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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Miguel Mendoza reclaims 'Isa Pang Araw' years after Sarah Geronimo made it a hit

Miguel Mendoza reclaims 'Isa Pang Araw' years after Sarah Geronimo made it a hit

Published Aug 8, 2026 03:19 pm  |  Updated Aug 10, 2026 03:25 pm

For many, "Isa Pang Araw" is a Sarah Geronimo hit.

Being the main theme of the 2018 hit film "Miss Granny," the song became an instant favorite among moviegoers and went on to win Best Song Written and Performed for a Movie/TV/Stage Play at the 2019 Awit Awards.
It was also nominated for Best Original Song at the 67th FAMAS Awards.
Nearly eight years  later, singer-songwriter, composer, and producer Miguel Mendoza is reclaiming the track, giving listeners a new perspective, one that is rooted in personal experience.

For Mendoza, “Isa Pang Araw” was never simply another songwriting assignment for a movie. He wrote it while grieving the loss of his father, turning his pain and longing into lyrics about the moments he wished he could experience one more time.

“I wasn’t simply trying to write another song for the film,” Mendoza shared.

“At that point in my life, I was grieving the loss of my father, and I found myself writing from a place of longing. ‘Isa Pang Araw’ became my way of expressing everything I wished I could still say and every moment I wished I could relive.”

That personal history makes his new rendition particularly meaningful. While Mendoza remains grateful for the way Geronimo's performance introduced the song to countless listeners, singing it himself allows him to revisit the emotions behind every lyric.

“For years, people connected with the song through Sarah’s beautiful performance, and I’m incredibly grateful for that,” he said.

“But this recording is different because it allows listeners to hear the song from the voice of the person who experienced the emotions that inspired every lyric,” he added.

Mendoza first gained attention as a finalist on “Philippine Idol” in 2006 before becoming the Third Star Dreamer of "Pinoy Dream Academy" Season 2 in 2009.

Beyond performing, he has established himself as a songwriter and music producer, creating music for some of the country's prominent OPM artists.

He was also recognized at the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival, where he won Best Musical Score for "One Great Love."

His version of “Isa Pang Araw” is now available worldwide on digital streaming platforms under FlipMusic.

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singer-songwriter
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