{{Short description|Filipino singer and visual artist (born 1994)}}
{{About|the Filipino singer born 1994|the historical king of Aragon born in 1380|Ferdinand I of Aragon|the king of Aragon born in 1452|Ferdinand II of Aragon}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Use Philippine English|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Ferdinand Aragon | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Ferdinand Aragon | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|10|08}} | birth_place = Pardo, Cebu City, Philippines | alma_mater = University of the Philippines Cebu | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|visual artist}} | years_active = 2014–present | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | genre = {{flatlist| * Indie folk<ref name="vp1">{{Cite news | date=September 14, 2022 | first=Mike Demet | last=Villanueva | title=Check out these OPM artists who put Cebuano into the mainstream | url=https://villagepipol.com/check-out-these-opm-artists-who-put-cebuano-into-the-mainstream/ | magazine=Village Pipol | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref> * folk<ref name="bbph1">{{Cite news | date=February 15, 2024 | first=Kara | last=Angan | title=8 Underrated Folk Artists You Should Listen To — Oh! Caraga, Ferdinand Aragon, Dwta, And More | url=https://billboardphilippines.com/editorial-picks/curated/8-underrated-folk-artists-you-should-listen-to-oh-caraga-ferdinand-aragon-dwta-2024/ | magazine=Billboard Philippines | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref> * Visayan pop * pop rock<ref name="vp1"/>}} | label = Underdog Music }} | height = }}
'''Ferdinand Aragon''' (born October 8, 1994) is a Filipino singer, songwriter, and visual artist. From 2014 to 2017, he won first prize at the National Artist Jose T. Joya Awards multiple times for his art pieces critiquing children's social issues, such as child labor.
"Libu-Libo" ({{translation|Thousands}}), a Cebuano (Bisaya) song written by Aragon, received the Jury's Choice Award at the Kanta Kasingkasing ({{translation|Songs of the Heart}}) contest in 2018. In December that year, his Cebuano song "Di Ko Man" ({{translation|I May Not}}) was the first runner-up at the Philippine Popular Music Festival. In July 2019, he became the first ever grand winner for the Visayan Music Awards and released his first Tagalog song, "Dinamalayan" ({{translation|Unnoticed}}). In August, "Ingat" ({{translation|Take Care}}), a track written by Aragon and performed by Filipino band I Belong to the Zoo, was included in the final Top 12 for the Himig Handog ({{translation|Musical Offering}}) songwriting contest.
In March 2020, he released a new version of "Libu-Libo" under Viva Records. In 2024, he released "Ang Paghuwat" ({{translation|The Waiting}}), a collaboration with Filipino singer Morissette Amon. In March 2025, his song "Buhi" ({{translation|Let Go}}) was announced as the first runner-up at the Himig Handog contest for the year. In October, he received two Awit Awards nominations in the Best Regional Recording Category: one for "Ang Paghuwat" and another for "Buhi". His music has been described as indie folk, folk, Visayan pop, and pop rock.
== Early life and education == Ferdinand Aragon was born on August 10, 1994,<ref name="metro1">{{Cite news | first=Michael Lawrence | last=Chua | title=Get To Know More: Ferdinand Aragon | url=https://metrocebu.news/get-to-know-more-ferdinand-aragon/ | work=Metro Cebu News | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref> in Pardo, Cebu City, Philippines.<ref name="cdn1">{{Cite news | date=July 31, 2019 | first=Michelle Joy | last=Padayhag | title=Cebuano singer-songwriter Ferdinand Aragon releases 'Dinamalayan' | url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/248450/cebuano-singer-songwriter-ferdinand-aragon-releases-dinamalayan | work=Cebu Daily News | publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref> His parents are named Flordelito and Amelita Aragon.<ref name="metro1"/> In June 2018, he graduated from the University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu) with a degree in Fine Arts.<ref name="freeman1">{{Cite news | date=August 1, 2019 | first=Ligaya | last=Rabago-Visaya | title=Celebrating Visayan music | url=https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2019/08/01/1939650/celebrating-visayan-music | work=The Freeman | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref><ref name="journal1">{{Cite web | date=July 2018 | title=Cha: An Asian Literary Journal - Ferdinand Aragon | url=https://www.asiancha.com/content/view/3217/677/ | website=Cha: An Asian Literary Journal | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
== Career == {{Proseline|date=March 2026}} === 2014–2018: Beginnings === In 2014, Aragon won the first prize in the National Artist Jose T. Joya Awards for his collage art titled "Innocence", which raised awareness towards victims of child sexual abuse material. He was a freshman at UP Cebu at the time.<ref name="sunstar1">{{Cite news | date=December 4, 2018 | first=Vince Harlan A. | last=Chua | title=UP freshman wins 38th Joya Awards | url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/more-articles/up-freshman-wins-38th-joya-awards- | work=SunStar | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
In 2016, he won first prize in the competition again for another collage art piece titled "Bullet to a Butterfly". He dedicated it to children who were victims of civil unrest, particularly the children affected by the Syrian civil war.<ref name="cdn2">{{Cite news | date=September 10, 2016 | first=Morexette | last=Erram | title=Children and butterflies | url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/104733/children-and-butterflies | work=Cebu Daily News | publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
In 2017, he won first prize in the competition for the third time with his university thesis piece "Beast of Burden", made out of paper and torn magazine pages. The artwork was about child labor.<ref name="cdn3">{{Cite news | date=February 19, 2017 | first=Apple | last=Ta-as | title=Art as critique | url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/123341/art-as-critique | work=Cebu Daily News | publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
In 2018, a song that Aragon wrote in 2013, "Libu-Libo" ({{translation|Thousands}}), became an official entry to the Kanta Kasingkasing ({{translation|Songs of the Heart}}) competition. Performed by Vincent Eco, the song received the Jury's Choice Award.<ref name="cdn4">{{Cite news | date=July 31, 2019 | first=Michelle Joy | last=Padayhag | title=Cebuano singer-songwriter Ferdinand Aragon sings new version of 'Libu-Libo' | url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/291779/cebuano-singer-songwriter-ferdinand-aragon-sings-new-version-of-libu-libo | work=Cebu Daily News | publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref> In December that year, he was also the first-runner up for the Philippine Popular Music Festival, with the song "Di Ko Man" ({{translation|I May Not}}). It is a ballad in Cebuano (Bisaya) that he wrote himself.<ref name="bw1">{{Cite news | date=December 4, 2018 | first=Zsarlene B. | last=Chua | title=Davao songwriter wins Philpop | url=https://www.bworldonline.com/editors-picks/2018/12/04/202389/davao-songwriter-wins-philpop/ | work=BusinessWorld | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
=== 2019–present: Visayan Music Awards win, song releases, further recognition === On July 27, 2019, Aragon became the first ever grand winner of the Visayan Music Awards in 2019.<ref name="cdn5">{{Cite news | date=July 28, 2019 | first=Michelle Joy | last=Padayhag | title=Freelance graphic, visual artist from Cebu City wins Visayan Music Awards 2019 | url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/247794/freelance-graphic-visual-artist-from-cebu-city-wins-visayan-music-awards-2019 | work=Cebu Daily News | publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer | language=en-ph | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728064545/https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/247794/freelance-graphic-visual-artist-from-cebu-city-wins-visayan-music-awards-2019 | archive-date=July 28, 2019 | url-status=live | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref> His winning song, "Matag Piraso" ({{translation|Every Piece}}), was inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi.<ref name="freeman2">{{Cite news | date=July 31, 2019 | first=Karla | last=Rule | title=Japanese pottery technique inspired VizMA winning piece | url=https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-entertainment/2019/07/31/1939290/japanese-pottery-technique-inspired-vizma-winning-piece | work=The Freeman | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
On July 31, he released the love song "Dinamalayan" ({{translation|Unnoticed}}), his first in Tagalog.<ref name="cdn1"/><ref name="pulp1">{{Cite news | date=March 12, 2025 | first=Casey | last=Cayanan | title=Playlist: Crushing Hard | url=https://pulpmagazine.com/article/836 | magazine=Pulp | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref> It was released as a part of the Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino ({{translation|Week of Filipino Music}}), as organized by the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit ({{translation|Organization of Filipino Singers}}).<ref name="cdn1"/>
In August 2019, "Ingat" ({{translation|Take Care}}), written by Aragon and performed by Filipino band I Belong to the Zoo, was included in the final Top 12 songs of the Himig Handog ({{Translation|Musical Offering}}) contest.<ref name="star1">{{Cite news | date=August 18, 2019 | first=Nathalie | last=Tomada | title=From hugot songs to regional entries: Himig Handog 2019 Top 12 unveiled | url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2019/08/18/1944189/hugot-songs-regional-entries-himig-handog-2019-top-12-unveiled | work=Philippine Entertainment Portal | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
In March 2020, Aragon released a new version of "Libu-Libo" performed by himself, under Viva Records.<ref name="cdn4"/>
In 2024, he released "Ang Paghuwat" ({{translation|The Waiting}}), a collaboration with Filipino singer Morissette Amon.<ref name="rappler1">{{Cite news | date=March 24, 2025 | first=Kara | last=Angan | title='I am Cebuano. I am Bisaya': Reinventing Morissette | url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/interview-morissette-album/ | work=Rappler | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
Rappler{{'s}} Kara Angan described Aragon as a Visayan pop "juggernaut" in an article published on January 8, 2025.<ref name="rappler1"/>
In March, "Buhi" ({{translation|Let Go}}), written by Keith John Quito in Cebuano and performed by Aragon, was announced as the first runner-up in the year's Himig Handog contest.<ref name="bandwagon1">{{Cite news | date=March 24, 2025 | first=Nash | last=Farhan | title='Wag Paglaruan' wins big as Tiara Shaye and Fana shine at 'Philpop Himig Handog' | url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/wag-paglaruan-wins-big-as-tiara-shaye-and-fana-shine-at-philpop-himig-handog | work=Bandwagon Asia | language=en | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref><ref name="inq1">{{Cite news | date=March 24, 2025 | first=Hannah | last=Mallorca | title='Wag Paglaruan' by Fana, Tiara Shaye wins Philpop Himig Handog Festival | url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/602795/wag-paglaruan-by-fana-tiara-shaye-wins-philpop-himig-handog-festival | work=Philippine Daily Inquirer | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
On September 13, Aragon was one of the performers for Filipino singer-songwriter Colet Vergara's pre-birthday event Kani si Colet ({{translation|This is Colet}}). He covered Vergara's Cebuano composition known as "Laban Lang Pirme" ({{translation|Just Keep Fighting}}).<ref name="keeta1">{{Cite magazine | date=January 25, 2026 | first=Julienne | last=Loreto | title=Get to Know the Bisaya 2001 Liners of K-pop and P-pop | url=https://keeta.ph/get-to-know-the-bisaya-2001-liners-of-k-pop-and-p-pop/ | magazine=Keeta | language=ceb | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
In October, he received two Awit Awards nominations in the Best Regional Recording category: one for "Ang Paghuwat", and another for "Buhi".<ref name="star2">{{Cite news | date=October 4, 2025 | first=Kristofer | last=Purnell | title=Bini, Lola Amour, Dionela lead Awit Awards 2025 nominees | url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/music/2025/10/04/2477487/bini-lola-amour-dionela-lead-awit-awards-2025-nominees | work=Philstar | publisher=The Philippine Star | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
At Morissette Amon's Ember concert in November, Aragon was a surprise guest. They sang "Ang Paghuwat" together.<ref name="pulp2">{{Cite news | date=October 4, 2025 | first=Nyaela | last=Soliman | title=Morissette's 15 Year Journey Is Spotlighted With 'Ember' | url=https://pulpmagazine.pulp.ph/article/1698 | magazine=Pulp | language=en-ph | access-date=February 1, 2026}}</ref>
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" |Award ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Category ! scope="col" |Nominee(s) ! scope="col" |Result ! scope="col" |{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | rowspan="2" | Awit Awards | rowspan="2" | 2025 | rowspan="2" | Best Regional Recording |"Ang Paghuwat" <small>with Morissette Amon</small> |{{Nom}} |<ref name="star2"/> |- |"Buhi" |{{Nom}} |<ref name="star2"/> |- |}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
Category:Filipino singer-songwriters Category:Filipino visual artists {{DEFAULTSORT:Aragon, Ferdinand}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:Cebuano singers Category:Visayan people