On its 4th year, the Philippine Popular Music Festival celebrates the diversity of Filipino music as it announces its Top 12 finalists covering varying genres and themes.
The final cut has been determined from about 2500 songs including entries from Filipino songwriters based not only in the Philippines but from other parts of the world including Australia, Canada, the Middle East. other South East Asian countries and various states in the US. One of them can be the next big Filipino songwriter.
What makes this year’s edition of the country‘s premier songwriting competition is that the Top 12 consists of a strong mix of familiar names and promising newcomers.
Among them are five previous Philpop finalists (Ther Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana, Paul Armesin, Davey Langit, Lara Maigue and Soc Villanueva) that include a previous grand prize winner (Ther and Yumi) and a former runner-up (Soc Villanueva) who is returning to the finals for the third time.
One of them (Melchor Magoo, Jr.) made it to the finals with his very first entry in Philpop’s four-year history while six others (Gino Gonzalez Cruz and Iefi’Arcilla, Ned Esguerra, Johannes Daniel Garcia, Ramiro Mataro, Melvin Joseph Morallos and Mark Villar) have submitted entries in past Philpop editions but have only made it to the finals this time.
One entry (Paul Armesin’s “Tanging Pag-asa ko”) is a gospel tune intended to be sung a capella, another (Ned Esguerra’s “For The Rest of My Life”) has an old standard, torchy feel to it At least four [Johannes Daniel Garcia’s “Edge of the World”, Melchor Magno, Jr.’s “Musikaw”, Ramiro Mataro’s “Walang Hanggan”, and Mark Villar’s “Sa Ibang Mundo”) were acknowledged by their creators as partly influenced by the emerging EDM (electronic dance music) genre.
While love remains a pervasive theme, several entries have unusual takes on the subject One entry [Soc Villanueva’s “Kilig”] uses food as a metaphor for spicing up a relationship. Another (Thyro 8: Yumi’s ‘Tfiangulo”) is about a love triangle from three different viewpoints.
There’s also a quirky tune (Davey Langit’s “Paratingin Mo Naman Siya”) that depicts a single individual “left behind” by friends who have either recently married or are already starting families; a piano-based ballad (Lara Maigue’s “Nasaan’j that “cinematically” depicts the longing for a lost love; and a song (Melvin Joseph Morallos’ “l Owe You My Heart”) that was written with a little help from the songwriter’s wife and baby. As unusual subjects go, there’s even one (“Apat Na Buwang Pasko” by Gino Gonzalez Cruz and Jeff Arcilla) humorously tackles one’s disdain over the lengthy Christmas celebration in the country.
“True to Philpop’s rallying cry of ‘Loud and Proud’, this year’s batch of Philpop finalists represents a diverse collection of engaging songs that will resonate loudly with fans of Filipino music long after the competition is over,” declared master composer and Philpop Executive Director Ryan Cayabyab.
The Top 12 finalists of PhilPOP 2015:
Triangulo” written by Ther Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana
Tanging Pag-asa ko” written by Paul Armesin
Apat na Buwang Pasko written by Gino Gonzalez Cruz and Iefi Arcilla .
For The Rest of my Life” written by Ned Esguerra
“Edge of the World” written by Johannes Daniel Garcia
Paratingin MO maman siya” written by Davey Langit
Musikaw by Melchor Magno,
Nasaan by Lara Maigue
Walang Hanggan by Ramiro Mataro
I Owe You My Heart” by Melvin Joseph Morallos
Kilig by Soc Villanueva
Sa lbang Mundo by Mark Villar
These entries will be performed by interpreters selected by the songwriters during PhilPOP 2015’s grand finals night scheduled on July 25.
The grand prize winner will receive P1 million in cash while two runners-up will get P500,000 and P250,000 respectively. A special Spinnr People’s Choice Award will be given to the most popular entry as determined by votes via Spinnr.
Philpop is presented by Smart and Spinnr, the country’s biggest music portal, and co-presented by Maynilad, Meralco, and PLDT Home. It is also supported by NLEX, Sun Cellular, Metro Pacific Investments, TV5,Sony, VIVA Communications, VIVA Records, Pinoy Box Office, Pinas F M, Radio Republic, MTV Pinoy, Philippine Star, InterAksyon and Pep.ph
