Was It Sabotage? Dionela’s Speech on Corruption Gets Mysteriously Muted
DIONELA – Singer Dionela turned the 38th Awit Awards into a hotbed of controversy after his microphone abruptly cut off during a powerful message about corruption.
The 38th Awit Awards, organized by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), successfully lit up the Meralco Theater in Pasig City on Sunday, November 16, 2025. As one of the country’s most respected award-giving bodies, the Awit Awards continues its tradition of recognizing outstanding singers, songwriters, and music creators across various genres.
This year’s ceremony gathered some of the biggest names in the OPM industry, led by Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez. Hosting the night were the personalities from Vibe, TV5’s musical-variety program, who kept the event lively from start to finish.
Among the shining awardees was singer Dionela, who took home the Solo Artist Award. He also scored another accolade alongside Jay-R, winning Best Collaboration for their hit single “Sining.”
A Speech That Stirred Reactions
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Dionela’s acceptance speech became one of the most talked-about moments of the night. Speculation sparked online after audiences noticed that his microphone allegedly cut out at the exact moment he mentioned corruption.
What heightened the tension was the timing: while the awards ceremony unfolded, mass protests against corruption and the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were simultaneously taking place at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and the People Power Monument on EDSA.
As Dionela accepted his award, he began by saying, “Maraming-maraming salamat po and in front of these beautiful artists, these beautiful people, gusto ko lang i-grab itong chance na to to share this beautiful thing.”
He continued his message with gratitude and reflection. “I just wanna remind everyone na I don’t think inilagay tayo ng Panginoon kung nasaan tayo ngayon just for popularity, fame, and money,” he said, before adding, “Naniniwala akong there’s a greater purpose kung bakit tayo nandito.”
He went on: “And now, let me remind everyone na, yes, we are artists at nandito tayo to express ourselves through our craft and through our songs. But I just wanna remind everyone na there’s people who look up on us and we’re not here just to entertain them but also to inspire them.”
In what became the most controversial portion, he declared, “At naniniwala akong tayong mga manlilikha ay isa sa mga may pinakamalakas na boses sa mga panahong ito, and I am encouraging everyone to use that loud voice against sa korapsyon na nangyayari sa bansa natin ngayon. Yeah, and now…”
The crowd erupted into cheers—yet moments later, his audio became inaudible. Many viewers questioned whether the microphone failure was intentional rather than a simple technical glitch. The incident has since fueled widespread discussion, making Dionela’s speech one of the most memorable parts of the evening.
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