General
How Bwelta Balentong 10 Exceeded Expectations
Bwelta Balentong 10 was historic! Let’s take a look back at this event.
Jake Tan
August 06, 2025
When the poster for Bwelta Balentong 10 was released, fans were hyped, but they didn’t expect it to be an instant classic. For many, the lineup was “alright”. It took place on the 7th of October 2023 at Tiu Theater in Makati. There were seven battles, one was for the semifinals of the Isabuhay Tournament. It ended up becoming one of FlipTop’s best events of the year. So how did it happen? Let’s take a trip down memory lane.
Firstly, we’ll talk about the two major upsets of the night. Bagsik, who was still winless at the time, faced Karisma, who was fresh from a unanimous decision victory. The match was intense, and both emcees flawlessly showcased their respective styles. After three rounds, Bagsik claimed his very first win in the league. The reaction of the crowd sounded like he won the Isabuhay Championship. It was an unforgettable, feel-good moment for Mr. Personals. GL vs Lhipkram also shocked the audience. GL was already a fan favorite here, and while Lhipkram was already an established name, he was the underdog. It was a back-and-forth bout that highlighted the strengths of both rappers. GL gave a fantastic performance but Lhipkram struck back with effective angles, direct punches, and a strong presence, leading to his win.
Many believe that the battle of the night was Vitrum vs Ruffian.Vitrum showed a more ruthless approach while keeping his well-rounded style intact. Ruffian delivered a perfect mix of street and technical, with a strong delivery. The result could’ve gone either way but the important thing was everyone enjoyed it. Fans expected J-King vs Sirdeo to be a pure comedic fest, and while they did have some solid jokes, they also dropped some hard-hitting gems. Sirdeo’s victory was his redemption arc, after his infamous stunt at Ahon 13.
After four years, Emar Industriya made his return to battle rap at Bwelta Balentong 10. He took on Class G, who had a very impressive FlipTop debut earlier that year and was on an undefeated streak. Their battle was an epic style clash. Emar’s leftfield material was extra effective, thanks to his more aggressive delivery. Class G was more direct with his punches but on round 3, he decided to show his version of unorthodox lyricism. Class G got the W but many agree it was very close.
Manda Baliw vs Batang Rebelde had the right amount of witty jokes, creative technical lines, and impressive freestyle. As with most battles in the card, it was also a back-and-forth encounter that left fans debating about the result up to now. The two emcees showed their vast improvements here. The Isabuhay Semifinals clash between Hazky and Plaridhel is arguably one of the most underrated in the tournament. Apart from clever comedic lines and heavy bars, we also heard plenty of incredible wordplays, metaphors, and references. Yes, it was another matchup that could’ve gone either way. Sadly, Zaki vs C-Quence was canceled because of personal reasons for C-Quence. Hopefully, we’ll see this battle in the near future.
With a packed house and lots of memorable matches and moments, Bwelta Balentong 10 undoubtedly exceeded expectations. It’s proof that you should never ever underestimate a FlipTop lineup, even if it’s not to your liking. Did you watch it live? Feel free to share your stories in the comments section. We hope to see you in the next Bwelta Balentong!
