See the complete list of 8th Wish Music Awards winners — plus, the best bits that highlighted the return of the in-person WMAs.
After an unprecedented pause prompted by the pandemic, live events are finally back and in full swing. And the recently concluded Wish Music Awards (WMAs) is one of the biggest to open the brand-new year.
On January 22, 2023, Sunday, Wish 107.5 held the eighth edition of the WMAs at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Apart from showcasing the best artists, songs, and Wishclusives of the past year, the awards night celebrated the return of live music. Thousands of attendees who filled the venue to the brim saw stellar performances from Moira, Ben&Ben, Zack Tabudlo, Flow G, and more.
Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, who was named KDR Icon of Musical Excellence for her significant contributions to the OPM industry, was one of the notable acts in attendance.
“Maraming maraming salamat po sa karangalang ito. [N]agpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon for giving me this wonderful talent,” she said in her speech. For the younger generation of Filipino artists, she has this as her words of advice: “Keep creating music. Kayo ang future ng OPM.”
The show was hosted by Gretchen Ho and Christian Bautista, and directed by Paolo Valenciano.
Taking home the most number of awards is P-pop outfit SB19 who won in three major categories, including Group of the Year. It also marked the fourth time that the “Bazinga” act clinched the special Wishers’ Choice award, which is given to the nominee who garnered the highest number of public votes across all categories.
SB19 member and R&B-hip-hop soloist FELIP was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
The winners were determined by votes from a panel of judges (70%) and the public (30%).
Below is the full list of acts who bagged WMA trophies.
Wishclusive Pop Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Ballad Performance of the Year
Wishclusive R&B Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Rock/Alternative Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Hip-hop Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Contemporary Folk Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Contemporary R&B Performance of the Year
Wishclusive Collaboration of the Year
Wish Pop Song of the Year
Wish Ballad Song of the Year
Wish R&B Song of the Year
Wish Rock/Alternative Song of the Year
Wish Hip-hop Song of the Year
Wish Contemporary Folk Song of the Year
Wish Contemporary R&B Song of the Year
Wish Song Collaboration of the Year
Wish Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Wish Group of the Year
Wish Artist of the Year
Wishers’ Choice: SB19
KDR Icon of Music and Philanthropy: Andrea O. Veneracion (AOV) Sing Philippines Foundation
KDR Icon of Musical Excellence: Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
Bronze Wishclusive Elite Circle (10 million views)
Silver Wishclusive Elite Circle (25 million views)
Gold Wishclusive Elite Circle (50 million views)
Platinum Wishclusive Elite Circle (75 million views)
Diamond Wishclusive Elite Circle (100 million views)
Breakout hip-hop acts Flow G and Nik Makino opened the night with their smash hit, “Moon.”
The two artists would later return for their own numbers. Nik Makino proved that he could croon with “Kay Ganda” (performed with DJ Phat), while Flow G brought out rap icon Gloc-9 for a fiery live-band version of their hard-hitting breakup track, “Ibong Adarna.”
Weaved in between the awarding of winners across 19 major categories and several special accolades are remarkable performances from today’s top OPM acts.
Hip-hop aficionados were in for a treat as Filipino rapper Lo Ki also served his viral hits “Kagome” and “Manifest” for his WMA debut. “Kagome” was later named Hip-hop Song of the Year.
Japanese-Filipina singer-songwriter ena mori meanwhile introduced her own brand of pop with the WMA-nominated “Vivid” and “White Room.” Both are taken from her stunning debut album, “Don’t Blame The Wild One!”
Moira, who is kicking off her world tour at the Big Dome on February 3, gave a glimpse of what her fans could expect with “Babalik Sa’yo” and “Kumpas.” The latter earned the songsmith her first recognition of the night: the Wish Ballad Song of the Year award. Soon after, she won Wish Artist of the Year — an accolade she also received in last year’s WMAs.
Zack Tabudlo, fresh off his Rock/Alternative Song of the Year win for “Asan Ka Na Ba,” debuted an unreleased track live on stage: the funky “Akin Ka.”
Meanwhile, Adie and Janine Berdin performed the LSS-worthy and WMA-winning “Mahika.” Adie next serenaded the crowd with the saccharine ditty “Paraluman.”
As a tribute to Velasquez-Alcasid, The Nightingales — composed of Bernadette Mamauag and Katrina Marie Saga, who are mentors from AOV Sing Philippines and alumnae of premier vocal ensemble Philippine Madrigal Singers — delivered a dazzling medley of “Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka,” “Narito Ako,” and “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw.”
The two also received the KDR Icon of Music and Philanthropy award on behalf of the foundation. AOV Sing Philippines — inspired by National Artist for Music, Professor Andrea Veneracion — holds free choral singing workshops and lectures across the country.
Earning cheers from the crowd, folk-pop outfit Ben&Ben capped off the night with their recent hits, “Langyang Pag-ibig,” “The Ones We Once Loved,” and Wish Contemporary Folk Song of the Year “Paninindigan Kita.”
Every WMAs, Wish 107.5 donates Php100,000 to the chosen beneficiaries of major-category winners.
This year, a total of Php1.97 million will be handed out to Adarna Group Foundation, A Home For The Angels Crisis Home For Abandoned Babies Foundation, Autism Society Philippines, ChildHope Philippines, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Philippine Cancer Society, Resources For The Blind, Virlanie Foundation Inc., and Operation Smile Philippines Foundation, INC.
The figure also includes the Php70,000 that AOV Sing Philippines will receive as this year’s KDR Icon of Music and Philanthropy awardee.
Adie, who snagged two major awards, commended how the WMAs helps artists pay things forward.
“It’s a big thing for us artists to share our music with each and everyone — and being able to help people in other aspects is way beyond,” he shared in a statement.
Apart from the financial aid extended to the beneficiaries, the winning artists themselves will get a cash prize worth Php25,000.
In his speech, Wish 107.5 innovator Kuya Daniel Razon recounted how difficult the past couple of years have been, especially for the music and entertainment industry whose lifeblood is live events.
“At a blink of an eye, we faced challenges that in previous years, would have seemed insurmountable. But when days seemed to have been engulfed in darkness, distress, and despair, we refused to give in. Instead, we all clung to a bright ray of hope — a hope that all will be all right in God’s time,” he enthused.
Emphasizing the station’s undying commitment to reach out through music and charity, he further remarked: “Amid uncertainties, we were certain that we needed to share music and charity to the world. We battled great challenges head on, and with God’s help, we will continue to do so with great hope in our hearts.”
The 8th Wish Music Awards is co-presented by Aqua Planet — “Watermazing Experience” and Puregold — “Always Panalo”; with its major sponsor Executive Optical — “Love Your Eyes;” minor sponsors Skechers — “The Comfort Technology Company” and Barrio Fiesta — “Mas Pasarapin Ang Nakasanayan… with Barrio Fiesta!”; and partners Glambot Philippines, Tagpuan Bulalo & Pares — “A Taste Fit For A King,” Fiery Style Southwest Flaming Grill — “The Best Nachos in Town,” 24 Chicken — “Boneless Happiness,” BES House of Chicken, Morong Star Hotel and Resort, EFS Apparel, Marcid Blue Purified Drinking Water, ERC Travel Services, Wisemen Insurance Agency, Smallville Dive Center and Resort, Salut Manila, Daniel’s Coffee, KDR Adventure Camp, KDR Studios and Productions Inc., KDR Distribution and Marketing, KDR Music House, and UNTV News and Rescue.
The awards show will be streamed on the Wish 107.5 YouTube channel in February. Stay tuned to Wish 107.5 on the radio and on its social media channels for updates.
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