FAR from being ominous or apocalyptic, June 6, 2006 (or 666 as it was dubbed) turned out to be one merry night as stars from the Philippine music scene gathered to celebrate the first ever MYX Music Awards.

ABS-CBN’s music channel has always been unabashedly Pinoy. From day one, MYX has had a format dominated by Filipino talents. Even its quirky karaoke feature – lyrics are flashed on screen so you the viewer can sing along or learn the lyrics quickly – is pure Pinoy. It comes as no surprise, then, that for its first-ever music awards, MYX decided to pay tribute to the best that the local scene offered in 2005. Except for one category, Favorite International Music Video, the rest of the 17 categories were devoted to local talents.

And boy did those talents come in droves. MYX, through its mother network, must have flexed its muscle, because everyone who was anyone in ABS-CBN was present that night. The luminaries of the Pinoy rock scene weren’t far behind as they also put on their best shoes and held their own amidst the glitz and glamor that is local showbiz.

I wasn’t too keen on the awards per se but was more excited by the performances. In true noontime variety show fashion, every performance was a production number. Some of the more memorable moments were of Sandwich with Pepe Smith and Wally Gonzales of Juan dela Cruz band performing the JDLC’s classic “Titser’s Enemy No.1” along with Sandwich’s runaway hit “Sugod.” Another highlight was Parokya ni Edgar and Kamikazee’s animated take on Parokya’s “Ordertaker” – itself a parody of System of a Down’s “Disorder.”

Another standout was the tribute number to MYX’s first Magna awardee – their take, I guess on a Lifetime Achievement award – the megastar herself, Sharon Cuneta. After a short presentation on her long and illustrious musical and cinematic career, Sharon was serenaded by Aiza Seguerra, Jaya, Christopher de Leon and Nyoy Volante among others.

The Dawn also had their moment with Bituin Escalante, Gabby Alipe of Urban Dub and Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree jamming to their hits “Enveloped Ideas,” “Harapin ang Liwanag” and “Isang Bangka.”

Presenters during the awards night were composer and musical arranger Ryan Cayabyab and concert queen Pops Fernandez, 2005 Ms. International Precious Lara Quigaman, designer and musician Mich Dulce who appeared in the Celebrity Edition of Pinoy Big Brother, Kamikazee’s Jay Contreras and actress Eula Valdez, Budoy and Keanna Reeves, Orange and Lemons, The Dawn vocalist Jett Pangan, Slapshock’s Jamir Garcia and Lokomotiv (through VTR), comedians Anton Diva and Teri Onor, singer Raymond Lauchengco, actresses Chesca Garcia and Anne Curtis, Dina Bonnevie, Parokya Ni Edgar’s Chito Miranda and Empoy, and Sharon Cuneta.

The first MYX Music Awards was hosted by MYX VJs Luis Manzano, Heart Evangelista, Geoff Eigenmann, Iya Villania, Karel Marquez, and Nikki Gil.

For a month, MYX viewers were given a chance to vote for their favorite artists via SMS text messaging.