Hotdog

Hotdog is a Filipino pop-rock band formed in Manila in the early 1970s, widely credited as one of the founding acts of the Manila Sound movement that fused American pop and soft-rock influences with Tagalog and Taglish lyrics. Fronted by siblings Rene and Dennis Garcia, the band became famous for turning everyday Filipino urban life into catchy, radio-friendly songs, helping to popularize OPM (Original Pilipino Music) as a distinct commercial genre in the Philippines during the 70s and 80s.

Their biggest hits, including «Bongga Ka ’Day» and «Manila», remain enduring pop-culture touchstones, celebrated for their playful, colloquial storytelling and warm, melodic arrangements. Songs like «Ikaw Ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko» and «O, Lumapit Ka» further cemented their reputation for romantic, easy-listening pop with a distinctly local flavor.

Hotdog's influence extends well beyond their original chart run: their songs have been covered, sampled, and referenced by generations of Filipino artists, and «Manila» in particular is considered an unofficial anthem of the city. The band helped pave the way for a wave of Filipino pop and rock acts that followed, and their catalog remains a staple of OPM retrospectives and classic radio programming.