A heart’s cry reshapes OPM: Viva artist Earl Agustin’s ‘Tibok’
The song “Tibok” seemed to follow me everywhere before I even stepped into the press conference—its catchy melody a constant presence on Instagram reels, TikTok trends, and Facebook feeds. The song’s lyrics and melody make it a go-to background track and it had me hooked, though I remained unaware of the artist behind it. It was only then that I discovered that the young man behind the hit is a Viva artist. His name is Earl Agustin.
Earl Agustin has rapidly become a major figure in Philippine music, achieving remarkable success. His climb to the top of the OPM scene is marked by his hit single, “Tibok,” a song that connected with many through its honest emotion.
Charts and Records
“Tibok,” with its blend of pop and ballad elements, quickly found an audience. It reached the top of the Spotify Philippines Chart, establishing Earl as a key artist. The song achieved a significant milestone, collecting 2.092 million streams in a single day on Spotify PH, a record for an OPM track. This made “Tibok” the first OPM song to surpass 2 million daily streams, placing it among the most memorable songs in recent Philippine music.
Beyond Spotify, “Tibok” holds the number one spot on Apple Music PH, YouTube PH, and iTunes PH. Earl Agustin also became the first Filipino artist to enter the global Spotify Top 50. He also holds a record for the most songs charting simultaneously on the Spotify PH Top 50, with:
- #1 — Tibok
- #4 — Dalangin
- #18 — Aya
- #33 — Dito Sa’kin
- #152 — Tapos Na
Four of these tracks also appeared on the Spotify Viral 50 – Philippines:
- #1 — Tibok
- #6 — Dalangin
- #9 — Dito Sa’kin
- #10 — Aya
The Origin of “Tibok”
While many now see “Tibok” as a love song, its origin is rooted in personal heartbreak. Earl Agustin said, “It’s funny, because people on TikTok enjoy it as a love song—but I wrote it when I was very heartbroken.” He wrote the song with no expectations, simply expressing his feelings.
The song’s raw emotion and melody connected with listeners. Fans used the song on TikTok to express their feelings, changing the song’s original intent.
“Tibok” and Popular Culture
“Tibok” has moved beyond streaming platforms into mainstream entertainment. It was chosen for the official soundtrack of Viva One’s series “Ang Mutya ng Section E,” a point of pride for Earl. He said, “I’m happy that ‘Tibok’ isn’t just music for casual listeners, it’s now part of a series.”
The song’s impact led to collaborations. Earl credits producer Jean-Paul Verona and arranger Kim Lopez for their work on the song. Their effort, combined with Earl’s personal storytelling, made the song successful.
A New Voice in OPM
Earl Agustin’s influence extends beyond “Tibok.” With multiple charting songs and a strong following, he has become a leading figure in new OPM. He said, “It feels unreal… I’m very happy and thankful—especially to those who believed in me from the start.”
With his new single “Pag-ibig ng Ikaw at Ako” on the way, Earl plans to continue shaping the OPM scene. His talent and ability to connect with listeners suggest his music will remain important to fans.
“Tibok” transformed from a personal expression of heartbreak into a widespread hit, showing Earl Agustin’s talent and the power of music.
