OPM and Pinoy Rocks

The 1990s and 2000s were one of the most prolific eras in Filipino music history. There was a steady stream of pop hits care of balladeers and divas playing on the airwaves, but the so-called OPM alternative rock explosion—an influx of Pinoy bands that took over the music scene—made room for then unsigned bands to gain mainstream popularity, play in sold-out gigs, snag major record label deals, and enjoy massive radio airplay. Inspired by foreign acts, homegrown bands normalized genres that were new to Filipino listeners.

Parokya ni Edgar is composed of Chito Miranda and Vinci Montaner on vocals, Darius Semaña and Gabriel CheeKee on guitars, Buhawi Meneses on bass, and Dindin Moreno on drums. The band was formed in their high school in 1993. It was originally composed of Chito, Vinci, Gabriel, Miko, and Jerick. The band was at first called "Comic Relief." They got their first breakthrough when they were invited by the Eraserheads to perform for them. They then added "Din Din" and "Buwi" for the drums and bass respectively. Also during that performance, the band decided to call themselves "Parokya ni Edgar" which, the name they say, came from a joke during their days in high school. During graduation from high school, Miko and Jerick left the band. Darius was then added to the band. They later got signed to Universal Records. They are very known for their humorous lyrics in their songs. The band has released six albums which all became very successful. The band is very famous and well known throughout the Philippines.

Rivermaya is an influential Filipino rock band founded in 1993. Their musical direction has evolved through standard rock, hard rock, pop, progressive, and other genres. They are the second biggest-selling artists in the Philippines.

The year was 1993. A group of friends from high school got together for their first jam session in Manila. Little did they know then, they'd just begun the process of creating something atomic.

After a few changes to the lineup, these kids found themselves as the opening act for the Eraserheads at a gig in Las Piñas. It was minutes before set time and they didn't have a name yet. There was an unexplainable attachment to the word "River", but simply calling themselves that didn't feel right. Something was missing. None of the other names on their yellow pad clicked. Then suddenly, someone pitched the word "Maya", and in an instant, they knew. Rivermaya.

“214” was their most popular song.

Eraserheads, or E-Heads was a prominent Filipino rock band of the 1990s, formed by Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro. The band is one of the most successful, critically-acclaimed, and significant bands in the history of Original Pilipino Music, earning them the accolade, "The Beatles of the Philippines". Eraserheads are also credited for spearheading a second wave of Manila band invasions, paving the way for a host of influential Philippine alternative rock bands.

The band released several singles, albums, and EPs that reached number one. This commercial success was most evident in the release of their third album Cutterpillow, which achieved platinum status several times. Eraserheads are one of the best-selling musical acts of all time in the Philippines, paving way for an international career that earned them the "Moon Man" in the MTV Video Music Awards. Their diverse music worked both in the underground and mainstream scenes of the Philippine music industry. By fusing different musical styles such as alternative, pop, rock, reggae, and synthpop, Eraserheads helped change the sound of Pinoy rock.

Ang Huling El Bimbo is described as a bittersweet "mini-epic" inspired by the Beatles, referencing the actress Paraluman and the tango standard "El Bimbo". "I had a huge crush on this girl who was older; she was the one who taught me the dance, and I think that was the first time I was really in love with a girl. Then I never saw her again,” writer Ely Buendia said about the song in a podcast interview. The song became the basis for the 2018 musical of the same name. Its title was also used for the band's reunion concert in 2022 and its corresponding tour in 2023 and 2024.