Nueva Ecija has struck a chord in Philippine music history with the release of the Unang Sigaw Project on September 4, 2025, an ambitious collaboration that united more than 30 local bands and nearly 50 creatives to honor the province’s revolutionary past.
The project, which produced an original multi-genre composition and a full music video, has already drawn overwhelming praise from both audiences and respected figures in the industry. Viewers described the experience as “nakaka kilabot bawat scene,” while Joey Dizon of Pulp Magazine / Intolerant called it “probably one of the biggest and most ambitious projects this 2025.” Lean Ansing of Slapshock/Chelsea Alley also congratulated the team, and Emirates Loves Philippines named it the “Filipino Song of the Week.”
The initiative was led by IT manager and musician Christian Nava, who first conceived the idea during the pandemic. What began as a small circle of musician friends evolved into a province-wide undertaking, bringing together veteran groups—some active for over 20 years and others returning after a 15-year hiatus—for the sake of history and unity.
“Pure passion,” Nava said in an earlier interview. “When I saw the potential, I decided to take it to a bigger scale—bringing together the entire province of Nueva Ecija. And what better song to unite us than Unang Sigaw, a piece deeply rooted in our history?”
The core songwriting team included Nava, Drew This, Koko Nava, Virtus Lenon, Dave Gualberto, Ryan Velasco, and Ryan Villaroman. Recording and video production took place at Dr. Sounds Studios, with post-production led by Michael Pirote.
Featured bands ranged across genres—rock, hip-hop, reggae, metal, indie, and spoken word—showcasing the province’s musical diversity. Among the groups were Halloween Inc, We, Eyescream, Baryo, 7th Skool, Karding Sungkit, Venomous Colubrid, Contagion, Six Boxes, Talim, Soul Stitch, Inherit the Crown, Ezra, Greenleech, 2nd Sem, Kadja Odja, Hezekiah, and SeboDeMacho.
The song itself narrates the courage behind the Cry of Nueva Ecija in 1896, when Mariano Llanera and Pantaleon Valmonte led thousands of Katipuneros in defiance of Spanish rule. By linking this historical bravery to the spirit of today’s generation, the project delivers a message that resonates with both locals and Filipinos abroad.
Beyond the music video, Nava and his team are also building the Nueva Ecija Band Organization (NEBO), envisioned as a platform to give emerging bands more visibility and opportunities to perform. Their long-term dream is to bring all participating artists together on one stage for a historic live performance.
