OPM fans were treated to a night of music and high-energy performances at Watsons Playlist 2026: Own the Moment, held on May 31, 2026, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
This year’s lineup featured a mix of rising and established acts, including singer-songwriter Maki, rock band December Avenue, and Kings of P-Pop SB19—who returned to the Watsons Playlist stage after two years, this time as newly minted Watsons ambassadors.
Read: TJ, BINI, SB19 lead 17th PMPC Star Awards for Music nominees
Before the concert kicked off, attendees warmed up by exploring booth activities hosted by Watsons’ partner brands.
Selected fans also got the chance to participate in games and onstage activities hosted by former MYX VJ Ai dela Cruz during the opening segment, setting a festive tone for the night.
The show officially opened with a performance from newbie P-pop group BILIB, who fired up the crowd with their track “Say Whatcha Wanna Say.”
MAKI
Maki took the stage as the first main performer of the evening, instantly connecting with the audience. Before starting his set, he asked the crowd, “Sino dito namumula?”—which served as the perfect lead-in to his performance of “Namumula.”
After the opening number, Maki expressed his gratitude, telling the audience, “Maraming-maraming salamat Watsons for having me here. Kulayan pa natin yung Watsons ngayong gabi!”
Keeping the momentum going, he introduced what he described as a “new color” to the audience through his song “Abelyana,” a Hiligaynon term for hazelnut or light brown.
Before performing, he shared the song’s inspiration: “Tungkol siya sa kulay ng mata ng isang tao, tungkol sa mga torpe, sa mga hindi marunong umamin. This song is called 'Abelyana.'”
Maki then shifted to a more emotional tone with “Kahel na Langit,” drawing cheers from fans who sang along.
As he introduced the track, he reflected, “Yung wala na, hinahanap mo pa din. Kasi for some reason, sa buong araw, may isang oras bago mag-gabi, titingin ka sa oras... tapos sasabihin mo...”
He then began the song with the line, “Minsan gusto kong magsumbong sa yo...”
The singer continued his set with his latest track, “Habangbuhay Pansamantala,” a collaboration with SB19’s Justin.
Sharing the story behind the song, Maki said, “Tungkol sa mga taong nagse-settle for less, sa mga taong binibigyan lang ng oras pag gabi. Sa mga taong hindi na lang kino-commit-an, sa mga habangbuhay pansamantala.”
Although Justin—who was also part of the event—did not join him onstage for the performance, Maki still delivered a heartfelt rendition that resonated with the crowd.
He kept the emotions flowing with one of his biggest hits, “Dilaw,” where he opened up about his personal realization tied to the song: “One thing's for sure, sinabi ko sa sarili ko, dapat worth it yung taong mamahalin mo habangbuhay. kasi kamahal-mahal kang tao. Someday makikita ko rin yung 'dilaw' ko.”
Maki closed his set on a high note with “Saan?”
DECEMBER AVENUE
Rock band December Avenue followed, shifting the atmosphere into a wave of sad nostalgia that washed over the crowd.
The group opened their set with “Bulong,” immediately setting an emotional tone, before moving into “Eroplanong Papel” and “Sleep Tonight."
Fans sang along as the band continued their set with “Kahit Di Mo Alam,” their voices filling the arena with raw emotion. The feels carried on with “Kung ’Di Rin Lang Ikaw,” prompting swaying lights and heartfelt sing-alongs from the audience.
For their next performance, lead vocalist Zel Bautista addressed the crowd, “Kung alam niyo yung lyrics nitong next song, gusto ko kantahin niyo nang buong puso. Isipin niyo yung unang taong nagpangiti sa inyo.”
They then performed “Huling Sandali,” turning the venue into a sea of voices singing through bittersweet memories and what-ifs.
At one point, Zel reflected on heartbreak and the band’s music, asking, “Nasasaktan ba kayo sa mga kanta namin? Lagi ko nga sinasabi, kung di ka nasasaktan hindi ka nagmamahal nang totoo.”
He then encouraged the crowd, “Isigaw niyo na ang lahat ng nararamdaman niyo ngayong gabi!”
The band followed this with a powerful performance of “Sa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig,” before closing their set with “Saksi Ang Langit,” leaving fans both emotionally drained and fulfilled.
SB19
Filipino P-pop powerhouse SB19 capped the night with an electrifying set as the concert’s headliner, delivering a performance that blended high energy, heartfelt moments, and standout collaborations.
The group opened strong with “Everyblack,” immediately immersing the crowd in their signature futuristic sound paired with sharp, polished visuals.
They followed it up with the playful and catchy “Emoji,” prompting fans to dance along and mirror the track’s fun, lighthearted vibe.
After the opening numbers, the members took time to greet their fans.
Josh addressed the crowd, saying, "Hopefully this night, uhm, alam po namin marami nag-abang for this day.
"And of course, gusto lang namin mag-enjoy kayong lahat. E, siyempre deserve natin ng magpa-relax."
Justin, meanwhile, expressed his excitement about returning to the Watsons Playlist stage, sharing, "I think yung last na Watsons Playlist natin parang two years ago na.
"And we're very happy na right now, kabalikat sa stage ng Watsons and hindi lang kami as performer, but also as official Watsons Ambassadors."
Ken added his thanks to the brand, saying, "Gusto ko rin magpasalamat sa Watsons.
"Thank you for making us part of the growing Watsons family. Maraming-maraming salamat po."
The group then shifted into a more mellow tone with “Memories,” offering an emotional breather that highlighted their vocal prowess.
One of the biggest highlights of the night came with their performance of “Wakas,” where SB19 was joined onstage by December Avenue’s Zel Bautista and Maki.
The collaboration delivered a powerful and emotional rendition, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
As Josh shared, “It's an honor na makasama namin kayo sa stage and hindi mangyayari ito if hindi dahil sa Watsons.”
Before performing their final songs, SB19 expressed their gratitude to their supporters and invited them to continue cheering for the group in their upcoming international shows, including Lollapalooza in Chicago, USA, and Summer Sonic Festival in Japan.
Justin said, “Sana suportahan niyo po kami... Magkita-kita po tayo diyan. Maraming-salamat po.”
Keeping the momentum high, the group powered through performances of “Visa” and “Crimzone,” before closing their main set with their explosive hit “Gento,” leaving the crowd on an adrenaline high and ending the event on a truly unforgettable note.
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