PLAYLIST: 10 New & Classic Christmas Songs with Paskong Pinoy Spirit
Here’s a list of Pinoy Christmas songs – both new and timeless classics – released by Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists to keep the holiday spirit going as we celebrate Christmas in the new normal.
In the Philippines, Christmas is a very special occasion like no other. Every year, bright lights and festive decor are put up by Filipinos when the “Ber months” kick in by September, and radio stations and shopping malls across the country start to play Yuletide-themed tunes to mark the beginning of the much-anticipated Christmas countdown.
Now that there are only a few days left before Christmas, here’s a selection of some of the best festive carols and songs to brighten your upcoming holiday celebrations while supporting Filipino singers who continue to inspire and bring us much-needed holiday cheer through music.
Whether you prefer the original versions of the most enduring OPM hits or the newest releases by Filipino artists, there’s a song for every listener on this list.
Each song also pays homage to our culture and traditions during the most wonderful time of the year, capturing the real essence of a “Paskong Pinoy” that is able to withstand adversity and community quarantines.
While the festive season may still look different this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the holiday spirit among many of us remains unchanged as we continue to find new ways to celebrate and be grateful for what’s truly important this Christmas amid the hardships and challenges we’ve endured in the past year.
Here are some of the best OPM songs – new and old – to add to your Christmas playlist:
“Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko” by Apo Hiking Society
There is perhaps no other song that can describe Christmas so perfectly during this time of the pandemic than The Apo Hiking Society’s “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko”.
Released in 1991, the Filipino musical trio’s song reminds us that the true spirit of the holiday will go on to bring joy and hope despite the challenges and trials brought on by difficult times.
Up to this day, the upbeat pop classic has remained a familiar tune to the young and old. The song is a favorite among many Filipinos and is often played during parties, reunions, and get-togethers during the holiday season.
Various OPM bands and artists have recreated the jolly tune throughout the years.
Back in 2006, Orange and Lemons recorded a re-imagined version of “Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko”.
Filipino indie-folk pop band Ben&Ben also dropped a cover of the Christmas anthem in November 2021.
LISTEN to the song here:
“Pasko Na Sinta Ko” by Gary Valenciano
“Mr. Pure Energy” Gary Valenciano‘s signature Christmas anthem which has endured for over three decades and spawned various versions from OPM hitmakers such as Lea Salonga and Sarah Geronimo, sings of a love story that will tug at your heartstrings.
The backstory of the song composed by Aurelio Estanislao and Francisco Dandan at the University of the Philippines College of Music involves a young member of the UP Concert Chorus, Fred Gutierrez, whose love Melba, was leaving for the USA before Christmas in the late 1970s.
This classic song of lost love and its wistful lyrics also serve as a timely reminder and pandemic-era tribute to the ones who have already passed.
LISTEN to the original song here:
“Sana Ngayong Pasko” by Ariel Rivera
Ariel Rivera’s “Sana Ngayong Pasko” reminds us that there’s no place like home during Christmas time.
The ballad expresses our deep longing and desire to be together with our loved ones during the holiday season. Because of the pandemic, some of us may still not be able to spend time physically with friends and family on Christmas day.
This holiday classic has had many renditions from OPM singers over the years including Lea Salonga, Juris, and the band, Silent Sanctuary.
On a more cheerful note, a “Korean” version of “Sana Ngayong Pasko” has made the rounds on the internet ahead of the holidays, much to the delight of netizens who are familiar with the OPM classic.
Sung by musician Silver Belen, the new version is a humorous take on what our “Korean Oppas” or idols would sound like if they performed the song rendered in the Filipino language.
LISTEN to the original song here:
“Christmas in Our Hearts” by Jose Mari Chan
No Christmas playlist is complete without our favorite tunes from Filipino music icon, Jose Mari Chan.
It’s hard to choose from the beloved singer’s expansive library of holiday music, but his 1990 hit “Christmas in Our Hearts” is undoubtedly one of his most popular hits favored by the young and old alike during Christmas time.
Like clockwork, Chan can be heard over the airwaves each year singing the tune that has stayed in the Pinoy psyche for 3 decades.
Check out the story behind the hit song.
This year, Chan also returns with new holiday tracks from his latest album, “Going Home to Christmas.”
Filled with a mix of Filipino and English songs, Chan said the album is dedicated to those who cannot come home for the holidays and the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) around the world.
Chan, whose Christmas songs have ushered the onset of the season in the Philippines, earlier collaborated with Ben&Ben, Julie Ann San Jose, Moira Dela Torre, December Avenue, and I Belong to the Zoo for a new rendition of his other hit, “A Perfect Christmas”, Spotify’s first Asia-made holiday single.
LISTEN to the original song here:
“Christmas Won’t Be the Same Without You” by Martin Nievera
The holiday season may not stay the same because of the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean it has to be gloomy.
Filipinos have found new ways to celebrate Christmas with friends and family, near and far, thanks to technology and the internet. Penned by OPM hitmaker Martin Nievera, the song may be considered an underrated holiday classic that tells a relatable story about not being able to spend time physically with loved ones during the most wonderful time of the year.
LISTEN to the song here:
“Pasko sa Pinas” by Yeng Constantino
Pop singer-songwriter y’s 2006 hit “Pasko sa Pinas” will take you back to your fondest memories of Christmas time.
The song showcases the myriad customs that usher in the holiday season in the Philippines, from Simbang Gabi to Noche Buena (meaning “the Good Night” in Spanish), which are what set it apart from the rest of the globe when it comes to celebrating Christmas.
LISTEN to the song here:
“Merry Quarantine Christmas” by Ruth Lee Resuello
Indie music producer, songwriter, and musician Ruth Lee Resuello released last year an inspiring song that is dedicated to our Filipino frontliners who are celebrating Christmas away from their families.
The fun upbeat song reminds us to stay optimistic and hopeful despite the challenges of the global pandemic and shows us what Christmas is all about.
LISTEN to the song here:
“Araw-Araw Pasko” by Matthaios and Gloc 9
Filipino rappers Matthaios and Gloc-9 have shared their first-ever Christmas collaboration, “Araw-Araw Pasko” this December.
Is Christmas your favorite season of the year? This new hit reminds us to take it slow and cherish the occasion despite our busy schedules.
LISTEN to the song here:
“Pasko Na!” by Reuben Laurente
Reuben Laurente, the ALIW Best Concert Artist Awardee who helped cruise ship passengers keep their morale high during quarantine, released the OPM song “Pasko Na!” as part of his
Laurente has also recently released new songs “Ang Pasko’y Naririto” and his covers of “Winter Wonderland” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” on Spotify.
LISTEN to the song here:
“Ilang Tulog Pa Ba? (Pasko Na!)” by The CompanY
It’s almost Christmas! The song performed by the country’s premier vocal group The CompanY makes us even more excited to welcome the most eagerly awaited holiday of the year.
The group was part of the “M-FLIX 2021 Da Pinoy Pandemic Palabas” which was composed of some of the best OPM artists who have put together an art form that captures the nation’s COVID-19 pandemic experience while managing to elicit laughter and hope that Filipinos can overcome the crisis.
LISTEN to the song here:
CHECK OUT this Christmas song playlist on Spotify at this link.
TELL US in the comments below, what are your favorite Christmas songs from OPM artists?
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