Whether by design or the stars aligned just for him, Rico Blanco is back in a big way.

And far from us being privy to his love relations, we can listen to his newly released single “Sayong sayo (Papel, Gunting, Bato)” and surmise that the rock star is head over heels in love.

Well, everybody does everything head over heels anyway, especially Rico, because you have to be to come up with good songs like this bouncy new song about finding the one. The ace songwriter shared that the “chorus hook came to me first, and I immediately felt it would be a really fun song to play live or at a party. I kept imagining everyone dancing and singing along,” he said, adding, “a fun party song.”

“Sayong sayo..” is reminiscent somewhat of an old Rivermaya song in “Hinahanap-hanap Kita” at least as far as catchiness is concerned because, on the former tune, Rico is at his ear-tweaking-est best. It reminds me of that old Saigon Kick song “I Love You,” but other than sharing the same theme (love, dude), perhaps it gives the same vibe only because both are instantly memorable.  

Blanco recorded the track with Angee Rozul at the helm and had some help from Zild Benitez on bass and Tim Marquez on drums. I saw a clip on TikTok of Rico playing everything on the track and thought everything was played by this one-man band (or is it one band-man?), because he can do it. But having other people to play with is even better. That slide guitar solo that comes in and out takes the cake and reminds us that while ‘ol Korics is in love, this is still a tune by a bonafide rockstar.

This new song, the upcoming Rivermaya reunion concert, and Rico Blanco being this year’s Awit Awards Dangal Ng Musikang Pilipino recipient. Rico is all over the place, and that’s a good thing.

And since we’re on catchy songs already, young Sam Benwick drops a wonderful-sounding one in “Kayang Kaya.” Cherub-faced Sam Benwick is a capable songwriter as she is a compelling singer. And she got us listening to this upbeat, modern pop song that is both playful sounding and of the head-bobbing type. Singing about less-than-loyal partners that she eventually tires of, this tune is Sam Benwick’s best one so far.

Actress-singer Aubrey Caraan has the honor of being the first OPM artist to sing a Marion Aunor co-written collab-song with Korean songwriter Yoon Seung Hwan and Lee Ju Yuon via the lovely sounding ballad “Just Say Goodbye.” Composed by Yoon and Lee with Tagalog lyrics by Marion Aunor, “Just Say Goodbye” gives off some K-drama theme song vibes. And with Aubrey Caraan’s deft delivery, “Just Say Goodbye” might soon make it to some popular drama-novel or movie soundtrack.

ALAMAT ups their game by releasing their second album, “Isapuso.” Put on sonic display here is ALAMAT’s growth as music artists, building on what has worked before and at the same time experimenting and expanding their sonic coverage as ALAMAT members Alas, R-Ji, Mo, Taneo, Tomas, and Jao start with rousing “Dagundong” where ALAMAT fleshes out a Thyro Alfaro-Cursebox collab. It’s a good one because the ALAMAT-Thyro Alfaro combo recently aced the Best R&B song trophy at the Awit Awards.

A quick listen yields the city-pop vibe of “Manila Dreams,” world music tinged “Dong Dong Ay,” funky “Multo” (featuring Cursebox). There’s the mid-tempo R&B romp “Walang Hanggan” and dance-pop “Dayang” and vibe-y “Noli” written by Mo and produced by Alas and R-Ji.