The Yugto: Buhay at Pag-Ibig concert brings actress and singer Maris Racal, folk-pop singer-songwriter Amiel Sol, R&B musician Earl Agustin, and Baguio-based pop rock band Cup of Joe to one stage this August 15 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Pasay City. Shaping up to be more than just a hugot-themed concert, the lineup reflects the current scale of mainstream Filipino pop and how artists with distinct fanbases are increasingly crossing paths to reach a wider range of audiences.
Over the past year, each artist — who all share themes of love and longing — has consistently put out new music while ranking on the top of streaming charts. Cup of Joe, for instance, has become one of the biggest pop acts in the country, recently announcing their third major concert, Stardust, and landing another charting single with “Multo.” Their work is built for packed venues, with vocalists Gian Bernardino and Raphaell Ridao delivering some of the group’s biggest moments while keeping the intimacy intact.
Musicians like Agustinleans into a retro soul format built on clarity and technical precision, as heard on “Tibok,” while Sol shapes folk-pop into something looser and more conversational, with tracks like “Sa Bawat Sandali.” Together, the two artists represent new ways of approaching and performing Filipino pop music.
Sunshine actress Racal may be more familiar to most as a lead in teleseryes and box-office films, but her discography tells a different story. With singles like “Ate Sandali” and “Abot Langit,” she’s built herself into a credible pop act. Her work often employs sharper pop hooks and a more assertive vocal presence — a contrast to Donnalyn Bartolome’s bubblegum pop flavored delivery and hook writing. For Racal to be part of Yugto underlines how today’s Filipino pop is being led by artists with both range and presence — on and off screen.
Yugto captures a moment in 2025 where pop has become more collaborative and layered. These artists aren’t just performing in sequence. They’re showing how different styles and fanbases can intersect. The concert reflects what a wider audience is asking for: songs that feel personal, artists who don’t hide behind their image, and performances that mean something beyond the charts.
Tickets to Yugto are now available at the official Helixpay website.
