Filipino-American rapper Ruby Ibarra has been named the winner of NPR’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest, standing out among nearly 7,500 entries with her performance of “Bakunawa,” a piece rooted in Filipino mythology and her personal journey into motherhood.
The song, performed in English, Tagalog, and Bisaya, reimagines the tale of the Bakunawa—a mythical dragon believed to swallow the moon—as a symbol of resistance and cultural pride.
Ibarra, who was pregnant at the time of the recording, described the track as a message of hope for her daughter and a tribute to her heritage.
Her performance featured an all-female ensemble, including Filipina artists Han Han, June Millington, and Ouida, along with Anna Candari on guitar, Jojo Ramirez on drums, and Camille Ramirez on bass.
As this year’s contest winner, Ibarra will perform a Tiny Desk concert at NPR’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., and headline a 10-city “Tiny Desk Contest On The Road” tour kicking off June 11 in Los Angeles.
