Throwback Tuesday: Top 10 OPM Songs of the ‘90s

Can you still recall all the OPM songs that gave you the jolts from 1990-1999? Even if we sought to mention as many of our much-loved hits as we could, we had to do the scary task of narrowing down hundreds of great OPM songs from the ‘90s to the best ten.

Scroll down to see what made it to our list of Top 10 OPM songs that rocked the decade. Feel free to comment on our lineup!

1. "Mga Kababayan Ko (1990)

Francis M. created this song in an amazing way of expressing one’s patriotism. “Mga Kababayan Ko” also marked the birth of Nationalistic rap in Filipino hip hop. (Photo Credit: i.ytimg.com)

2.“Paraiso” (1991) 

“Paraiso” was certified eight times Platinum by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) and sold over 253,800 units in the country. It is considered one of the biggest-selling albums in the Philippines, overtaking “Smokey Mountain” (the album) in terms of sales. (Photo Credit: wikimedia.org)

3. “Iisa Pa Lamang” (1992)

Not a single Pinoy who lived in the 1990s wasn’t struck by this smash hit of Joey Albert, which won the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Best Movie Theme Song Award in 1992. (Photo Credit: amazon.com)

4. “Ligaya” (1993)

This was the first single of the Eraserheads from their debut album Ultraelectromagneticpop!. The single was able to make it to the Top Ten of 97.1 WLS-FM countdown. (Photo Credit: wikimedia.org)

5. “Paglisan” (1994)

One of Color it Red’s hit songs "Paglisan", expressing the sentiments of departing from one’s love, has become part of the Philippine pop culture as one of the better OPM ballads. (Photo Credit: ytimg.com)

6. “Ang Huling El Bimbo” (1995)

Ely Buendia of Eraserheads composed this song for their 1996 studio album Cutterpillow. It received widespread airplay after its release and ranked second best on RX 93.1's "Top 20 OPM Requests of 1996". The song's music video propelled the band's success outside the country by grabbing the International Viewer's Choice Awards for Asia at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. (Photo Credit: tumblr.com)

7. “Forevermore” (1996)

This song won Side A the 1996 Awit Award for Best Performance by a Group for the third consecutive year and the Song of the Year. (Photo Credit: 3.bp.blogspot.com)

8. “Nandito Ako” (1997)

"Nandito Ako" rendition of Mexican singer/actress Thalía became a huge hit in the Philippines and went two times Diamond in the Philippines for sales more than 1,000,000 copies. (Photo Credit: images.coveralia.com)

9. “Sinaktan Mo Ang Puso Ko” (1998)

This song made Michael V’s parody album, "MTB: Miyusik Tagalog Bersiyon" a big success. Written by Michael V. himself, the witty love song gained commercial success and became the "unofficial anthem" for the heartbroken, despite its violently humorous lyrics. (Photo Credit: imfatsowhat.hotstuffavenue.com)

10. “Tuloy Pa Rin” (1999)

Neocolors’ second album Tuloy Pa Rin came out in 1999 and made hit singles for the band. It similarly reached platinum status and paved several tracks as classic OPM songs to this day. (Photo Credit: a2.mzstatic.com)

Sources:

www.wikipilipinas.org

www.philmug.ph

www.philstar.com

Wikipedia pages

Throwback: 90’s Kids’ Most Well-Loved Street Games

Childhood years are the happiest period in people’s life. These are the times when one’s physical stamina, playfulness, enthusiasm, and curiosity are at their peak.

For many Filipinos, street games seem to have been a “regular” part of their childhood—and synonymous with it, if I may add. In fact, young Pinoys come to learn and play different street games even long before learning their ABCs.

Of all, 90’s kids seem to have enjoyed playing street games more than anyone else from other batches. This is because they were able to inherit some outdoor games from their predecessors (but made “twists” onto them). Further, 90’s kids got the chance to play modern street games as innovation came along before a new decade unfolded.

What is special about 90’s kids is that they were the last ones to play and fully enjoy traditional Pinoy outdoor games shortly before the arrival of addictive online and mobile games!

Let’s look back at the time when 90’s kids had worry-free and unstressed lives.

Youthful Times

Below are a few of the most famous street games from the 90’s, along with their descriptions and instructions to play them:

Photo credit: devcomcreatives.wordpress.com

Langit-Lupa – Every young kid loves to run—run around and away from their game rivals. Hence, “langit-lupa” was a hit among 90’s children. The game starts with a designated player citing a chant: Langit, lupa, impyerno, im-im-impyerno; Saksak puso, tulo ang dugo; Patay, buhay, alis ka na dito. Each syllable points to someone in the group, eliminating the one who gets the last syllable. The rhyme repeats until there were two left—one will be safe and the one who doesn’t get the last syllable will become “taya”—the one who will chase other players and tag one of them who will then replace him as taya. Players who are at higher places or elevated ground (“langit” or heaven) are safe and cannot be touched. The first player standing on the ground (lupa or earth) and gets caught (touched) will become the new “taya.” The game repeats until everyone gets tired or their parents call (shout at) them.

Photo credit: ph.theasianparent.com

Taguan (Hide-and-seek) – Determining the “taya” or “it” varies across the country; but the most common during the time was “maiba taya”—a series of flipping players’ hands (pompyang)—with their palms facing either up or down. The player who displays the odd hand will be the “it” (searcher). The “it” will then face the wall or tree while citing “tagu-taguan maliwanag ang buwan, pagkabilang kong sampu nakatago na kayo” then count until ten. Other players will then hide. The player who is first found will be the next “it.” The game’s rules differ depending on what has been discussed in advance but will surely end when all the players are found.

Photo credit: flickr.com

Patintero (or Tubigan) – A game for at least six players (always even number), with each team having equal number of players. The game is played on a wide area where the surface can be marked with chalk or water and drawn with a big rectangle (divided into equal parts). The game starts with “jack-en-poy” (rock-paper-scissors) with two leaders choosing their team players and deciding which team will play first as runners. Losing team will step on the line (as “patotot” and “pulis”) and should tag any of the opponents. All of the members from the winning team should get through all the lines without being tagged to win. The first player who will finish crossing all the lines back and forth should declare “Tubig”—a signal that the team has just earned a point. Note: Rules vary across the country.

Other Famous Street Games

• Moro-moro (or agawan base)
• Piko
• Tumbang preso
• Syato (or siyatong)
• Tantsing (or tatsi)
• Chinese garter
• Ten-Twenty
• Dr. Quack Quack
• Hulugang Panyo (or laglag panyo)
• Luksong tinik
• Luksong baka
• Open the basket
• Pasahang bola

Which of these street games from the 90’s do you missed the most? Which ones left you unforgettable memories? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Viva Sto. Niño: List of Festivals Honoring the Child Jesus

Photo Credit: http://cebu.sunstar.com.ph/

To Filipinos, the first month of the year is not just for the celebration of the New Year. As a country dominated by the Christian religion, January is also the month of Santo Niño or the Holy Infant Jesus.

The Origin

The wooden image of the Sto. Niño is the oldest religious image in our country. It is made by Flemish artisans, was brought by Ferdinand Magellan, and given as a baptismal gift to Queen Juana. 44 years later when the big part of Cebu was set on fire, one of the Spanish soldiers found the image of Sto. Niño in a burnt house, unscratched. Since then, the image has been treated as a patron saint by the Cebuanos. At present, only a replica decorated with gold and precious stones is displayed inside the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño while the miraculous image is kept in the Parish convent.

List of Sto. Niño Festivals

The following are the various spiritual-cum-cultural festivals celebrated in the first month of the year:

1. Ati-Atihan Festival

Where: Kalibo, Aklan

When: 3^rd Sunday of January

2. Dinagyang Festival

Where: Iloilo City

When: January 20 – 22

3. Binanog Festival

Where: Lambunao, Iloilo

When: January 10 – 16

4. Sinulog (Kabankalan) Festival

Where: Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

When: January 10 – 16

5. Makato Sto. Niño Festival

Where: Poblacion Makato, Aklan

When: January 15

6. Kahimunan Festival

Where: Libertad, Butuan City

When: January 16

7. Kinaradto Festival

Where: Buenavista, Guimaras

When: January 16

8. Altavas Sto. Niño Festival

Where: Poblacion Altavas, Aklan

When: January 21 – 22

9. Ibajay Ati-Ati Municipal Festival

Where: Ibajay, Aklan

When: January 24 – 25

10. Hinirugyaw Festival

Where: Calinog, Iloilo

When: January 30 – February 6

11. Sto. Niño Festival

Where: Malolos, Bulacan

When: Last Sunday of January

12. Lakbayaw Festival

Where: Tondo, Manila

When: 3^rd Sunday of January

13. Dinagsa Ati-Atihan Festival

Where: Cadiz City, Negros Occidental

When: January 24 – 30

14. Sinulog Festival

Where: Cebu City

When: 3^rd Sunday of January

Aside from the Philippines, devotees of Sto. Niño are also found in various countries including Spain, Mexico, and Peru. It also has different names per country like Infant of Prague in the Czech Republic, El Santo Niño de Atocha in Mexico, and Santo Bambino di Ara Coeli in Rome.

Have you experienced attending any of these events? Or do you know more festivals honoring Sto. Niño? You can share your thoughts and experiences on the comments section provided below.

Throwback: The Most Loved Toys from the 90s

Born in mid-80s, I consider myself a “batang 90s” for this is the decade when became aware of the things around me. Also, this is the stage when I became physically active—I was a restless child, they say.

I have lots of great memories of 1990s, which I can still vividly recall today. One of the best things that remind me of my childhood years is the collection of toys that 90’s children, including myself, played.

Let’s look back at the time when tablets, smartphones, and online games are just products of creative imagination.

Aside from many street games, there are memorable toys that kept us all busy as toddlers and elementary students—when we weren’t watching cartoons.

Photo credit: pinterest.com

Toy revolver – Almost every young boy got the chance to play this one—shooting with their friends and a sort of role-playing (playing dead when "shot"). There were no bullets—just “cheap” gunpowder, which is not deadly.

Photo credit: toysplash.com

Water gun – This is an alternative for those who want a less “violent” battlefield.

Photo credit: mugstoria.com

“Unusual” lego – These small pieces are often called poor man’s lego. The most common pattern was airplane.

Photo credit: thefilipinolifestyle.com

Plastic rainbow magic spring – A simple toy that amazes viewers, especially kids.

Photo credit: thefilipinolifestyle.com

Plastic balloon – A cheap sticky stuff that forms a balloon when put at the tip of a small plastic stick and blown at the other tip. The challenging part is to make the balloon the biggest it could get.

Photo credit: 90kids.com

Brick game – An addicting game that featured various brick games of up to 99 levels. Remember snakes and mazes?

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

Tamagotchi – This handy toy is perhaps the most innovative one after the age of Nintendo. It features exciting games.

Photo credit: tenminutes.ph

Plastic propeller (elisi) – The one that is also the easiest to play. You just have to place it in between your rubbing palms to make it fly.

Photo credit: reddit.com

Yoyo – Branded and glowing yoyos are a hit in the 90s.

Photo credit: skyscrapercity.com

Top (trumpo) – 90s kids put thumb tacks onto this toy not just as decoration but as shield against opponents.

Photo credit: threadless.com

Troll doll – 90s children once owned pens with this collectible at the tip.

Photo credit: filipiknow.net

Teks – Small cards that come before “pogs.” All famous movies and cartoons at the time were depicted in these cards.

Photo credit: moxiereviews.com

Aroma beads (kisses) – Young girls keep these scented pieces inside cottons (with rubbing alcohol) with a belief that they multiple over time. For 90s kids, this remains an unsolved mystery.

Which toys from the 90s do you missed the most and that you want to play again nowadays? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.