking home the Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist trophy for his rendition of "Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko," Best Song Written for Movie / TV/ Stage Play award for "Ang Buhay Nga Naman" and Best World Recording for "Binibini."
Cabangon's most notable award for the night, however, was the Album of the Year for his 15-track album aptly titled Byahe. While the album's cover and inlay photos were taken during the singer-songwriter's visit to Denmark, the songs are certified local gems, like "Ipagpatawad Mo," Tuloy Pa Rin," and "Di Na Natuto," among others.
Rapper Gloc 9's socio-political song "Upuan" bagged Song of the Year honors, aside from bringing home the trophy for Best Collaboration, Best Rap Recording, and Best Engineered Recording.
Controversial host Willie Revillame pulled off a surprise after his Ikaw Na Nga album was chosen as the Best Selling Album of the Year.
Star Records managing director and Awit Awards chairperson Annabelle Regalado-Borja received the trophy in behalf of Willie, saying, "Mapa-Kapamilya ka man ngayon o mapa-Kapatid, mananatili kang Kapamilya ng Star Records."
YouTube sensations Moymoy Palaboy cornered the Best Novelty Recording for "Lumayo Ka Man Sa Laklak"—a hybrid of Rodel Naval's classic ballad "Lumayo Ka Man" and '90s rock band Teeth's signature anthemic hit, "Laklak."
Fast-rising band Franco's single "Castaway" was named Best Performance by a Group Recording Artist, while the soulful Kat Agarrado and the rest of Sinosikat? clinched the Best Jazz Recording trophy for their funky remake of "Mr. Musikero."
The Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino honors were bestowed on pioneering female rocker Sampaguita, the influential folk rock group Asin, and Filipino jazz icon Boy Katindig.
Performers that evening were Ogie Alcasid, Letter Day Story, Skabeche, Kyle Balili, Aria Clemente, Hannah Flores, Sam Concepcion, Sinosikat? Protein Shake and 6Cyclemind's Tutti Caringal, Callalily's Kean Cipriano, Ney Dimaculangan of 6cyclemind, Jay R, Kyla, Young JV, Six Part Invention, Bugoy Drilon, Lito Camo, Carol Banawa, Jay Durias, and Yeng Constantino.
The most impressive performance of the evening was delivered by a collection of artists: Yael Yuzon, Sabrina, Top Suzara, Aiza Seguerra, Noelle Cassandra, Princess, and Toto Sorioso.
All singers and performers took turns in performing past Song of the Year winners like "Yugto," "Rainbow," "Forever," "Kailan," "Narda," "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw," and "Hallelujah."
Gloc 9—who dedicated his Song of the Year trophy to the late Francis Magalona—ended the program with the now award-winning single, "Upuan."
This year's event carried the theme "Music is Life," and organizers held two separate events leading to the actual awards night, like seminars touching on the subjects of history of Philippine music, intellectual property rights, music licensing, social media networking, fundamentals of songwriting, music production, and singing techniques workshop.
PARI officials mentioned that they want the Awit Awards to be seen as a big musical annual event that aims to help promote local music further, especially now that veteran and young artists are uniting for the good of OPM. The international success of Filipino artists is also a positive sign for better days ahead, regardless of the continuing problems imposed by piracy and rampant illegal Internet downloading.
Here is the list of all the winners under the different categories:
Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist
Song Title: "Hiding Inside Myself"
Artist: Jaya
Record Label: GMA Records
Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist
Song Title: "Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok"
Artist: Noel Cabangon
Record Label: Universal Records, Inc.
Best Collaboration
Song Title: "Upuan"
Artists: Gloc 9 with Jeazell Grutas of Zelle
Record Label: Sony Music Entertainment Philippines
Best Performance by a Group Recording Artist
Song Title: "Castaway"
Artist: Franco
Record Label: MCA Music, Inc.
Best Performance by a New Female Recording
Song Title: "Kasalanan Nga Ba?"
Artist: Gretchen Espina
Record Label: Sony Music Entertainment Philippines
Best Performance by a New Male Recording Artist (tie)
Song Title: "Never Can Say Goodbye"
Artist: Rhap Salazar
Record Label: Star Recording Inc.
Song Title: "That Girl"
Artist: Young JV
Record Label: Piper Paper / PolyEast Records / Doin It Big Productions
Best Performance by a New Group Recording Artist
Song Title: 'Surfs Up"
Artist: Krissy & Ericka
Record Label: MCA Music Inc.
Best Performance by a Child / Children
Song Title: "Never Can Say Goodbye"
Artist: Rhap Salazar
Record Label: Star Recording Inc.
Album of the Year
Album Title: Byahe
Executive Producer: Kathleen Dy Go
Producers: Ito Rapadas and Noel Cabangon
Artist: Noel Cabangon
Record Label: Universal Records Inc.
Best Selling Album of the Year
Album Title: Willie Revillame - Ikaw Na Nga
Producers: Willie Revillame and Vehnee Saturno
Composer / Lyricist: Vehnee Saturno
Artist: Willie Revillame
Record Label: Star Recording Inc. / Saturno Music Production
Song of the Year
Song Title: "Upuan"
Composer / Lyricist: Aristotle Pollisco
Record Label: Song Music Entertainment Phiippines
Best Ballad Recording
Song Title: "Tayong Dalawa"
Producer: Marvin Querido
Composer / Lyricist: Rey Valera
Artist: Gary Valenciano
Record Label: Star Recording Inc.
Best Rock / Alternative Recording
Song Title: "Martilyo"
Producer: Rudy Tee
Composer / Lyricist: Aristotle Pollisco
Artists: Gloc 9 featuring Dey Yu of Letter Day Story
Record Label: Sony Music Entertainment Philippines
Best World Recording
Song Title: "Binibini"
Producers: Ito Rapadas and Noel Cabangon
Composer / Lyricist: Jose Lansang and Luke Paredes Gaston
Artist: Noel Cabangon
Record Label: Universal Records
Best Novelty Recording
Song Title: "Lumayo Ka Man Sa Laklak"
Producers: Jonathan Ong and Robert Javier
Composer / Lyricist: Rodel Naval and Mike Dizon
Artist: Moymoy Palaboy
Record Label: Song Music Entertainment Philippines
Best Inspirational / Religious Recording
Song Title: "Always You"
Producers: Jonathan Manalo and Rox Santos
Composer / Lyricist: Jonathan Manalo
Artist: Charice Pempengco
Record Label: Star Recording Inc.
Best Christmas Recording
Song Title: "Ganyan Ang Pasko"
Producer: Jimmy Antiporda
Composer / Lyricist: Jimmy Antiporda and Moby Aragones
Artist: Toni Gonzaga
Record Label: Star Recording Inc.
Song Title: "You Know It's Christmas"
Producer: Homer Flores
Composer / Lyricist: Homer Flores / Hocky and Hanna Flores
Artist: Hanna Flores
Record Label: Star Recordings Inc.
Best Rap Recording
Song Title: "Upuan"
Producer: Rudy Tee
Composer / Lyricist: Aristotle Pollisco
Artists: Gloc 9 featuring Jeazel Grutas
Record Label: Song Music Entertainment Philippines
Best Jazz Recording
Song Title: "Mr. Musikero"
Producers: Sinosikat? and Neil Gregorio
Composer / Lyricist: Sonny Nicolas
Artist: Sinosikat?
Record Label: Warner Music Philippines
Best R&B Recording
Song Title: "Moments of Love"
Producer: Kris Lawrence
Composer / Lyricist: Kris Lawrence
Artist: Kris Lawrence
Record Label: MCA Music Inc.
Best Song Written for Movie / TV / Stage Play
Song Title: "Ang Buhay Nga Naman" from the movie Ded Na Si Lolo
Producers: Ito Rapadas and Noel Cabangon
Composer / Lyricist: Noel Cabangon
Artist: Noel Cabangon
Record Label: Universal Records Inc.
Best Musical Arrangement
Song Title: "Mr. Musikero"
Musical Arranger: Philippe Arriola
Record Label: Warner Music Philippines
Best Vocal Arrangement
Song Title: "Apologize"
Vocal Arranger: Danny Tan
Record Label: Sony Music Entertainment Philippines / GMA Records
Best Engineered Recording
Song Title: "Upuan"
Sound Engineers: Jonathan Ong / Robert Javier
Recording Studio: Sonic State
Record Label: Sony Music Entertainment
Best Album Package
Album Title: Piolo Pascual Decades
Graphic Designer: Patrick Kevin Cabrera IV
Album Concept: Malou Santos
Photography: Raymond Isaac
Record Label: Star Recording
Music Video of the Year
Song Title: "Diamond Shotgun"
Producer: MCA Music Inc., Chicosci and Eric Perlas
Director: Pancho Esguera
Artist: Chicosci
Record Label: MCA Music Inc.