# Awit Awards

The Awit Awards are music awards in the Philippines given annually by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) to recognize the outstanding achievements in the music industry. The word "Awit" means "song" literally in Filipino.
The first awards were given in 1969 at a ceremony in Makati. After three awards ceremonies were held, the Awit Awards were discontinued in 1972. In 1988, PARI brought back the awards and today, the organization still handles these awards.

## History

The idea for Awit Awards was conceived by Oskar "Oskee" Salazar, the Billboard correspondent for the Philippines at that time, in late 1968. The first awards ceremony was held on March 23, 1969, that took place in Makati. It was organized by the Awit Awards Executive Committee, which composed of representatives from different record companies, with Salazar as their chairman. Winners were voted by a jury composed of 15 people which were selected by the Awit Awards Executive Committee. The jurors were chosen by their jobs in the music industry such as a record retailer, jukebox operator, entertainment/music writer or a radio station program director.
Days before the second awards, they decided to create a formal academy called the Philippine Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (PARAS), replacing the Awit Awards Executive Committee. The academy was headed by Danny Villanueva, the outgoing president of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), as the chairman alongside Salazar as the co-chairman. It was composed of 75 members. The second awards was held in July 1970 while the third happened in June 1971. These two ceremonies were administered by the academy. From 1972 until 1987, no Awit Awards ceremonies were held.
In 1988, the Philippine Association of the Record Industry resurrected the Awit Awards. Instead of following the previous numbering pattern, they decided to call the 1988 awards as the 1st Awit Awards. This pattern continued until now.

## Nomination process

Any recording company which is a member of the PARI can submit entries for Awit Awards. A non-member recording company can qualify if it has a business arrangement with a PARI member such as licensing, distributing and marketing. The entries that could be submitted are based on the eligibility period when the music was released. The eligibility period is always from January 1 to December 31 of the previous year. Nominations may only be awarded to any person with Filipino heritage, resident or non-resident of the Philippines. Foreigners must show documents certifying their Filipino heritage.
All entries would be then screened by judges. The jury comprises radio personnel, entertainment journalists, television personalities, composers, brand/marketing professionals and musicians. For the technical achievement categories, judges could either be a sound/vocal/musical engineer, television commercial producer, film director or someone from the media. The judges would vote on all entries and the five highest scoring entries would become the nominees for each category. A category could have more than 5 nominees if there's a tie.
Nominees in each category would go through another voting round with the highest scoring finalists would be then declare as the winners in the awards night.
Currently, the ballots are audited by the Isla Lipana & Co., a Philippine member firm of the PricewaterhouseCoopers.

## Ceremonies

Presented by the Awit Awards Executive Committee and the Philippine Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
| Event | Date | Albums of the Year | Singles of the Year | Host | Venue |
| 1st | March 23, 1969 | English: Her Kind of Music – Norma Ledesma | "Ting-A-Ling" – Pauline Sevilla | — | — |
| 1st | March 23, 1969 | Vernacular: Mabuhay Singers sing Pandangguhan, Dahil sa Iyo and other Philippine Songs – Mabuhay Singers | "De Colores" – Pauline Sevilla | — | — |
| 1st | March 23, 1969 | Foreign: The Graduate – Simon and Garfunkel | "The Sound of Silence" – Simon and Garfunkel | — | — |
| 2nd | July 16, 1970 | Norma, Norma – Norma Ledesma | "My Pledge of Love" by Edgar Mortiz | — | — |
| 3rd | June 1971 | The Phenomenal Nora Aunor – Nora Aunor | "Sixteen" – Vilma Santos | — | Manila Hotel |
Presented by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry
| Event | Date | Album of the Year | Song of the Year | Host | Venue |
| 1st | December 5, 1989 | Moving Thoughts – Gary Valenciano | "Take Me Out of the Dark" – Gary Valenciano | — | — |
| 2nd | 1990 | Constant Change – Jose Mari Chan | Not awarded | | |
| 3rd | June 29, 1991 | Smokey Mountain – Smokey Mountain | "Kailan" – Ryan Cayabyab | Jose Mari Chan, Sharon Cuneta | Metropolitan Theater |
| 4th | 1992? | Shout For Joy – Gary Valenciano | "Everlasting Love" – The Company | — | — |
| 5th | 1992? | Shout For Joy – Gary Valenciano | "Everlasting Love" – The Company | — | — |
| 6th | June 26, 1993 | Six by Six – The Company | "Anak Ng Pasig" – Geneva Cruz | — | Philippine International Convention Center |
| 7th | June 25, 1994 | Not awarded | "Babalik Ka Rin" – Gary Valenciano | — | Philippine International Convention Center |
| 8th | June 17, 1995 | Tag-Ulan, Tag-Araw – Afterimage | "Paalam Na" – Rachel Alejandro | — | University of the Philippines Theater |
| 9th | June 14, 1996 | Cutterpillow – Eraserheads | "Forevermore" – Side A | — | Meralco Theater |
| 10th | September 19, 1997 | South Border – South Border | "Kahit Kailan" – South Border | Francis Magalona | AFP Theater |
| 11th | June 26, 1998 | Sticker Happy – Eraserheads | "Sinaktan Mo Ang Puso Ko" – Michael V | Dingdong Avanzado, Geneva Cruz | University of the Philippines Theater |
| 12th | November 23, 1999 | Interactive – Gary Valenciano | "Mabuti Pa Sila" – Gary Granada | — | AFP Theater |
| 13th | November 8, 2000 | No Limits Vina Morales | "Kung Mawawala Ka" – Ogie Alcasid | Ryan Cayabyab, Kuh Ledesma, Martin Nievera | AFP Theater |
| 14th | October 11, 2001 | All Heart – Lani Misalucha | "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw" – Ogie Alcasid | — | AFP Theater |
| 15th | September 19, 2002 | A Better Man – Ogie Alcasid | "Pagdating ng Panahon" – Aiza Seguerra | Rachel Alejandro, Franco Laurel, Roselle Nava, Randy Santiago | AFP Theater |
| 16th | October 16, 2003 | A Heart's Journey – Jose Mari Chan | "Only Selfless Love" – Jamie Rivera | — | AFP Theater |
| 17th | September 9, 2004 | Bigotilyo – Parokya ni Edgar | "Mr. Suave" – Parokya ni Edgar | Karel Marquez, Sarah Meier, KC Montero, Iya Villania | NBC Tent |
| 18th | May 26, 2005 | Episode III – South Border | "Rainbow" – South Border | KC Montero | AFP Theater |
| 19th | June 15, 2006 | Light, Peace, Love – Bamboo | "Hallelujah" – Bamboo | — | PAGCOR Grand Theater |
| 20th | August 8, 2007 | Maharot – Kamikazee | "Narda" – Kamikazee | Christian Bautista, Toni Gonzaga, Mo Twister | NBC Tent |
| 21st | November 26, 2008 | Salamat – Yeng Constantino | "Ikaw" – Sarah Geronimo | Christian Bautista, Nikki Gil | Eastwood Central Plaza |
| 22nd | December 7, 2009 | Eraserheads: The Reunion Concert – Eraserheads | "Yugto" – Rico Blanco | Eugene Domingo, Piolo Pascual | Filoil Flying V Arena |
| 23rd | September 30, 2010 | Byahe – Noel Cabangon | "Upuan" – Gloc-9 | Tutti Caringal, Yeng Constantino, Karylle | SM Mall of Asia |
| 24th | December 12, 2011 | Now Playing – Juris | "Pakiusap Lang (Lasingin Nyo Ako)" – Chito Miranda | Billy Crawford, Nikki Gil | Music Museum |
| 25th | November 27, 2012 | Panaginip – Noel Cabangon | "Ako Na Lang" – Zia Quizon | Denise Laurel, Krista Kleiner, Anthony Semerad, David Semerad | Glorietta |
| 26th | December 11, 2013 | MKNM: Mga Kwento Ng Makata – Gloc-9 | "Sirena" – Gloc-9 | — | Sequoia Hotel |
| 27th | December 12, 2014 | Liham at Lihim – Gloc-9 | "Magda" – Gloc-9 | Marion Aunor, Josh Padilla | Newport Performing Arts Theater |
| 28th | December 9, 2015 | Perfectly Imperfect – Sarah Geronimo | "Ikaw" – Yeng Constantino | Christian Bautista, Yeng Constantino, Karylle | Music Museum |
| 29th | December 7, 2016 | The Great Unknown – Sarah Geronimo | "Bawat Daan" – Ebe Dancel | Tippy Dos Santos, Matteo Guidicelli | Music Museum |
| 30th | November 26, 2017 | Life Of A Champion – Quest | "Dahil Sa'yo" – Iñigo Pascual | Tippy Dos Santos, Donny Pangilinan | Kia Theater |
| 31st | October 14, 2018 | Soul Supremacy – KZ Tandingan | "TRPKNNMN" – Gloc-9 ft. Agsunta | Jay-R, DJ Lexy Angeles | New Frontier Theater |
| 32nd | October 10, 2019 | Malaya – Moira dela Torre | "Tagpuan" – Moira dela Torre | The Wishfuls, Rhea Basco, Bradz, Plethora | New Frontier Theater |
| 33rd | August 29, 2020 | CLAPCLAPCLAP! – IV of Spades | "Imposible" – KZ Tandingan ft. Shanti Dope | Sam Cruz, Paolo Sandejas | Online due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 34th | November 29, 2021 | Daybreak – Leanne & Naara | "Paubaya" – Moira dela Torre | — | Online due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 35th | November 23, 2022 | Pebble House Vol. 1: Kuwaderno – Ben&Ben | "Binibini" – Zack Tabudlo | Samm Alvero | Newport Performing Arts Theater |
| 36th | November 9, 2023 | Don't Blame The Wild One! – Ena Mori | "Uhaw (Tayong Lahat)" – Dilaw | Sassa Gurl | Baked Studios |
| 37th | December 7, 2024 | Daisy – Unique | "Raining in Manila” – Lola Amour | — | Music Museum |
* ↑ "Song of the Year" is awarded to the songwriters. The song's artist, which may or may not be the song's writer, are listed here for simplicity.