In a groundbreaking moment for Bay Area musicians, Ruby Ibarra, a Filipina American rapper and spoken word artist from San Lorenzo, has claimed victory in NPR’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest. Her triumphant track “Bakunawa” not only showcases her incredible musical talent but also weaves a profound narrative of cultural resistance and generational hope.

Ibarra’s winning song, recorded live in Oakland, is a multilingual masterpiece that blends English, Tagalog, and Bisaya, drawing inspiration from Filipino folklore about the Bakunawa dragon. The track, which emerged from over 7,500 contest entries, features an intergenerational band including musicians Han Han and June Millington.

Beyond its musical excellence, “Bakunawa” carries a deeply personal message. Ibarra conceived the song during her first pregnancy, transforming an ancient mythological story into a metaphor for cultural resilience. “This song is a statement that my daughter is my revolution and my hope that she will be liberated from the effects of our cultural history,” she explained to NPR Music.

A UC Davis graduate with roots in the Philippines, Ibarra has been making waves in the music scene for years. Her previous Tiny Desk Contest entry in 2019 already hinted at her exceptional talent, which has now been fully recognized by NPR Music’s judges.

Following her contest win, Ibarra is set to perform at NPR Music’s offices and embark on a ten-city summer tour, including a stop at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma on June 13. Her victory represents more than just a musical achievement, it’s a powerful testament to the importance of representation, storytelling, and cultural preservation through art.

Tiny Desk host Felix Contreras aptly summarized Ibarra’s impact, stating, “Ruby is blazing a trail with a sound that many more people need to hear”.