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John Arcilla

Reyma Deveza

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- Veteran actor John Arcilla is turning frustration into music with his upcoming single “Ano Ba Yan P*nyeta,” which he describes as a cathartic release for emotions many people struggle to express.</p><p>The single will be released on his birthday, June 24 on digital streaming platforms, while its music video will be uploaded on ABS-CBN Star Music YouTube. </p><p>The blues song was written by Arcilla with Jonathan Manalo. </p><p>&quot;Alam niyo naman siguro na somehow madalas akong mag-comment sa mga nangyayari sa paligid natin. Although environmentalist ako, nagko-comment din ako sa mga nangyayari sa ibang aspect ng society natin,&quot; said Arcilla, who was also inspired of writing the song after hearing the hit &quot;Buwan&quot; of Juan Karlos Labajo and Regine Velasquez&#x27;s &quot;Ulit Ulit.&quot; Both songs have swear words in their lyrics.</p><p>&quot;Ang daming nagagalit na tao sa nangyayari paligid natin. Sabi ko kailangan natin ng isang kanta na may catharsis, &#x27;yung mailabas ng tao &#x27;yung sama ng loob. Kasi hindi na tayo masyadong nakikinig sa isa&#x27;t isa, masyado na tayong maingay bilang isang bansa pero hindi tayo nagkakasundo. Parang kailangan natin ng isang release mabawasan man lang at sana makinig tayo sa isa&#x27;t isa. So more or less &#x27;yun ang nag-inspire sa akin baka kailangan kong gumawa ng kanta,&quot; he said.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782272299671John.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>Asked if the song is directed at corruption, Arcilla told ABS-CBN News he does not want to “zero in” on government issues alone, saying the message is broader than that. &quot;Parang pinagsasabihan ko ang sarili natin na &#x27;sandali bakit may corruption? Ina-allow ba natin itong mangyari o mula ba pagkabata nababad na tayo sa iba&#x27;t ibang klaseng corruption at naging normal ito sa atin kaya dumating tayo sa ganitong klaseng corruption?&#x27; Mas may ganoon pa siguro kaysa sa nagze-zero in lang ako sa isang klase ng corruption.&quot;</p><p>The upcoming single was inspired by his viral “Heneral Luna” moment. Arcilla, after all, is best known for his portrayal of General Antonio Luna in the 2015 film &quot;Heneral Luna,&quot; where his character’s expletive “p*nyeta” became one of the film’s most memorable lines.</p><p>Asked what &quot;p*nyeta&quot; means to him, Arcilla said: &quot;Sa totoo lang natatakot ako. Malapit na itong lumabas natatakot na ako sa universities, sa church, baka ang maging reputasyon ko eh ngayon lang ako maglalabas ng single, &#x27;yun pa parang nagmumura ako. Ang gusto ko maging niche kumbaga ay isang singer o isang actor  na kumakanta na more on inspirational, not necessarily religious but inspirational. Kaysa sa parang mapunta ako doon sa ang reputasyon ko ay &#x27;yung kanta ko ay parang nagmumura.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Although ang sinasabi sa akin ng mga tao sa Star Music ay &#x27;okay &#x27;yan Sir John.&#x27; Actually magmula nang marinig naming &#x27;yung p*nyeta ay lumabnaw ang kanyang meaning. Hindi na siya &#x27;yung p*nyetang nakakatakot o p*nyetang ang sakit pakinggan. Kung hindi p*nyetang parang it&#x27;s just a quip, na parang nasabi mo kasi nainis ka, parang naging expression na lang siya na normal. At sabi ko siguro nga ganoon.  Ako mismo nawiwindang sa idea na &#x27;yung salitang p*nyeta ay parang balewala na lang, baka ako na lang ang very sensitive about that kaya ini-let go ko na &#x27;yung reservation ko tungkol sa salitang p*nyeta,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2026/6/18/john-arcilla-turns-iconic-heneral-luna-line-into-music-single-1126" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John Arcilla turns iconic ‘Heneral Luna’ line into music single</a></div><p>Arcilla started as a theater actor, appearing in plays and musicals by Tanghalang Pilipino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, before venturing into film and television.</p><p>In a previous interview with Boy Abunda, Arcilla said he also joined singing contests when he was young.</p><p>As an actor, Arcilla has earned numerous acting awards and nominations. He made history when he won Best Actor award in the 78th Venice Film Festival for the film &quot;On the Job: The Missing 8.&quot; He is the first Filipino who was awarded the Volpi Cup.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xukieekrBNA?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVUNCua6578?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Veteran actor John Arcilla is turning frustration into music with his upcoming single “Ano Ba Yan P*nyeta,” which he describes as a cathartic release for emotions many people struggle to express.</p>

Veteran actor John Arcilla is turning frustration into music with his upcoming single “Ano Ba Yan P*nyeta,” which he describes as a cathartic release for emotions many people struggle to express.

John Arcilla reveals inspiration, message behind single ‘Ano Ba Yan P*nyeta’

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John Arcilla reveals inspiration, message behind single ‘Ano Ba Yan P*nyeta’

Reyma Deveza,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 24, 2026 12:09 PM PHT

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Ano Ba Yan Puny*ta

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