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Smokey Mountain members Geneva Cruz and James Coronel reflect on Freddie Aguilar's lasting impact on OPM.

A year after the passing of OPM icon Freddie Aguilar, singers Geneva Cruz and James Coronel paid tribute to the legendary musician during a visit to the Manila Islamic Cemetery on Tuesday, May 27, marking his first death anniversary.

Aguilar, who died on May 27, 2025, remains one of the most influential figures in Original Pilipino Music (OPM). His global hit “Anak”—a song about parental love, rebellion, regret, and redemption—became the best-selling Philippine music record of all time. The track was released in more than 50 countries and translated into 29 languages.

Beyond “Anak,” Aguilar became known for socially relevant songs such as “Katarungan,” “Magdalena,” “Mindanao,” and “Bulag, Pipi at Bingi.” His stirring rendition of “Bayan Ko” has long been regarded as an unofficial second national anthem of the Philippines.

For Geneva, Aguilar's music continues to leave a profound emotional impact.

“Freddie Aguilar's music resonates deeply. I get emotional singing his songs,” she shared.

The singer-actress also recalled crossing paths with the OPM legend during the height of their music careers in the 1990s.

“I've seen him at awards nights back in the '90s when I was promoting 'Anak Ng Pasig,' and he was promoting 'Pagbabalik Ng Himig.' I also talked to him on Messenger about music, being an artist, and even politics,” Geneva added.

Meanwhile, James described Aguilar as a lasting inspiration for artists who continue to create music with social relevance.

“Ka Freddie was, and shall forever be, a source of inspiration for OPM artists to create and record socially relevant songs for global release. I shall never forget what he said about Filipino artists who are ironically given more acclaim and recognition in other countries. He said, 'Don't be ashamed if you are respected more outside your homeland than inside,'” he said.

James Coronel (right) with the late OPM legend Freddie Aguilar

Although Freddie and James never collaborated professionally, the latter fondly remembered the many personal conversations they shared over the years.

“Ka Freddie and I never worked together professionally, but privately we had many long thought-provoking talks together in his bar after closing hours, at his home and at my home—it was such an honor for me to host dinners for Ka Freddie at my home,” he recalled.

James also credited Aguilar for influencing his outlook on life and spirituality.

“Ka Freddie was a mentor to me. He taught me how to trust my heart, not my head, in making important decisions. But above all, during the last decade of his life, he shared with me knowledge about Islam. It is largely because of Ka Freddie that today I am blessed with a deep appreciation of and respect for Islam,” he added.

Related gallery: Freddie Aguilar's life and music

Both Geneva and James acknowledged how Aguilar's music—much like the songs of the group Smokey Mountain—resonated deeply with ordinary Filipinos because of its honesty and social relevance.

“Yes, because our songs are relatable and give a voice to those who can't speak for themselves. We used our music to express what's in our hearts and used it as a platform of hope for the disadvantaged and discriminated,” Geneva said.

James, however, pointed out a distinction in how socially conscious music was received locally.

“Our songs resonated globally, but locally, our socially relevant songs were popular only with the poor masses, not the rich,” he remarked.

Asked how younger generations can continue to appreciate Aguilar's music, Geneva suggested revisiting and reinventing his timeless songs.

“By playing his songs and possibly re-recording some of them, we could give them a new vibe that reaches more of the younger generation,” she said.

For James, preserving Aguilar's legacy means embracing the deeper realities of Filipino culture through music.

“Local artists should embrace the wounds of Filipino culture. Ka Freddie taught us that we can make beautiful music about healing bleeding.”