Three of the ten winners in this category told us about the rain. All three of them also told us about a power cut.
That is not a coincidence, and it is the most useful thing to know about hiring music. Lights and sound can be specified on paper. A band cannot. What you are actually buying is a judgement call that gets made at the worst possible moment, when the sky opens over an outdoor ceremony or the room goes dark in the middle of a first dance. Every one of them kept playing. One did it on a patio by a fountain while the couple danced in the downpour. One did it on a saxophone while the guests held up their phones for light. One did it soaked through, with an instrument that needed two days to dry out.
Music is also the one supplier the guests look directly at all evening. Every other trade at a wedding is judged by what it leaves behind: the photographs, the room, the cake. This one is judged live, in front of everyone, with no second take.
This is the third category of the CWES Top 10 Awards 2026. Every placement is 75% peer vote and 25% editorial review. The planners and coordinators of Cebu name and rank the suppliers they have personally worked with, and that carries three quarters of the weight. There is no public polling, no vote drive and no paid placement, and a supplier cannot buy, request or appeal a position. The full workings are on our methodology page.
Nominations stay open as the programme runs. By the time this category closed, planners had put forward 738 nominations covering 200 businesses, and Music & Entertainment had drawn 60 of those nominations across 17 businesses. These are the ten who came out on top.
1. Momentum Band
Live band · Chelsy Sacaday & Rich Aliño · Established 2013
Momentum came first by the widest margin in the category, and the reason is in a sentence most bands would never write about themselves. “At Momentum, the event is always the highlight. We are simply there to give it its soundtrack.” A wedding band whose stated ambition is not to be the thing you remember.
The practical expression of that is a line-up that bends to the room rather than the other way round. Duo, trio, four, five or six-piece, chosen to fit the celebration and the budget, and played, as they put it, “without overdoing it, but with just the right amount of music, energy, and passion.”
The unexpected rain became a blessing.
They twice told us what happens when the plan fails. Once the rain came and a whole reception had to move to an undecorated upper hall with a basic sound system. The band reset as fast as they could, started again, and the room sang along. “The unexpected rain became a blessing.”
The other time was Savoy at Mactan Newtown, where the power cut out just as the first dance began. Their saxophonist picked up his horn and kept playing in the dark, and the guests lifted their phones until the couple were dancing in a room full of little lights. “Even we were moved to tears when we later watched the SDE video.”
The detail they chose to end on is quieter than either. A bride who stood and watched them play a song she had asked for, not filming it, not holding her phone at all. Just there, smiling, with tears in her eyes.
“Every song was performed so beautifully that some of our guests even thought the music was coming from a Spotify playlist.”
Ray & Jas, June 2026
Seen at: NUSTAR, Radisson Blu, Bai Hotel, Bayfront, Marco Polo, Waterfront, Chateau de Busay, Mandani Bay, Oakridge, Beverly View, Shangri-La, Crimson, Savoy, Chateau by the Sea, Plantation Bay, Tambuli, Solea
Serving: All over Cebu, and further afield in Siargao, Bohol, Leyte, Koronadal, Boracay and El Nido
Their advice: Choose suppliers who truly match your vibe, personality and vision. And do not be afraid to ask around. Reach out to fellow suppliers and coordinators about their experiences. A little research goes a long way.
Momentum Band
- Phone0927 980 1151
- EmailHarmonydharma@gmail.com
- FacebookMomentum Band
- Instagram@momentum_band_ph
2. Dom Gelvez Event Violinist
Violinist · Shem “Dom Gelvez” Abay · Established 2008
Eighteen years of weddings, and Dom Gelvez describes the job almost entirely in terms of saying yes. “I hardly say no to requests.” Sir, can you escort the couple during their entrance. Sir, the couple are rock and anime fans, can you play some of that. A wide repertoire, he notes, helps.
His account of why fellow suppliers send him work is unusually clear-eyed. “A wedding or an event is not just another gig. It is months or years of planning. Time, money, effort and emotions are involved.” So he treats every wedding with respect, and reckons the other suppliers in the room can tell.
He counted one, two, three, and the lights came back on the beat.
He is one of the three here who played on through Cebu weather. At Chateau de Busay the rain came during the post-ceremony pictorials and everyone ran for cover except the couple. Stationed at the patio by the fountain, he simply kept playing, and they danced in it.
At another wedding the power failed during the first dance, mid-brownout, and the host asked the room to sing the chorus unaccompanied. He counted one, two, three, the lights came back on the beat, and the whole room came in together.
“You didn’t just play music. You brought back memories we will always treasure.”
M. R. Navaja, September 2026
Seen at: Radisson Blu, Waterfront, Shangri-La, Chateau by the Sea, Chateau de Busay
Serving: Mostly Cebu, and around the Philippines
Their advice: Go build your dream. Do not be afraid to seek help from tried professionals. Feel free to ask and inquire.
Dom Gelvez Event Violinist
- Phone0906 440 7940
- Emailshemabay@gmail.com
- FacebookDom Gelvez Event Violinist
- Instagram@domgelvezmusic
- DirectoryDom Gelvez on CWES
3. On-the-Cover Band
Live band · Eight musicians · Established 2006
Twenty years and eight musicians, and an account of the work that is almost entirely about the hours nobody sees. Client meetings, rehearsal, pro-grade gear, arriving hours early, every line check and sound mix. “We leave nothing to chance.” What they put above all of it is not equipment but disposition: “the right mindset, energy, and professionalism to every stage.”
On how the work arrives, they are unsentimental about scale and sentimental about everything else. “We have long lost count of the stages we have shared, because for us it was never about the numbers. It is simply about the love of the craft.” Clients have become friends, and some of them family.
The drummer dropped out just before showtime.
The wedding they remember best was their own former keyboardist’s, up a mountain, with all the gear hauled up some seriously steep inclines, and the drummer dropping out just before showtime. They found a replacement in the nick of time. “Turning what could have been a disaster into a seamless performance made the moment unforgettable.”
What they say about praise is its own kind of character note. Over the years they have had a great deal of lovely feedback, but “we usually prefer to keep it close to our hearts to stay grounded and focused on the work.”
Seen at: Cebu City venues, almost exclusively
Serving: Cebu City
Their advice: Plan early, but leave room for spontaneous moments. That is often where the real magic happens. And place your full trust in the suppliers you choose. They are professionals who know how to bring your vision to life.
On-the-Cover Band
- Phone0917 321 5944
- Emailjunnieotc@gmail.com
- FacebookOn-the-Cover Band
4. Adlib Acoustic
Acoustic band · Established 2005
Two decades of easy-listening and acoustic arrangements, and a business built in the era before any of this could be done with a post. “We started during the pre-social media era, so we really had to rely on word of mouth and referrals from previous clients and coordinators.” Twenty years on, that is still where the bookings come from.
Twenty years on, word of mouth is still where the bookings come from.
Their advice to couples is among the most practical here, and a good part of it is about somebody else’s job. A band that tells you to choose your sound supplier as carefully as your band is a band that understands how closely the two depend on each other.
“The sax was amazing, the choice of music was spot on, and the energy you brought to the celebration was unforgettable. You were truly our first and only choice for a wedding band, and you exceeded every expectation.”
Jestoni & Kimberly, September 2025
Serving: Cebu
Their advice: Get a band that matches your musical taste, and get a reputable sound system provider. It’s a make or break during reception.
Adlib Acoustic
- Phone0998 553 8507
- Emailjakecarvajal25@gmail.com
- FacebookAdlib Acoustic
- DirectoryAdlib on CWES
5. DJ Neil Verzosa
DJ · Neil Verzosa · Established 2014
The only DJ on this list, and the one whose answer to what he does differently is that he does not do anything differently at all. “I honestly do not do anything differently. I simply have an obsession, a lust, and an undeniable passion for my craft. I will always come prepared, musically, physically, and most importantly, mentally.”
His theory of trust is almost entirely about how a supplier carries himself. “Dress sharp, be prepared, and always be on time. It gives your clients a sense of confidence and assurance that they made the right choice.” And he refuses to rank weddings by size. Fifty guests or five hundred, “it is never really about the size of the crowd. It is about the connection.”
A dense crew still raging at 4am.
His advice to couples is four words long, and it carries real weight coming from the supplier who stands closest to the coordinator all night.
“Sad thing we only get married once, because we would otherwise be returning customers. You delivered exactly what we wanted. We didn’t meet before your set at all and you just made the party our party. I have been to quite a few weddings dragging until 4am with a smaller and smaller crew of dancers. We really had the opposite, a dense crew still raging at 4am. We give you big credit for that.”
Bertrand
Seen at: El Nido Resorts, Shangri-La, NUSTAR, Radisson Blu, Marco Polo
Serving: Cebu
Their advice: Always trust your coordinators.
DJ Neil Verzosa
- Phone0917 722 8835
- Emailverzosamusic@gmail.com
- FacebookDJ Neil Verzosa
- Instagram@verzosa.dj
6. Adrian Cabahug Violin
Violinist · Adrian Cabahug · Established 2011
“What makes my approach different is that I do not simply play the violin to entertain. I play to create meaningful moments that couples and their guests can cherish.” Adrian Cabahug works across classical, OPM and contemporary, and what he says he will not compromise on is the sincerity of the performance. Every wedding is someone’s once-in-a-lifetime, and he treats being there as both a privilege and a responsibility.
He measures himself by repeat business rather than applause: referrals from couples to their friends and families, and corporate clients who book him again each Christmas. “The greatest compliment I can receive as an entertainer is not simply applause after a performance, but the trust of someone who chooses to book me again.”
Both of them, and both instruments, completely soaked.
His is the wettest of the three rain stories. An outdoor ceremony began with a light drizzle that turned heavy exactly as the bride started down the aisle. He and his saxophonist worried about the instruments, saw that she was walking anyway, and played her favourite song through to the moment she reached her groom, both of them and both instruments completely soaked. The violin needed a couple of days to dry out and survived.
At a different reception the power failed during the first dance. Rather than stop, he and his guitarist walked closer to the dance floor and played it unplugged, which he says turned out more intimate than the version with a sound system would have been. “Sometimes, when everything else stops, the music becomes even more meaningful.”
“Although the choir didn’t show up at the church, I appreciate your quick thinking and resourcefulness. You still managed to make my processional very emotional. Thank you also for entertaining the guests during the cocktails!”
Serah & Anthony, 2025
Seen at: Shangri-La Mactan, Mercure Hotel, Radisson Blu, Chateau de Busay, NUSTAR
Serving: Cebu
Their advice: Your wedding does not have to be perfect to be beautiful. Focus on the love you are celebrating, the memories you are creating, and the people who make the day meaningful. Sometimes it is the unexpected moments that become the most unforgettable.
Adrian Cabahug Violin
- Phone0943 386 8962
- Emailadrianccabahug@gmail.com
- FacebookAdrian Cabahug Violin
- Instagram@eyanskie
7. John Walt & Axel
Duo · John Walt & Axel Bordario · Established 2007
A duo whose entire account of their work is about friendship, stated so plainly it is almost a business model. “We see them as friends, not mere clients. We put our whole heart in our service, starting from the first hello.” Clients, they say, almost always end up friends before the event date even arrives, and that is the point, because it is what gives a couple confidence in them and what makes the duo want to go further.
They are emphatic that the relationship is never transactional. The evidence they offer is repeat bookings: families who bring them back for every occasion, “like we have become their own.”
We see them as friends, not mere clients.
Their advice to couples is the same idea turned around and pointed at the reader, and it is one of the most useful sentences in this entire article.
Fittingly, the performance they are proudest of is not a wedding at all. At a corporate event they played for four hours and twenty-four minutes without stopping, not, they are careful to say, because anyone was squeezing them, but because the room would not let them finish. “We loved to keep going for them.”
“You guys were amazing! We are so blessed to have you serenade our guests with your golden performances. I loved how you interacted with our guests and let them sing parts. It was one big karaoke!”
Daniel & Joey, September 2026
Seen at: Shangri-La, NUSTAR, Radisson Blu
Serving: Cebu City
Their advice: Befriend your suppliers. They will go above and beyond what you had agreed on or paid for, all because you are already friends.
John Walt & Axel
- Phone0927 277 1281
- Emailjohnwalt.axel@gmail.com
- FacebookJohn Walt & Axel
- Instagram@axelwally
8. Kerara Soul Cebu
Live band · Cebu · Eighth in 2025 and 2026
Kerara Soul took eighth place in 2025 and hold it again in 2026, voted there both times by a different set of planners. Two years in the same position is its own kind of endorsement.
They are a Cebu band built around warm, polished, soulful live music, working weddings, corporate events, debuts and private celebrations across Cebu and the nearby provinces. The setlist runs from soulful classics and modern love songs through OPM favourites to the staples every room expects, and they move between an acoustic lounge set and a full-band performance without making a production of the change.
They fill a room without taking it over.
What the planners who nominated them keep describing is a stage presence that is relaxed and assured. They fill a room without taking it over, which is the distinction most couples are reaching for when they say they want a band but not a show. The other thing the trade says about them matters just as much on the day. They are easy to coordinate with, and they slot in neatly alongside the stylists and the sound team.
Serving: Cebu and the nearby provinces
Kerara Soul Cebu
- Phone0995 241 5095
- FacebookKerara Soul Cebu
9. Pytha
Live band · Paul, Jay, Frances, Jon & Karlo · Established 2018
Among the youngest bands on this list, and the most systematic about it. What they would have a couple know comes as a numbered list of five: quality of music, professionalism, commitment, wedding experience, and passion and energy. The third is the one worth reading twice, “giving the same dedication regardless of the size or budget of the event.”
Their explanation of why couples book them is three words long, and it is the kind of answer only a band sure of itself would give. “Pytha is Pytha.” The fuller version is that a couple is getting more than a live band. They are getting a team that understands how emotional and once-in-a-lifetime the day is.
The same dedication regardless of the size or budget of the event.
“Every wedding we become part of is a privilege, not just another booking,” they write. “We are proud not only of the music we deliver but also of the memories we help create.”
Seen at: Shangri-La, NUSTAR, SM Seaside, Radisson Blu, Bai Hotel, Waterfront Lahug, Dusit Thani, Crimson, Mactan Newtown, Mövenpick, Chateau by the Sea, Chateau de Busay, BE Resort, Sheraton, Savoy
Serving: Cebu City
Their advice: Do not aim for a perfect wedding, aim for a meaningful one. Enjoy every moment, celebrate your love, and create memories that last a lifetime.
Pytha
- Phone0926 936 9021
- Emailpaul.pytha@gmail.com
- FacebookPytha
- Instagram@pythaofficial23
10. Quinta
Live band · Seven-piece · Established 2019
“We play r&b love songs for weddings.” That is Quinta’s whole description of themselves, and it is accurate. They are a seven-piece, formed in 2019, the youngest band on this list, and they work bars and lounges as often as receptions. You can hear it: the set sounds more like a late-night lounge than a wedding band running a programme. That is the reason to book them.
They are not boastful about why couples pick them. “We have been doing this for quite a while and somehow our music has captured some of the couple’s hearts.” The booking they remember best was a surprise: a husband who hired them as a gift for his wife, because the two of them were fans.
Still playing at their children’s weddings.
What they are hoping for is quieter than a trophy: that the couples they have played for will call them back one day, for their children’s weddings.
Seen at: Marco Polo, Radisson Blu, Waterfront, NUSTAR
Serving: Bars, lounges and events around Cebu
Their advice: In choosing bands, follow your heart.
Quinta
- Phone0961 576 9960
- Emailquintacebu@gmail.com
- FacebookQuinta
- Instagram@quintacebu
About the CWES Top 10 Awards 2026
Every placement is 75% peer vote and 25% editorial review. Cebu’s wedding planners and coordinators name and rank the suppliers they have personally worked with, and the editorial review covers the published record of each business. There is no public polling, no vote drive and no paid placement, and a supplier cannot buy, request or appeal a position. The full workings are on our methodology page.
Twelve categories are announced through November and December, with Planners & Coordinators last, voted on by the winners of the other eleven.
Eight of the ten acts above are not yet listed in the CWES directory. If you are one of them, or you work with them, a listing is free and it is where couples go looking once a post like this has done its work.
Previously: Booths & Guest Experience and Sounds & Lights.
Next up: Cake Designers, announced 16 November.
