Freddie Aguilar

Freddie Aguilar brought Philippine folk pop music to new heights when his song Anak not only was a significant hit in the Filipino music scene, but in the international arena as well; having been translated and recorded in 11 foreign languages. The man with his pinched face and his trademark buri hat and guitar had humble beginnings, singing in a small bar in Ermita, Manila in 1973. Since then, he has recorded albums that all reached gold, platinum and multi-platinum status. Some of these were, Anak double platinum in 1978, and a First Millionaries award in 1991; Magdalena, reached double platinum in 1985; Katarungan, gold award in 1985; Sariling Atin, platinum award in 1989; and Kumusta Ka, reaching platinum in 1991. Most of his songs and performances bore socio-political messages and were quite often used in mass protests; for 3 years until the EDSA Revolution in 1986, he rendered Constancio de Guzman’s and Jose Corazon de Jesus’ Bayan Ko amidst mass actions against the government. His recording of the song earned for him a Folk Vocal Performance of the Year from the Cecil Awards in 1985.