PhilPop Music Festival Keeps OPM Alive and Kicking -- The Next Big Filipino Songwriter to be Named on July 14!

 POTATO ON THE GO (Music):

I'll start this post with the question I asked to Mr. Ryan Cayabyab and his consequent answer during the presscon of Philippine Pop Music Festival at Resorts World Manila.  I asked, Mr. C, how's the Filipino music today.  Mr. C answered, "It's very diverse, very creative, buhay na buhay (very alive)!"  And everyone at the venue, including me, applauded Mr. C.'s remark.

While foreign music and performers still flood the airwaves and concert scenes in the country, our very own Filipino music artists strive to keep OPM (Original  Pilipino Music) alive.  Thanks to the Pinoy bands, new breed of musicians and young composers.  But the industry knows that while there are artists who keep the Filipino music alive, they still need a boost from all sectors, hence the birth of the 1st Philippine Popular Music Festival!

PhilPOP is a songwriting competition open to all amateur and professional Filipino composers. (Click here to know more about PhilPOP.)  A record-breaking 3,000 song entries not just from Filipinos not only in the Philippines but in other parts of the world including United Kingdom, France, Canada, Singapore, Malaya and Hong Kong beat the deadline to submit their entries to PhilPOP in search for the next big Filipino songwriter! The overwhelming local and global response for the competition is another clear indication that OPM is indeed still very much alive – all that is really needed is the right vehicle to showcase their talents.

PhilPOP is composed of respected local artists and prominent personalities from various industries brought together by a shared vision – to spark renewed pride and enthusiasm in OPM and bring about another golden age in Philippine music. At the press conference held recently, the 14 finalists were finally announced to the general public. On July 14, 2012, these top 14 will showcase their compositions through the final performance and competition to be held at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center or PICC.

The 14 finalists are:
“Himig ng Panahon” by Timothy Anjello Alfaro

 “Bigtime” bu Trina Belamide

“Dulo ng Dila” by Noah Zuniga Cabalquinto
“Slowdancing” by John Kennard Eleazar Faraon

"Minsa’y Isang Bansa” by Gary Granada

“Brown” by James Leyte and Jezreel De Oca
“Kesa” by Edwin Marollano
“Piso” by Kristofferson Melecio

“3:00 am” by Keiko Necesario
“Takusa” by Byron Ricamara
“Tayo Tayo Lang” by Ronaldo Sorioso

“Kontrabida” by Soc Villanueva
“Negastar” by Michael Angelo Santos Villegas
“Bawat Hakbang” by Karl Vincent Villuga
(And the song that caught TaDi’s attention is Slowdancing , although I would love to hear more of Trina’s song as she’s among TaDi’s all-time favorites)

I asked the 14 finalists that they are looking at to interpret their songs if given they are given the chance to choose.  Some of the names that came up were Joey G of Side A, Chito Miranda, Gary Valenciano, Michael V or Vice Ganda, Jay-R and Kyla, Yeng Constantino, Juris, Jay of Kamikaze and Akafellas. 

Music maestro and PhilPOP executive director Ryan Cayabyab said, “We want to thank all our kababayans who shared their composition with us. The mere fact that we received this overwhelming response for the very first Philippine Popular Music Festival is a victory not only for OPM but more so, for the Filipino people.” Cayabyab, whose music career, starting out as an amateur songwriter was propelled by a song writing competition, added, “This is an exciting time for the local music industry. With PhilPOP, we are helping shape the future landscape of OPM. The talents and the potential of the Filipino songwriter have always been there. We have proven it many times over. Now, the next step is to shine the spotlight on the best of the best.”

The country has indeed profited from other renowned songwriters whose significant compositions were born out of song writing contests including Jose Mari Chan (“Can we Just Stop and Talk Awhile”, which incidentally was entered in the World Popular Music Festival in Tokyo, “Hahanapin Ko”, “Minsan Pa”), Nonong Pedro (“NArito Ako”, “Isang Mundo, Isang Awit”), George Canseco (“Ako ang Nasawi, Ako ang Nagwagi”), Louie Ocampo (“Ewan”), Snaffu Rigor (“Bulag, Pipi at Bingi”) and Freddie Aguilar whose sentimental hit “Anak” which was translated to more than 50 languages worldwide and went on to become one of the country’s most popular and well-loved songs. In fact, some of these songs were played and sang by Mr. C and some jammed with him. We were blown away by these songs, they’re just so part of our heart and soul.

The top winning entry will receive PhP 1 million in cash and the two runners-up will each receive PhP 500,000 and PhP 250,000 respectively. A People’s Choice Award will also be given to the most popular entry as decided by text votes. The Philippine Popular Music Festival is jointly presented by Maynilad, PLDT and Smart. Major sponsors are Meralco, Resorts World Manila and TV5. Other sponsors are Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), Sun Cellular, First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA), Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and Philex Mining Corp. Media partners are KBP, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star and Radio High.


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