Cup of Joe has chosen not to further fuel the controversy surrounding a recent concert where they were reportedly bumped off in favor of Rico Blanco.
“It’s our choice to stay silent on the issue,” said Gian Bernardino.
Raphael Ridao clarified that the band harbors no ill will or grudges against anyone despite the ruckus. In fact, they remain more than willing to appear and perform anytime, anywhere, with anyone.
“We love playing side by side with our heroes and contemporaries,” added Raphael. “We always look forward to these kinds of events because they give us a glimpse into how others work. We take inspiration from that.”
Gian echoed the sentiment, saying, “We’re always happy to mingle and be friends with other artists.”
That said, it isn’t as if the band needs to rely on so-called “smorgasbord gigs” or shows featuring a mix of veteran and emerging artists, as they are more than capable of mounting their own solo shows.
During their three-day concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in October, Cup of Joe was recognized by The Araneta Group for making history as the first Filipino band to achieve a total of five sold-out concert days in a single year at the Big Dome.
The band has since announced additional dates for their ongoing world tour and confirmed more live shows across the Philippines for their sold-out “Stardust” concert series.
In January 2026, the group will kick off the second leg of their U.S. tour, followed by concerts in Qatar and Abu Dhabi in February. They will then return to Asia with shows in Singapore in March, and Malaysia and Indonesia in May. Additional performances are also slated for Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand in June.
Other confirmed local dates include: the University of Baguio on February 6; Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex on February 28; Tacloban City Convention Center on March 21; Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino on March 28; Iloilo Convention Center on May 9; SMX Convention Center Davao on May 30; and Limketkai Atrium in Cagayan de Oro on June 13.
Named Top Local Artist of 2025 by Billboard Philippines, Spotify Philippines, and Apple Music Philippines, Cup of Joe was also recognized by Believe Music for surpassing 4 billion all-time streams across all digital platforms—making them the most-streamed artist in the Philippines.
Their hit track “Multo,” now boasting 446.6 million streams, continues to hold the record for the longest-running No. 1 song and the highest single-day streams in Spotify Philippines history. The band has also surpassed 11.6 million monthly listeners on the platform.
Most recently, Cup of Joe released the vinyl edition of their award-winning album “SILAKBO”, which was named Album of the Year at the inaugural Filipino Music Awards.
