Clockwise (from top): Aubrey Caraan, Ena Mori, Janine Berdin, and Dana Paulene (Images courtesy of Facebook)
By Punch Liwanag
Published Jun 23, 2025 11:10 am
The ladies are in the spotlight this week. Starting with Janine Berdin, who returns with an upbeat new single in “tayo lang (may alam).” Smooth synth chord dabs butted against a Latin-tinged groove with hints of trap beats is what’s under the hood of this dance-driven track from the “Sitwasyonship” singer.
Along for the ride are Illest Morena and R&B singer Fana to provide vocal harmonies (Fana) and the rap break (Illest). Berdin has proven to be an effective singer-interpreter of whatever she’s dipping into, and apparently, this fit-for-the-club jam is also one of the styles she’s good at. Berdin’s trajectory reminds me of Yeng Constantino’s, who had a good run during her time a decade or so ago.
Speaking of, the “Hawak Kamay” singer likewise makes her return with a new song, “Lumulutang Nahuhulog.” Anthemic choruses are the order of the day for this one-sided love affair-themed cut. Easily belting out the chorus “Kinikilig sa malabo, tumataya kahit matatalo / bakit ka ginusto, lumulutang-nahuhulog / Pinipigilan pero di makahinto” pretty much sums up the ‘pulot-ka-ng-batong-ipupukpok-mo-sa-ulo’ sentiments which is at the heart of this song.
Time flies. Yeng Constantino was once the Janine Berdin of her time, being open to various music styles and excelling in everything she did. Or maybe it’s the other way around, Janine Berdin is today’s Yeng Constantino, a one-size-fits-all figure that you can throw into any music situation and always comes out golden.
Former Pop Girl Aubrey Caraan has got a full plate. The singer recently released the R&B-inflected ballad “How You Feel,” wherein she sings a tuneful Earl Agustin-written song and does well by it. Also an actress, multi-talented Aubrey is the female lead opposite Lance Carr in the new Viva One series, “Avenues of the Diamond,” which features “How You Feel” as part of its official soundtrack. Always the pop-girl, Aubrey also recorded and released the catchy pop-rock themed single “Salo” that also ended up being part of her new series soundtrack. Also check out Aubrey’s “Hindi Hihiwalay,” released early this year.
Who else is infatuated with Ena Mori’s music? If you are, then you have another reason to fawn over this quirky solo music act on her new single “Sink.” I can hear some Kate Bush in the arrangements, and the heavily processed vocal effects also recall Imogen Heap. And I won’t be surprised if EM weaned herself on a steady diet of music from these artists, because it just fits her sonic profile. “Sink” is not at all pop and is the exact opposite of what everybody else is doing. Which is to say that Ena Mori is the art-y side of ‘Pinoy pop’, and it's there where she shines.
Newcomer Dana Paulene, who released her late 2024 single debut “uod love story” follows it up with her new excellent-sounding original “akong ako.” Dana Paulene, who was “discovered” while doing her ‘busking set’ just outside the food places of Uptown Mall in Taguig, is sounding like a proper alt-rock chick with a cool swagger to boot on this glittery, rising, yearning mid-tempo rocker.
Also staking a claim on the fields of alt-pop is dwta (read as Diwata, real name Jhasmine Villanueva), whose new single “Kung Ikaw Ay Masaya” is a play on the old nursery ditty but updated for Gen Z. This acoustic-guitar driven bop is all feels and is perfect for those of a certain mood and vibe.
Check out all this music compiled on the Pinoy Pop Playlist 2025.