PHILPOP Music Festival 2013 Announces Final 12

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“Your theme, your genre, your song”

PhilPOP Musicfest with the main message of “Your theme, your genre, your song” encouraged Filipinos from all over the world to write song limited only by their creativity. The response to the call for entries was tremendous, generating a record breaking 3,383 submission!

The majority of the entries come from Quezon City, Makati, and Manila and outside the country like Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Germany, China, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Australia, Canada, Norway, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Ireland, UK, Thailand, and Macau. Most overseas entries came from the United States, official entries are down to the Final 12.

As announced by Philpop MusicFest Foundations’s Executive Director Ryan Cayabyab here are this year's finalists and their song entries:

(Photo c/o PhilPop )

Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana "Dati"

Myrus Apacible "Sana Pinatay Mo Nalang Ako"

Paul Armesin "Segundo"

Marion Aunor "Do, Do, Do"

Joey Ayala "Papel"

Marlon Barnuevo "Araw, Ulap, Langit"

Gani Brown "Askal"

Raffy Calicdan "Space"

Johnoy Danao "Kung 'di Man"

Lara Maigue "Sayo Nalang Ako"

Jungee Marcelo "Pansamantagal"

Adrienne Sarmiento-Buenaventura "Sometimes That Happens"

Philpop MusicFest Foundation’s executive director Mr. Cayabyab shares that this is the most diverse collection of entries.

“I heard a lot of rock, pop, rap, hip hop, folk, R and B, ballad, a sprinkling of swing and dance music. There are some attempts to do a modernized kundiman and quite a lot of novelty songs that visibly entertained the adjudicating panel. I can’t wait to hear the top 12 that this year’s special panel will present in the finals night on July 6, 2013!”

Respected and renowned industry professionals, from record label executives, musicians, composers, singers, artists, radio personalities, and people from the academe make up the adjudication panel. The organizing committee had to fill around 140 seats throughout the 4-stage screening process.

“It was mind boggling at the start. Going through more than three thousand songs is no joke but Philpop has almost perfected the system. Maraming puedeng winners. Maraming puedeng hits. More than half of the 12 finalists were consistently in the top of the heap. 4 sets of panelists could not have been wrong. Dark horses made it too. It’s thrilling,” Cayabyab adds.

With the hands-on leadership of business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, the foundation, with the endeavour to involve itself in nation building through music, have set out to identify deserving songwriters who can inspire and spark positive change through their songs and are given the opportunity to shine. This is reinforced by its board of directors headed by Ricky Vargas, Ogie Alcasid, Noel Cabangon, Doy Vea, Al Panlilio, Patrick Gregorio, Randy Estrellado and Butch Jimenez.

The million-peso champion of the first ever Philippine Popular Music Festival is former Akafellas member Karl Villuga with his song “Bawat Hakbang”. The composition, which was about overcoming a personal crisis, was interpreted by Villuga along with his former groupmates and balladeer Mark Baustista.

“We are looking forward to again stage the biggest and most illustrious song writing competition in Philippines history with an even more songwriters vying for the 1 million pesos grand prize this 2013,” says Mr. Cayabyab.

PhilPOP is supported by Maynilad, Smart, Meralco, PLDT, Resorts World Manila, TV5, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, NLEX, Sun Cellular, the First Pacific Leadership Academy, KBP, and Philex.

Solar Day Pilipinas!

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Tomorrow will officially mark the first ever Solar Day Pilipinas! WWF, in partnership with the Philippine Solar Power Alliance, will launch this one day event to promote the use of solar technology in our very sunny country that is incredibly rich with solar energy resources!

You can come and talk to numerous solar power developers who'll be at the event and ask questions, canvass, and get a basic assessment of whether solar power makes sense for you! And as a matter of fact, it almost always does!

Did you know that apart from reducing the amount of electricity you pay per month in your electricity bill, installing a solar panel could also reduce the peso rate per kWh that you pay? Yes, it's true! All residential homes are categorized into certain brackets based on your consumption, from 50kWh to 500kWh! Each bracket has a different rate for distribution charges because the more you consume, the more resources are focused sending electricity toyour home! By installing a solar panel, you not only reduce your total bill, but you could also lower your bracket of electricity consumption, thereby decreasing the rate per kWh that you're paying!

Not only that but when electricity from the grid is unavailable due to power outages, your solar panel will still produce electricity for your home, allowing your home to become independent from the limitations of the power grid! And you're definitely helping the environment too and not being held ransom by rising fossil fuel prices!

So let's see each other tomorrow at Arts in the City in Fort Bonifacio!

Gates open at 5pm!

Together, we can prove that it's more SUN in the Philippines!

PhilPOP 2013 is on higher level and is now accepting entries

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After a successful debut earlier this year, the illustrious Philippine Popular Music Festival songwriting competition is gearing up for its 2^nd run this 2013.  As early as January 1, entries are accepted on www.philpop.com.ph, with the deadline running until February 28.

The group behind this this endeavour is the PhilPop Musicfest Foundation Inc, which involves itself in nation building through music.  It seeks to identify deserving songwriters who can inspire and spark positive change through their songs and are given the opportunity to shine. 

Expecting to break the record of 3,000 participants in the initial run, Philpop, under the baton of its Executive Director Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, laid out a more comprehensive and arduous screening process to find the top 14 finalists. 

The competition is open to amateurs and professionals, participant must be of Filipino descent so even those residing abroad can join, the song entry may be written in a popular or new song genre, or a fusion thereof, in any form or structure, as lyrics may be in Filipino, a Philippine regional language, a Philippine dialect, English, or any combination thereof.

The song entry must be entirely original. It must not be licensed to any publisher; has not been printed and distributed as hard copy; or through the internet; has never been previously recorded and must not infringe on any existing copyright or any other rights. It must not have been performed live in any venue, on traditional radio and television, or internet, or pre-recorded and uploaded on the internet, or recorded on video or other format for future broadcast.

The million-peso champion of the first ever Philippine Popular Music Festival is former Akafellas member Karl Villuga with his song “Bawat Hakbang”.  The composition, which was about overcoming a personal crisis, was interpreted by Villuga along with his former groupmates and crooner Mark Bautista. First runner-up award went to Australia-based  Soc Villanueva with his R&B song “Kontrabida” sung by Sam Concepcion.  Young composer Toto Sorioso won the second runner-up prize for his composition “Tayo Tayo Lang” performed by former Sugarfree frontman Ebe Dancel while first timer James Leyte, who works in an IT department, won the Smart People’s Choice Award for his reggae-influenced song entitled “Brown” co-interpreted by Brownman Revival.  Maestro Cayabyab clarifies that even the past winners can still join the competition.

“We are continuing to promote the songs from the Philpop and the album while drawing up strategies to further thrust these songwriters and songs into the spotlight” shares Maestro Cayabyab.  “We are looking forward to again stage the biggest and most illustrious song writing competition in Philippine history with an even more songwriters vying for the 1 million pesos grand prize this 2013”.

PhilPOP is supported by Maynilad, Smart, Meralco, PLDT, Resorts World Manila, TV5, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, NLEX, Sun Cellular, the First Pacific Leadership Academy, KBP, and Philex.   

Maliwanag ang Pasko 2012

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Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, with the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self, everything shines and more beautiful!

Maliwanag ang Pasko has been Meralco’s signature Christmas CSR campaign for the last 6 years. Through all these years, Maliwanag ang Pasko has helped send thousands of underprivileged children all over the country to school, helping them on their way towards a brighter future. Each child sent to school was made possible through the kind and generous participation of many Filipinos who lit up their homes during Christmas.

For 2012, Maliwanag ang Pasko is poised to become even bigger and brighter than the previous years.

This year, Meralco partnered with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to brighten up the country even further during Christmas. Maliwanag ang Pasko is a campaign that strategically aligns with the DOT’s vision of putting the Philippines on the global tourism map. Moreover, Meralco is also partnering with different commercial establishments and Local Government Units to establish special Liwanag Parks all over Metro Manila.

We have witnessed last Friday, November 16, 2012, in the Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall, Meralco Compound, Ortigas Ave. , the announcement of the partnership between Meralco headed by Manny V. Pangilinan and Department of Tourism lead by Sec. Mon Jimenez. It was attended by Meralco execs and partner Local Government Units represented by respective Mayors and their offices.

It's time to MOVE ! MeralcO Virtual Engine

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The MeralcO Virtual Engine is an App that lets you access Six (6) Meralco Apps on your smart mobiles and tablets.

Six (6) Meralco services namely Meralco Office Directory, Power Maintenance Schedule, Appliance Calculator, E-meralco Bill, Bayad Center Directory lastly Meralco Bright Ideas.

The Meralco Office Directory App

Where is the nearest Meralco Office?  This App provides a complete list of Meralco business center, auxilliary, extension and payment offices and their contact information including mailing address, telephone number and facsimile number. Maps are also available to help us easily locate Meralco offices.

How to use the Meralco Office Directory:

1. Tap on Meralco Office Directory icon.

2. Tap on the city or provinceto check all meralco offices in that area

3. Tap on the Meralco office to view the map. Internet connection is required to view the static map.  Finding the nearest business center is just a tap away and all locations come with a nice detailed map so you won’t get lost.

Bayad Center Directory App

Where can we pay our bill?  Paying bills is no longer a hassle even if you are on the go.  All you do is to MOVE! 

The Bayad Center Directory has a complete list of CIS Bayad Center branches that accept Meralco bill payments. Easily contact and locate accredited payment centers through the contact information and location maps provided.

How to use the Bayad Center Directory:

1. Tap on the Bayad Center Directory icon.

2. Type keywords for the location you want to check.

3. All Bayad Center branches that match the keywords will be displayed along with the complete contact information.

4. Tap on the branch to view the static map.

E Meralco Bill App

How to get details of your last two Meralco bills anytime, anywhere? Information provided includes kwh consumption, bill amount, breakdown of charges, payment status, Meralco reference number and ATM reference number. Creation of an E-Bill account is required.

How to use the E-Meralco Bill

1. Enter your E-bill username and password and tap on the login button.

2. Tap on the service identification number you want to inquire about. Details of your current bill will be displayed.

3. Tap on the Previous Bill button to view details of your previous bill.

Appliance Calculator App

How much electricity would a certain appliance consume?  Meralco Appliance Calculator estimates the consumption cost of common home appliances based on Meralco residential electricity rates, which are updated monthy.  You might have seen those ATM type machines inside Meralco Business Centers , now you can have the estimates you want anytime and anywhere on your mobiles. Results may vary from the actual consumption reflected on the our Meralco bill.

How to use the Meralco Appliance Calculator:

1. Tap on the Meralco AppCal icon.

2. Tap the Monthly bill amount field to enter your average monthly electric bill (ex. 3000)

3. Tap on the Classicafication field to select an appliance category (ex. General Appliances, Aircon, etc.)

4. Tap on the Type field to select specific appliance (ex Aircon 1.0 HP)

5. Tap on the No. of Hours Used field to select how many hours per day you use the appliance you selected.

6. Tap on the No. of Days Used field to select how many days per week you use the appliance you selected.

7. Tap on the No. of Weeks Used field to select how many weeks per month you use the appliance you selected.

8. Tap on the Calculate button to see the estimated operating cost of your appliance per Hour, Day, Week and Month.

Power Maintenance Schedule App

This app provides information on scheduled power interruptions due to maintenance activities.  If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to scroll and scan the Meralco FB page for power maintenance schedules just tap on the App and you’ll be updated. Know the schedule of power interruptions so you can your activities accordingly.

How to use the Power Maintenance Schedule

1. Tap on the Power Maintenance Schedule icon.

2. Tap on the buttons at the bottom of the screen to view the schedule by:

a. Service Identification Number

b. City

c. Date

3. Select an option to view the start date, start time, end date, end time, city, coverage, reasons for power interruption and other details.

4. Tap on the All button to view PDF showing the whole schedule for the week

Bright Ideas App

You can become smarter in using electricity. Check this App for loads of facts and tips. Bright Ideas provides energy efficiency and safety tips and updates on Meralco promos and service offerings.

How to use the the Bright Ideas App

1. Tap on the Bright ideas icon.

2. Tap on the room you want to explore.

3. Tap on the appliances to get techniques in choosing energy efficient appliances and ways on how to efficiently operate your appliances.

4. For new tips, tap on the Update Tips button. Also watch out for promos, discounts, and other special offerings from Meralco.

The MeralcO Virtual Engine (MOVE) is available on the App Store for your apple devices, on Google Play for your Windows and Android mobiles/tabs and on BlackBerry App World on your BlackBerry phones and Playbook.

For more details visit Meralco website at http://meralco.com.ph or follow @meralco for real time assistance via twitter.

On Google Play:

MOVE for Android Phones

MOVE for Android Tablets

On iTunes:

MOVE for iPhone

MOVE for iPad