DJ Love, Budots pioneer, hospitalized due to heart condition

Budots pioneer DJ Love, real name Sherwin Calumpang Tuna, has been hospitalized due to a heart condition.

His manager and fellow artist, Jorge Wieneke V, also known as DJ obese.dogma777, announced the news on Facebook and Instagram Wednesday.

“I’m reaching out with an urgent call for support for my dear friend, collaborator, and one of the most important figures in the Philippine electronic music scene Sherwin Calumpang Tuna, aka DJ Love,” Wieneke said.

According to him, Sherwin has been hospitalized in a public hospital in Davao for the past three weeks and counting, adding that he has been undergoing tests and seeing various doctors.

"Sherwin has been clinically diagnosed with heart failure. His condition is critical, and he urgently needs specialized medical care and surgery to survive. Time is running out," he said.

Wieneke added that Sherwin has contributed a lot to their community as an artist, DJ, choreographer, and pioneer of Budots.

"His music has made us dance, laugh, and celebrate life. Now, it’s our turn to come together and help him fight for his own,” he said.

With this, their community has launched a donation drive to help Sherwin get better medical care. 

Per Wieneke, they are raising P1.2 million so Sherwin can be transferred out of the public hospital and into a facility where he can receive adequate care. The funds will also help cover his heart surgery, hospital fees, medications, and post-treatment care.

"He needs this to survive," he said. “If you've ever shared a dance floor with him, been moved by his music, or simply believe in supporting the people who make our scene what it is—please help. Every donation, share, and show of support makes a difference."

“His birthday is coming up on April 1, and the best gift we can give him is the chance to keep living, creating, and being here for his family," added Wieneke.

The donation link and GCash details are also posted on DJ Love’s Facebook account.

Budots is Filipino electronic dance music that originated in Davao City before gaining popularity all over the country, with DJ Love among the genre’s pioneers. It is characterized by its use of bass, percussion, horns, and high-pitched whistles, and is also a popular form of freestyle street dance.

DJ Love has performed in venues across the Philippines and abroad. He played a set for London-based music broadcaster Boiler Room in collaboration with Manila Community Radio in Manila in 2023, and for the Margins United Festival in London in 2024.

In an interview with Billboard Philippines in 2024, he shared that he previously worked as a dance instructor and has been remixing music with cassette tapes.

According to DJ Love, he was inspired to create Budots music when he saw the prevalence of gang riots and drugs in his area in Davao City. 

He then produced songs that the youth can dance to with movements that imitate punches and brawls, and would remix music to go with these dance moves.

— Nika Roque/CDC, GMA Integrated News