Arzen Rose Dulzura

The heart-rending covers of Freddie Aguilar’s phenomenal hit “Anak” as seen on “ASAP”

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1748394999730Thumb (17).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>As 2025 approaches its halfway mark, the local entertainment scene has—sadly—once again lost another legend. This time, it’s OPM icon and folk singer-songwriter Freddie Aguilar, who passed away at the age of 72 on early Tuesday, May 27, due to multiple organ failure while being prepped to undergo angioplasty, as related by a source of ABS-CBN News. </p><p>Thus, as a way of paying homage to one of the most esteemed and prolific artists who had brought immense “Pinoy Pride” to the Philippines through music, most especially the phenomenal hit “Anak” that catapulted him to the global music scene, let us look back on four of the heart-rending renditions of the song that were performed on &quot;<a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></a>&quot; in this special feature! </p><p>For their performance on &quot;<a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></a>&quot; in 2016, shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra, who was hailed the first-ever &quot;Asia’s Got Talent&quot; grand winner, graced the &quot;<a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></a>&quot; stage to showcase their heartwarming interpretation of “Anak”. They were joined by balladeers Jason Dy, Daryl Ong, and Erik Santos, who provided the vocals.  </p><div><iframe width="1280" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lfv7caHAjwI" title="ASAP:  El Gamma Penumbra interprets &quot;Anak&quot;" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>As if the song isn’t already poignant enough from the lyrics to the melody, Asia’s Soul Supreme KZ Tandingan and Concert King Martin Nievera injected more drama to “Anak” when they joined forces to perform it on the &quot;<a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></a>&quot; stage in 2020. </p><div><iframe width="1265" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s6tZVjNdt2Q" title="KZ and Martin sing their rendition of &#x27;Anak&#x27; | ASAP Natin &#x27;To" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Two years later, KZ was once again tapped to perform the song in 2022 but, this time, with the Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid in the “The Greatest Showdown” segment. They were later on joined by their fellow &quot;<a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></a>&quot; singers Elha Nympha, Angeline Quinto, Sheena Belarmino, Martin Nievera, Bituin Escalante, JM Yusores, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Khimo Gumatay, Jed Madela, Klarisse de Guzman, and Jason Dy as they capped off the segment. </p><div><iframe width="1280" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m5BHYkqoMVU" title="KZ and Regine&#x27;s heartrending rendition of &quot;Anak&quot; | ASAP Natin &#x27;To" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Both of them may be Gen Zs, yet ASAP New Gen Champions Marielle Montellano and JM Dela Cerna were able to prove that they could definitely belt this classic hit, too! We can all agree that indeed delivered an impressive rendition of “Anak” in one of their much-awaited duets on the &quot;<a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></a>&quot; stage in 2024. </p><div><iframe width="1265" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vG0HnCY_QYc" title="JM Dela Cerna and Marielle Montellano&#x27;s spectacular &quot;Anak&quot; duet | ASAP" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Born Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar on February 5, 1953 in Isabela, “Ka Freddie” began his music career in the early ‘70s. According to his biography published online, he started composing his own songs at the age of 14, had his first guitar at 17, then stepped on the stage for the first time at 20.  </p><p>He rose to popularity when he submitted and performed his very own composition, “Anak” in the first Metro Manila Popular Song Festival in 1978 and became one of the finalists. Despite falling short in becoming the grand winner, “Anak” eventually went very popular both local and international, generating 29 translations from 53 countries, hundreds of cover versions, and over six million copies sold. Besides, it gained renewed popularity when it was used as one of the theme songs of the 2015 South Korean action film “Gangnam Blues” starring Lee Min Ho. </p><p>In a past media interview, Freddie disclosed that he wrote “Anak” as his way of atoning for his sins and apologizing to his parents after being disobedient and delinquent to them growing up and leaving their home in his teenage years to pursue his passion for music. </p><p>Apart from “Anak”, Freddie also had other hits, which include &quot;Bulag, Pipi at Bingi,&quot; &quot;Magdalena,&quot;  &quot;Pulubi,&quot; &quot;Ipaglalaban Ko,&quot; and &quot;Minamahal Kita.&quot;</p>

<p>As a way of paying homage to late “Anak” singer-songwriter Freddie Aguilar, let us look back on four of its renditions that were performed on "ASAP."</p>

As a way of paying homage to late “Anak” singer-songwriter Freddie Aguilar, let us look back on four of its renditions that were performed on "ASAP."