TJ Monterde | |
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![]() Monterde in 2025 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Titus John Dabuan Monterde |
Born | Cagayan de Oro, Philippines | December 30, 1989
Genres |
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Occupations |
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Years active | 2012–present |
Labels | PolyEast Records (2012–2021) Independent (2022–present) |
Spouse |
Titus John Dabuan "TJ" Monterde (born December 30, 1989) is a Filipino singer-songwriter. He gained recognition in 2011 through his viral YouTube videos, where he shared his original compositions, reaching a wide audience and receiving positive feedback online. His song "Ikaw at Ako" became his signature hit and was featured in the YouTube viral short film My Super Fan Girl.
In 2024, Monterde gained mainstream popularity again with his single, "Palagi, which was released back in 2023, and has topped the Billboard Top Philippine Songs and Philippines Hot 100 year-end charts of 2024. He also received an award from Billboard Philippines for his song "Palagi" as the number one song of 2024.
Monterde began his career at the age of 16 in 2006 as a radio jockey in Cagayan de Oro, initially guesting on his father’s local radio show before moving on to a regular radio slot. By 18, he became a television host for ABS-CBN's regional magazine program MagTV . [1]
He graduated from Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan with a degree in Development Communication. By 2010, his profile had grown as a multimedia entertainer, appearing on local television and performing at various events across Mindanao. [1]
In 2012, Monterde uploaded his original composition titled "Ikaw at Ako" on YouTube, and later he signed on Galaxy Records, a subsidiary of PolyEast Records, in which his composition "Ikaw at Ako" released as a debut single. [1] [2] Two years later, Monterde released his following singles, "Tulad Mo" and "Dating Tayo", which became one of the top music charts on Myx and Billboard Philippines . [3]
In June 2017, Monterde held his first major concert titled "Ikaw at Ako" at Music Museum in San Juan. [4] Later that month, he released his extended play, titled "Kahit Kunwari", including his single, "Mahika". [5]
In July 2019, he released his single, "Karera" (lit. 'Race'), for his inspiration of his girlfriend, KZ Tandingan. [6] On 2020, "Karera" was nominated at the 33rd Awit Awards and won for Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist. [7]
In May 2020, he released "Puhon" (transl. Someday), a song he wrote in Cebuano. He said that this was a part of his personal advocacy to introduce Visayan pop to the world. [8] Three months later, Monterde and Tandingan married on August 28, and had collaborated two months later with the single, titled "Simula" (lit. 'Beginning'). [9]
By late July of 2021, he and his wife, KZ Tandingan, released their Cebuano-language songs, titled "Inday" (lit. 'Girl') and "Dodong" (lit. 'Boy'), respectively. [10] His song, "Inday", was nominated for Wishclusive Pop Performance of the Year at 7th Wish 107.5 Music Awards in 2022. [11] On October, he and South Korean singer, Yelo, collaborated and released their new single, titled "Little Things". [12]
In July 2023, Monterde released "Palagi" (lit. 'Always'), a song dedicated to his wife, KZ Tandingan. [13] In September 2024, "Palagi" peaked at number two on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart, following its debut at number six on July. [14] On October 26, "Palagi" topped the Billboard Top Philippine Songs chart, also debuting at number six. [15]
In April 2024, after the success of his single, "Palagi", Monterde announced his next album, titled "Sariling Mundo" (lit. 'Own World'), and has also announced that he would be holding his solo concert, titled with the same name at New Frontier Theatre at Quezon City in May. Nearly a day after the announcement, the tickets were sold out within 24 hours, and also announced its second day of the concert. The second day also sold out within three hours. [16]
On August 27, Monterde announced on Instagram that he is set to re-release his track "Palagi", featuring his wife KZ Tandingan. The following day, the track has released, titled with the same name, adding "TJxKZ Version", to coincide with the couple's fourth wedding anniversary. [17]
In September, Monterde announced that he would be holding his concert at Canada on October and Novemeber. [18] The following month, he also announced his solo concert, titled "Sariling Mundo At The Big Dome" in 2025. [19]
In January 2025, Monterde shared his disbelief and heartfelt gratitude following the sold-out success of his three-night "Sariling Mundo At The Big Dome" concert at the Araneta Coliseum. [20] Later that month, Monterde would be holding a concert at SMX Convention Center in Davao City on March. [21]
"Sarili Nating Mundo at the Big Dome" had its stops at Dubai, Singapore, Cebu City and Taiwan, and later on to more cities in the Philippines until September. [22]
In February 3, during Monterde's concert at Araneta Coliseum, Billboard Philippines awarded him and Tandingan for "Palagi" as the number one song of 2024. [23] On February 17, Aurora Music Festival announced that Monterde would perform in the first day of the music festival's 2025 iteration, which was held on May 3 and May 4 in Clark, Pampanga. [24]
On March, Dunkin' Donuts announced an endorsement deal with Monterde and Tandingan, and became the brand's ambassadors, forming the title "Ang Palagi". [25]
In May 6, he and South Korean singer, 10cm 's Kwon Jung-yeol, collaborated and released two singles, titled "Silver" and "After 3", after performing one of the singles during "Sarili Nating Mundo" concert in February 4. [26] [27] Later that month, Monterde and his wife, Tandingan, hosted their first fan-meet, titled "Never Been Sweeter" at Mall of Asia Arena. [28] [29] Three months later, the couple is set to have another fan meet in Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino at Cebu on November 8. [30]
In June 6, Monterde was featured in James Reid 's third album jgh with their country and R&B single "Pahinga" (lit. 'Rest'). [31] At the same month, he announced that he would be holding another day for the Baguio leg of his "Sarili Nating Mundo" concert during his fan meeting due to sold-out tickets on the first day. [29]
Monterde's former label, PolyEast Records, has announced to release Monterde's music in vinyl record. On July 2, the record label has released the vinyl. [32]
On August 21, Monterde released his single, titled "Unang Halik" (lit. 'First Kiss'), after performing the song as an unreleased track during his kick-off at his "Sarili Nating Mundo At The Big Dome" in Araneta Coliseum. [33]
Monterde married fellow singer KZ Tandingan on August 28, 2020. [34] The couple married again for the second time on August 28, 2023. [35]
Title | Album details |
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Ikaw At Ako |
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Ikaw At Ako (Instrumental version) |
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Sariling Mundo |
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Sariling Mundo (Live at New Frontier Theater) |
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Sarili Nating Mundo (Live at the Big Dome) |
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Title | Album details |
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TJ Monterde |
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TJ Monterde (Instrumental version) |
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Kahit Kunwari |
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Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | Ref. | ||
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PHL [36] | PHL Top [37] | PHL Songs [38] | ||||
"Us" | 2014 | * | * | * | Unang Sikat (The Next Generation Hitmakers) | |
"Us" (with Muriel) | ||||||
"Tulad Mo" | Non-album singles | |||||
"Mahika" | Kahit Kunwari | |||||
"Litrato Ngayong Pasko" | Non-album singles | |||||
"Imahinasyon" | TJ Monterde | |||||
"Litrato Ngayong Pasko (Live)" | 2018 | Non-album singles | ||||
"Tahanan" | 2019 | |||||
"Karera" | [6] | |||||
"Malay Mo" | ||||||
"Hanggang Dito Na Lang" | 2020 | |||||
"Puhon" | [39] | |||||
"Dakila Ka, Bayani Ka" (with various artists) | [40] | |||||
"Simula" (with KZ Tandingan) | [9] | |||||
"Inday" | 2021 | [10] | ||||
"Little Things" (with YELO) | [12] | |||||
"Walong Bilyon" | 2022 | — | — | — | ||
"Walong Bilyon (Wedding Version)" | — | — | — | |||
"Sigurado" | — | — | — | [41] | ||
"Plano" | 2023 | — | — | — | Sariling Mundo | [42] |
"Palagi" | 2 | 1 | 5 | [43] [42] | ||
"Nowhere" | 2024 | — | — | — | [42] | |
"Palagi (TJxKZ Version)" | 4 | 1 | — | Non-album singles | [44] | |
"Darating Din" | — | — | — | [45] | ||
"Silver" (with 10CM) | 2025 | — | — | — | [26] | |
"After 3" (with 10CM) | — | — | — | |||
"Pahinga" (with James Reid) | — | — | — | jgh (Deluxe) | [31] | |
"Unang Halik" | — | — | — | Non-album single | [33] | |
"—" denotes a single that did not chart. "*" denotes that chart did not exist at the time of the song's release. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
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PHL [46] | PHL Top [47] | |||
"Dating Tayo" | 2014 | 18 | 8 | TJ Monterde |
"Ikaw At Ako" | 43 | 19 | Ikaw At Ako | |
"Mahika" | 2017 | 61 | 24 | Kahit Kunwari |
Award | Year [a] | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
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Awit Awards | 2020 | Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist | "Karera" | Won | [7] |
Favorite Male Artist | TJ Monterde | Won | |||
2021 | Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist | "Puhon" | Nominated | [50] | |
Best Regional Recording | |||||
Best Collaboration | "Simula" (with KZ Tandingan) | ||||
Best Ballad Recording | |||||
6th Wish 107.5 Music Awards | Pop Performance of the Year | "Puhon" | Nominated | [51] | |
7th Wish 107.5 Music Awards | 2022 | Wishclusive Pop Performance of the Year | "Inday" | Nominated | [11] |
Myx Music Awards 2024 | 2024 | Mellow Video of the Year | "Palagi" | Nominated | [52] |
Wish Music Awards | Wish Artist of the Year | TJ Monterde | Nominated | [53] | |
Wish Pop Song of the Year | "Palagi" | Won | |||
2025 | Wish Artist of the Year | TJ Monterde | Nominated | [54] | |
Wish Pop Song of the Year | "Sariling Mundo" | Nominated | |||
VP Choice Awards | OPM Song of the Year | "Palagi (TJxKZ Version)" | Won | [55] | |