More than five decades after Hotdog helped define the Manila Sound and reshape Original Pilipino Music, the band's songs continue to strike a chord with audiences old and new.

That enduring appeal will be on full display on Aug. 8 when "Manila, Manila: The HOTDOG Tribute Concert" takes over Newport Theater, bringing together original Hotdog members and a younger generation of artists to perform the band's biggest hits.

At the concert's press conference, one thing became clear. This is more than a tribute to a legendary band. It is proof that Hotdog's music continues to resonate decades after it first hit the airwaves.

Original Hotdog member Maso Diez-Rivera said the band's songs have become part of Filipino culture, making them familiar even to younger listeners.

"It's infectious. You don't need to push the songs to the now generation because they know it. They feel it. They love it. It's just nice that you have these younger generations doing their own version and continuing the legacy of Hotdog through their renditions."

That passing of the torch is central to the concert, with many of the younger performers first discovering Hotdog's music through family gatherings, karaoke sessions, and growing up in Filipino households.

Actor KD Estrada said learning about the band's influence gave him a deeper appreciation of its contribution to OPM.

"Ngayon ko lang nalaman na before Hotdog, wala pang mga Taglish songs," he said, referring to the band's pioneering use of Filipino and English in the same song. "Andaming Taglish songs ngayon... pati ako, nagsusulat din ng Taglish songs."

For Anthony Rosaldo, performing Hotdog's music is also personal. He said the concert is a chance to celebrate the band's legacy while honoring his late father, whose music collection introduced him to Hotdog's songs.

"Through the concert... we're honoring Hotdog's legacy and also my dad's memory," he shared.

Meanwhile, GAT said the performers made a conscious effort not to reinvent the songs but to interpret them in ways that remain true to both Hotdog and themselves.

"Kami mismo maniniwala kami sa ginagawa namin. Paano maniniwala ang mga tao kung kami mismo hindi maniniwala?" she said. "Whenever we create a rendition, we try to make it our sound. Hindi namin pinipilit. We don't put extra EDM sounds or anything. So it's really us."

The younger artists echoed the same sentiment. While adding contemporary influences, they said preserving the spirit of the original songs remained the priority.

RAYA said their rendition of "Bongga Ka 'Day" carries a P-pop flavor while paying tribute to the song's legacy.

"We respect and want to highlight their contribution to music. But one of the greater things we can put out is our own flavor, our dancing. I think it makes the whole scene more fun."

For longtime Hotdog vocalist Rita Saguin-Trinidad, watching younger performers embrace the band's music is a reminder of its lasting impact. She recalled that during Hotdog's heyday, the group was not simply producing hit records but helping shape what would become known as the Manila Sound.

"I was somewhat aware," she said with a laugh. "I was still in high school. But yes... that was about the time Manila Sound was really forming."

She also looked back on memorable overseas performances, including a packed concert for overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong that went on despite heavy rain.

"They had to close the entire road. It was full," she recalled, adding that even foreign spouses of OFWs sang along to songs like "Manila."

More than 50 years since Hotdog changed the sound of Filipino pop music, its songs continue to find new audiences.