Guardians of Waray-Waray Sound
WarayStars is an independent music label dedicated to preserving, promoting, and protecting the rich musical traditions of the Waray people of Eastern Visayas.
WarayStars is an independent music label dedicated to preserving, promoting, and protecting the rich musical traditions of the Waray people of Eastern Visayas.
WarayStars was founded with a singular mission: to be the most trusted home for Waray-Waray music in the Philippines and beyond. We believe that authentic regional music deserves the highest level of care — both creative and legal.
As a publishing label, we work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure every melody rooted in Eastern Visayas culture is documented, distributed fairly, and fiercely protected from unauthorized use.
We don't just release music. We build legacies.
Rooted in the soul of Leyte and Samar, Waray-Waray music is one of the Philippines' most vibrant and underrepresented regional traditions — and we intend to change that.
Waray oral poetry — including the epic Hinilawod influences — forms the backbone of its lyrical music, blending storytelling with melody in ways unique to Eastern Visayas.
Waray-Waray music features distinctive syncopated rhythms influenced by traditional dances like the Kuratsa, giving it an unmistakable regional personality unlike Cebuano or Tagalog pop.
The geography of Leyte and Samar deeply informs Waray music — harana-style ballads, fishing songs, and harvest hymns all form a rich thematic tapestry.
Waray-Waray compositions have earned recognition at the Aliwan Fiesta, the Musika Natin Awards, and regional competitions, putting Eastern Visayas firmly on the Philippine music map.
With millions of Waray-speaking Filipinos abroad, Waray music carries extraordinary emotional weight as a connector to homeland — creating a global audience hungry for authentic recordings.
Regional radio stations across Leyte, Samar, and Biliran regularly feature Waray music, and streaming platforms have seen consistent year-on-year growth in regional language music consumption.
Since our founding, WarayStars has steadily built a legacy of milestones for Waray-Waray music — from catalog growth to landmark legal protections.
WarayStars was established in Tacloban City with a charter to document and publish original Waray-Waray compositions for the first time under a dedicated independent label.
We completed the systematic registration of our entire foundational catalog with FILSCAP (Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), establishing legal ground for royalty collection.
A WarayStars-published composition won Best Original Waray Song at the Eastern Visayas Regional Cultural Awards — the first time a label-backed independent recording took home that distinction.
WarayStars catalog made available on major digital platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music — marking Waray-Waray's first organized presence in the streaming era.
Our catalog passed the 100 original Waray-Waray composition mark — a landmark achievement representing one of the largest dedicated archives of the language's contemporary music.
Launched our formal Copyright Enforcement Program, successfully filing and resolving multiple unauthorized-use cases and recovering royalties for our catalog on local television, radio, and online platforms.
Secured the label's first international sync licensing deals, placing Waray-Waray music in documentary productions and cultural media projects outside the Philippines.
Copyright is not bureaucracy to us — it is how we honor the creators behind the music and ensure that Waray culture is never taken without recognition or compensation.
Every single composition published under the WarayStars label is officially registered with FILSCAP and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines before any public release. No exceptions.
We continuously monitor broadcast platforms, streaming services, and digital channels for unauthorized use of our catalog — and we act swiftly and formally on every detected infringement.
We work with legal counsel to pursue copyright infringement cases under Republic Act 8293 (IP Code of the Philippines). Unauthorized use of our music is not tolerated, regardless of the platform or scale.
Through FILSCAP and our own licensing agreements, we ensure that royalties from every use of our catalog — commercial, broadcast, or streaming — are collected and properly accounted for.
We welcome legitimate uses of our catalog — from film and television to cultural events and commercial projects. All uses must be cleared in advance through our licensing process.
For producers seeking to feature Waray-Waray music in documentaries, films, TV series, online video content, or any audiovisual production — synchronization licenses are required and available.
Radio stations, podcasts, and streaming platforms must hold valid broadcast licenses before airing any WarayStars composition. We coordinate through FILSCAP for broadcast royalty arrangements.
Public performances and cultural events featuring our catalog require a public performance license. We actively support cultural festivals that celebrate Waray heritage with fair, accessible terms.
For commercial advertisements, brand campaigns, or promotional materials seeking to use the emotional resonance of Waray-Waray music, we offer commercial licensing with full clearance documentation.
Educational institutions and academic researchers studying Philippine regional music may apply for reduced-rate or research licenses. We strongly support the documentation and study of Waray culture.
Content creators, vloggers, and social media producers must obtain digital clearance before using any WarayStars material. Unlicensed use on YouTube, TikTok, or Meta platforms will be claimed or removed.
Whether you're seeking a license, reporting an infringement, or simply want to learn more about our catalog and mission — we'd love to hear from you.