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Andrew E. performs for Filipino fans during his concert in Arizona. John Saavedra, ABS-CBN News

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Andrew E. reveals ‘secret’ to staying relevant across generations

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786949529824Photo 4.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Andrew E. performs for Filipino fans during his concert in Arizona. John Saavedra, ABS-CBN News"/>Andrew E. performs for Filipino fans during his concert in Arizona. John Saavedra, ABS-CBN News</div>PHOENIX, Arizona — More than three decades into his career, Andrew E. believes his love for music, his distinctive style and his ability to make people happy have helped him connect with different generations of Filipinos.The veteran Filipino rapper recently performed before Filipino fans in Arizona in a concert produced by M&amp;A Gold Productions.Speaking with ABS-CBN News, Andrew E. reflected on why songs such as “Humanap Ka ng Panget” and “Banyo Queen” continue to resonate with audiences years after they became popular.“Yeah, well, maybe it&#x27;s the love, it’s the love for the music, the fun. And up until now, they really do feel that every time I do my song, it&#x27;s like I&#x27;m doing something that will make them happy and, you know, will then make them party hard,” Andrew E. said.For him, the music has maintained its appeal because of the feeling it creates among listeners.“So for them, parang that&#x27;s the magic, that&#x27;s the magic of it all. That&#x27;s why up until now, people from all generations, different generations, they have the same feeling of upliftment and then, you know, party mood, and at the same time, I made them happy,” he said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786949556531Photo 1.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Andrew E. sits down for an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News U.S. correspondent John Saavedra following his concert in Arizona."/>Andrew E. sits down for an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News U.S. correspondent John Saavedra following his concert in Arizona.</div><div>SAME ENERGY</div>Andrew E. said he sees the same enthusiasm from audiences wherever he performs.“You know, it might not make me so humble if I say that, but, you know, to each and every place that I go, and then I perform my songs, everything is the same, the energy is the same, and the people stick to their own same mood,” he said.The continued support, he said, motivates him to keep making music.“And I don&#x27;t know what I did for them, but this is what they&#x27;re doing to me, and that&#x27;s why I&#x27;m so happy. And I should continue and keep on doing songs that they will really like and they will really love,” he said.Andrew E. acknowledged that remaining relevant can be challenging as every generation develops its own musical tastes.“Yeah, it&#x27;s a little bit challenging for me because, you know, each and every generation has each and every thing that they like,” he said.But Andrew E. believes staying with the style that audiences have come to associate with him has allowed him to continue reaching younger listeners.“But for me, you know, a little bit of a less of a challenge is my way of style that I deliver to them, my kind of songs that I deliver to them and give to them, you know, is proof enough that to any generation, I can float. And that&#x27;s what&#x27;s important. That&#x27;s the secret of Andrew E.,” he said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786949582351Photo 2.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div>BREAKING BARRIERS </div>Andrew E. also recalled the challenges he faced when he was trying to enter Philippine show business.“But, you know, long before, when I entered showbiz, long before when I entered the industry, it was really so hard for people like me to get into the industry kasi the industry looks for like good looks and probably, you know, how they shape,” he said.He believes “Humanap Ka ng Panget” helped break that barrier and allowed him to represent ordinary Filipinos.“But for one single point in time, in 1991, when I rendered my song, &#x27;Humanap Ka ng Panget,&#x27; they figured out that even if my song does put up a title like that, and I represent, the masses, like the look of the masses, they found out that my song delivers something of a message,” he said.Andrew E. said the song carried a message that went beyond physical appearance.“Even if you don&#x27;t have ordinary looks, as long as you have a good heart, and a good thing for everyone, then it will uplift you, and at the same time, it will make you a better person,” he said.For Andrew E., the acceptance of the song by the masses helped create a connection that continues today.“That&#x27;s what made the &#x27;Humanap Ka ng Panget&#x27; era being accepted so much enough in the masa, and at the same time, so much with the Filipino people. That&#x27;s why up until now, it lingers on,” he said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1786949598130Photo 3.jpeg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="633" alt="Andrew E. poses with M&amp;A Gold Productions, the team behind his Arizona concert."/>Andrew E. poses with M&amp;A Gold Productions, the team behind his Arizona concert.</div><div>STREAMING ERA</div>Andrew E.’s career has stretched from the early years of Pinoy rap to the streaming era, but he said the response from Filipino audiences has remained consistent.During his Arizona performance, younger fans joined those who grew up with his music in singing some of his familiar songs.For Andrew E., that multigenerational response is particularly meaningful because his music has always been intended to entertain.Andrew E. also continues to release new music, including his latest single, “Pasta,” which drew controversy ahead of its release and sparked online discussion in July. During the interview, he mentioned the song while reflecting on the continued support he has received throughout his career. “You know, I always say this. In Tagalog, hindi ko alam kung anong nagawa ko sa inyo, pero ito ang ginagawa n&#x27;yo sa akin,” he said.“Ever since &#x27;Humanap Ka ng Panget,&#x27; up until &#x27;Banyo Queen,&#x27; up until now that I made a new song, &#x27;Pasta,&#x27; still the same, still the same love that you give me. Maraming maraming salamat po.”After decades of performing, Andrew E. said he has no plans to stop making music for Filipinos.“And it will never stop. Believe me, it will never, I will never relinquish my love for you, my love for doing songs for you, making you happy,” he said.Beyond entertaining audiences at concerts and parties, Andrew E. said he wants his songs to help listeners during difficult moments.“Even if you feel so lonely, even if you feel so down, there will be so many Andrew songs that will cheer you up and will make you happy,” he said.For Andrew E., that connection with Filipino listeners remains the heart of his enduring career, uniting generations through music, joy and a shared sense of Filipino pride.

More than three decades into his career, Andrew E. believes his love for music, his distinctive style and his ability to make people happy have helped him connect with different generations of Filipinos.

More than three decades into his career, Andrew E. believes his love for music, his distinctive style and his ability to make people happy have helped him connect with different generations of Filipinos.

Andrew E. reveals ‘secret’ to staying relevant across generations

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Andrew E. reveals ‘secret’ to staying relevant across generations

ABS-CBN News,

John Saavedra

Published August 17, 2026 03:39 PM PHT

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