How DJ Cupcakes turns Filipino internet culture into funny, nostalgic remixes

MANILA, Philippines – If you’re chronically online, you’ve probably come across viral remixes by a disc jockey who turns everyday Filipino media into laugh-out-loud mashups.

From a primetime newscast theme song and viral interview soundbites to protest chants and Original Pilipino Music (OPM) karaoke staples, these remixes are the work of none other than DJ Cupcakes.

Blending humor, relevance, and sharp cultural references, DJ Cupcakes creates mashups that are as clever as they are nostalgic. His tracks often gain traction online — transforming familiar Filipino sounds into playful cultural touchpoints that resonate with fans and reflect the country’s vibrant pop culture.

From college parties to DJ competitions

In an interview with Rappler, DJ Cupcakes shared that his journey into DJing began in 2016 during his college years, when he was already immersed in music as part of a band. A frequent bar and partygoer, he noticed that most venues leaned heavily on mainstream hits and electronic dance music (EDM).

“I just had this thought, ‘What if I started DJing for my friends and I’d play the music we’d like only?’” he said.

What started as a hobby turned into something serious for him. He would join DJ competitions while still in college and would go on to win his first contest in 2017. All these stints eventually gave him the courage to try his luck at the San Mig Light DJ Spin-Off in 2018, one of the country’s biggest DJ tilts.

To his surprise, he won.

“It was so scary. But through hard work and perseverance, all the generic inspirational stuff, I actually won. And right now, I’m just blessed to be called a two-time champion. And a lot of people don’t know it unless you see my Instagram bio. I just feel really lucky that I had those competitions. And I just used the skills I learned from that to my everyday DJing now,” he recalled.

Entering the era of Pinoy meme remixes

DJ Cupcakes only started creating Filipino meme remixes in 2024. The shift came after experimenting with TikTok and noticing that meme pages were sparking online conversations through funny videos and photos. Suffice it to say, his little experiment worked.

“What if I tried something? What if I put it on top of an existing song? And when I saw that people loved it, I started making more. And two years later, I’ve made so much at this point. It’s crazy,” he shared.

Before long, people began to refer to him as the “DJ meme lord of the Philippines,” a moniker he takes pride (and good humor) in.

His overall inspiration? The current events in the country and the humor they come with.

“Our humor is so unique as a country. Every time they post something, it’s always relevant to today’s news, also. Sometimes, when there is an issue, they already make content about it,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English. “If you try to explain it to an outsider, they won’t get it.”

Whether remixing trending controversies or unexpected viral moments, he often practices “trend-jacking,” which he has been doing for two years and has been effective for him.

“To see people react to these remixes, it makes me feel more Pinoy, actually. It makes me feel proud. I want to celebrate our humor through music. I’m blessed that I know how to make music and I know how to make memes,” he expressed.

To date, it’s still his remix of ABS-CBN’s primetime newscast TV Patrol that he considers one of his favorites. It not only had the ability to take audiences by surprise when he would play for them for the first time, but it also managed to catch the attention of the news anchors themselves.

Perhaps DJ Cupcakes’ wit can be credited to his creative process, which is fast-paced and intuitive. He shared that one of his remixes, “Multo x Tulfo” — which combines the Cup of Joe hit with famous interview soundbites from Senator Raffy Tulfo’s radio program Wanted sa Radyo — was completed in a single day.

“That took one day to do because I was rushing,” he said, adding that he had a gig with Cup of Joe on the same night. “I just searched for clips with Tulfo. It was all [about] relationship issues, which is also what ‘Multo’ is about. I just overlaid the show clips on top of the instrumental of ‘Multo’ and it worked for some reason.”

He showed it to the band, they found it funny, and until now, he says the Baguio-based chart-toppers remember him as the “Multo-Tulfo” guy.

But not every remix goes viral, and he’s okay with that.

“Sometimes it’s too niche. Sometimes [it’s for the] wrong generation,” he said. “It’s like every other creator that keeps creating.”

“I just have to choose songs that mean a lot, that are relevant to their generation,” he explained. “Boomers won’t understand Gen Z jokes, right? You keep in mind the generation.” 

While DJ Cupcakes has had his fair share of online hate, it doesn’t faze him. In fact, he welcomes it. “That’s free engagement,” he said.

Memes can turn into art, too

Above all, DJ Cupcakes said he is both honored and surprised to be recognized as an artist.

“I’m very honored. And I’m surprised [and] happy that people consider my works as art. I’m really grateful. I hope to keep making art. I hope people will continue making art for either to be in service to others or just for the sake of making art,” he said. “There’s a lot of effort put into it, like animations and everything. I just hope to reach more people.”

While he considers his work niche and unconventional, he hopes it encourages others — especially young creators — to experiment and step outside their comfort zones.

“When everyone’s going this way, you have to go the other way if you want to succeed and get people’s attention,” he advised. “You can be an artist and want not to be seen. There’s a choice. There’s a choice. But if you do want to be seen as an artist, then you have to be unconventional. You have to find ways to stand out. Because it’s going to be hard for people to see you if you’re just blending in with everyone else.”

Looking ahead, DJ Cupcakes plans to release more original tracks, create more remixes, and bring new material to live shows throughout the year.

“I’m gonna make more memes [and] songs. I’m gonna release a lot more this year. Maybe a lot more dance tracks,” he said. “New tracks, new mashups, new remixes. So I’m really excited for everyone to hear it. That’s what’s next for me. More music, more memes, and more content.” – Rappler.com

Alfon Cabanilla is a Rappler intern studying AB Communication at the Ateneo de Manila University.