Despite the unprecedented challenges brought forth by the pandemic, the 6th Wish Music Awards pushed through on January 17, Sunday — bringing the power of music and charity to the fore at a time when people need it most. 

The WMAs in the new normal

The awards night was livestreamed on the Wish YouTube channel, with broadcast emanating from the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The iconic live events venue housed a limited number of people which included nominated acts who opted to join the show on-site, record label representatives, hosts, performers, and organizers. To keep the attendees safe, all who went to the Big Dome underwent a swab test. Strict health protocols were also implemented.

Other nominated artists joined via video conferencing.

The Winners

For this year, a total of 70 acts vied under 20 categories. These artists are those who have rendered Wish Bus performances and released songs within the eligibility period, which is from November 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020.

The winners were determined through a select panel of judges (70%) and through online votes (30%). For the 6th WMAs, Wish 107.5 received a record-breaking 3.9 million votes from the public through its website and mobile app. 

Below is the complete list of winners. 

Major Awards

Wishclusive Pop Performance of the Year

• Inigo Pascual – “Balang Araw”
• SB19 – “Alab”
• WINNER: The Juans – “Hindi Tayo Pwede” (Beneficiary: A Home For The Angels Crisis Home For Abandoned Babies Foundation, Inc.)
• TJ Monterde – “Puhon”

Wishclusive Ballad Performance of the Year

• WINNER: Darren Espanto – “Sasagipin Kita” (Beneficiary: Save the Children Philippines)
• Jay Kent – “Mahal Pa Rin”
• John Roa – “Oks Lang”
• Juris – “Di Lang Ikaw”

Wishclusive R&B Performance of the Year

• Jay R – “No Pressure”
• Kiana V – “Hide My Love”
• Kris Lawrence – “Anong Gusto Mo”
• WINNER: Skusta Clee – “Zebbiana” (Beneficiary: ChildHope Philippines)

Wishclusive Rock/Alternative Performance of the Year

• I Belong To The Zoo – “Balita”
• Mayonnaise – “Pahirapan”
• Moonstar88 – “Naantala”
• WINNER: Unique Salonga – “Sino” (Beneficiary: Save the Children Philippines)

Wishclusive Hip-hop Performance of the Year

• Kiyo – “Nandito Na”
• Konflick (ft. Ron Henley) – “Maskara”
• WINNER: Michael Pacquiao – “Hate” (Beneficiary: A Home For The Angels Crisis Home For Abandoned Babies Foundation, Inc.)
• Pricetagg (ft. Gloc-9 & JP Bacallan) – “Pahina”

Wishclusive Contemporary R&B Performance of the Year

• GIBBS – “No Hearts” 
• WINNER: Julie Anne San Jose – “Nobela” (Beneficiary: A Home For The Angels Crisis Home For Abandoned Babies Foundation, Inc.)
• Paolo Sandejas – “Sorry”
• the vowels they orbit – “Kiliti”

Wishclusive Contemporary Folk Performance of the Year

• WINNER: Ben&Ben – “Araw-Araw” (Beneficiary: Adarna Group Foundation, Inc.)
• Clara Benin – “It’s Okay”
• Keiko Necesario – “Right Next To You”
• syd hartha – “paruparo”

Wishclusive Collaboration of the Year

• Imago, Bente Dos – “Partida”
• Keiko Necesario, EJ De Perio  – “Balang Araw”
• Quest, Rita Daniela – “Di Ko Akalain”
• WINNER: The Juans, Janine Teñoso – “BTNS (Bakit ‘To Nangyari Sa’tin)” (Beneficiaries: A Home For The Angels Crisis Home For Abandoned Babies Foundation, Inc. and Operation Smile Foundation Philippines, Inc.)

Wish Pop Song of the Year

• “Happy Feelin’” – Rico Blanco
• WINNER: “Love Goes” – SB19 (Beneficiary: House of Refuge Foundation, Inc.)
• “Safe Zone” – ena mori
• “Sirang Plaka” – The Juans 

Wish Ballad Song of the Year

• “Di Sapat Pero Tapat” – This Band
• WINNER: “Hanggang Sa Huli” – Moira Dela Torre (Beneficiary: Virlanie Foundation, Inc.)
• “Muling Maramdaman” – Dan Ombao
• “Pipiliin Pang Maghintay” – Noel Cabangon

Wish R&B Song of the Year

• WINNER: “Better” – Julie Anne San Jose (Beneficiary: A Home For The Angels Crisis Home For Abandoned Babies Foundation, Inc.)
• “Elated” – August Wahh
• “Lost” – Inigo Pascual, Moophs 
• “Safe Place” – Kiana V 

Wish Rock/Alternative Song of the Year

• “Huwag Ka Sanang Magagalit” – Unique Salonga
• WINNER: “Lakas” – COLN (Beneficiary: Save the Children Philippines)
• “Sinungaling” – Zild 
• “Sunsets” – Oh, Flamingo!

Wish Hip-hop Song of the Year

• WINNER: “ABAKADA” – Gloc-9 (ft. Mark Beats) (Beneficiary: Philippine Cancer Society)
• “Iisang Tulay” – Mike Kosa (ft.  Skusta Clee & OG Sacred)
• “Marikit” – Juan & Kyle
• “Titig” – MC Einstein (ft. Flow G, Yuridope & Jekkpot)

Wish Contemporary R&B Song of the Year

• “Gemini Soul” – Jensen Gomez
• “Lost” – Paolo Sandejas
• WINNER: “Teka Lang” – EMMAN *Posthumous award (Beneficiary: Philippine Cancer Society)
• “Two Worlds” – Armi Millare

Wish Contemporary Folk Song of the Year

• “Evergreen” – Leanne & Naara
• “Kwarto Waltz” – Halina 
• WINNER: “Lifetime” – Ben&Ben (Beneficiary: Adarna Group Foundation, Inc.)
• “Wine” – Clara Benin

Wish Song Collaboration of the Year

• WINNER: “Habangbuhay” – Noel Cabangon, Leanne & Naara (Beneficiaries: Philippine Educational Theater Association and A Home For The Angels Crisis Home For Abandoned Babies Foundation, Inc.)
• “I-Boogie Mo Ako Baby” – The Itchyworms, The CompanY 
• “Nais Lang Kitang Saktan” – Mayonnaise, Raymund Marasigan
• “Plunder My Heart” – Ely Buendia, Cheats

Best Quarantine-Produced Song

• WINNER: “Manalangin” – The Juans (Beneficiary: A Home For The Angels Crisis Home For Abandoned Babies Foundation, Inc.)
• “May Pag-asa” – Moira Dela Torre, Jason Marvin 
• “The Silence” – The Itchyworms 
• “This Too Shall Pass” – Rico Blanco 

Wish Breakthrough Artist of the Year

• Michael Pacquiao 
• the vowels they orbit
• WINNER: Zild (Beneficiary: Save Palawan Seas Foundation, Inc.)

Wish Group of the Year

• Ben&Ben
• WINNER: SB19 (Beneficiary: House of Refuge Foundation, Inc.)
• The Itchyworms
• The Juans

Wish Artist of the Year

• Clara Benin
• WINNER: Gloc-9 (Beneficiary: Philippine Cancer Society)
• Inigo Pascual
• Rico Blanco

Special Recognitions

Wishers’ Choice Award: SB19

KDR Icon of Music and Philanthropy: Arnel Pineda 

KDR Icon of Musical Excellence: Rey Valera

Wishclusive Elite Circle Awardees

Bronze Wishclusive Elite Circle (10 million views)

• Al James – “Pwede Ba”
• CLR, Omar Baliw – “K&B”
• Michael Pacquiao – “Hate”
• Michael Pangilinan – “Rainbow”
• Pricetagg (ft. Gloc-9 and JP Bacallan) – “Pahina”
• Rick Price – “Heaven Knows”
• Skusta Clee – “Zebbiana”
• Stephen Speaks – “Passenger Seat”

Silver Wishclusive Elite Circle (25 million views)

• Callalily – “Pansamantala”
• Darren Espanto, Morissette – “A Whole New World”
• Gloc-9 (ft. Flow G) – “Halik” (It also received the Bronze Wishclusive Elite Circle award for surpassing the 10-million view mark)
• Kakai Bautista – “Bakit nga ba Mahal Kita”
• Kris Lawrence – “Ikaw Pala”
• Magnus Haven – “Imahe” (It also received the Bronze Wishclusive Elite Circle award for surpassing the 10-million view mark)
• Michael Dutchi Libranda – “Binalewala” (It also received the Bronze Wishclusive Elite Circle award for surpassing the 10-million view mark)
• Moira Dela Torre – “Malaya”

Gold Wishclusive Elite Circle (50 million views)

• Callalily – “Magbalik”
• December Avenue – “Sa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig”
• Pricetagg (ft. CLR) – “Kontrabida”

Platinum Wishclusive Elite Circle (75 million views)

• Curse One, Dello, Flict-G, Smugglaz – “Nakakamiss”
• O.C. Dawgs – “Pauwi Nako”

Continuing the tradition

While this year’s WMAs were unlike any of its previous editions, the event still carried the same spirit and tradition. 

Apart from celebrating Filipino artists and the works that they delivered during the past year, the awards night also highlighted its advocacy of paying it forward. Php100,000 was given to each of the chosen beneficiaries of the winning acts, while the artists themselves received Php25,000. 

On top of this, a total of Php300,000 was donated to three key organizations that are providing support to the affected workers in the live events and music industries during the pandemic. These groups are the National Live Events Coalition PH, Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit, and Roadie Superstar. 

Another Php70,000 went to the Arnel Pineda Foundation, Inc. as its founder, Journey vocalist Arnel Pineda, was named as this year’s KDR Icon of Music Philanthropy. 

Upon accepting the special distinction, he noted that the grant will “surely make a difference in the lives of the scholars that the foundation has been supporting for the past seven years.”

For this year, Wish 107.5 donated a total of Php2.87 million to the WMAs’ winning artists and beneficiaries. 

In his speech, Wish 107.5’s President and CEO Kuya Daniel Razon shared that the station will “intensify the use of its platform to spread music, charity, and optimism,” especially during these tough times.

“And most importantly, together with the whole music industry, we will continue to pray to the Almighty for strength, resilience, and hope — dahil alam natin na ang Dios ang mag-iingat sa ating mga puso’t isipan (because we know that God will keep our hearts and minds),” he further remarked.

This event is made possible by our event presenters Man of Steel — Tayo Na! and PGA Sompo Insurance Corporation — Your Trusted Partner in Protection; co-presenters Puregold — Always Panalo, LG Electronics — Life’s Good, and Huawei — Make it Possible; major sponsors EO, Executive Optical — Love Your Eyes, Eyeberry — Better Eyes for Better Life, and Kumu — Kumu Sama All, Where Authentic Connections Happen; minor sponsors Cartier Telecom — Your Latest Gadget On Hand, Neurotain — The Memory Enhancer, Ricoverin — An Effective Immunity Booster, TPG — Choose Life, Choose Day-Shift!, Medic Hair — Nakakalbo? May pag-asa pa ‘yan with Medic Hair for Men, and Tough Mama — Nobody’s Tough Like Mama; and our partners BES House of Chicken, Daniel’s Coffee, Salut, EFS Apparel, Marcid Blue, ERC Travel Services, KDR Adventure Camp, Small Ville Dive Center and Resort, KDR Studios and Productions Incorporated, KDR Music House Company, Morong Star Hotel and Resort, and Clairee’s Flower Shop.