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.

“Song Writing with the Maestro” nationwide tours

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Thousands have been inspired to write Pilipino songs and have been taught by no less than Maestro Ryan Cayabyab (Mr. C.) through the well-received and highly successful “Song Writing with the Maestro” nationwide tour which visited 8 different cities around the country.

It was a fantastic experience for all to be schooled by Mr. C whose program includes lectures on Pilipino music history, songwriting as a tool for nation building, self-expression, entertainment, social commentary and the like, tips and guidelines on writing songs, and musical presentations by special guests.  Accompanied by the Philippine Popular Music Festival finalists and winners, and respected music industry personalities, the program was aimed at encouraging this generation to make music.

Capping off the 5 month program was a 3-day 2-cities road show at the Holy Angel University in Angeles, Pampanga and the University of Baguio.  Both workshops were filled with Pilipino music lovers who hope to one day compose songs that will matter.

The group also went to Padcal to visit the Philex Mining community and hold a mini concert to entertain hundreds of residents at their MVP Sports Complex.  It was a fitting way to end the 2012 run of the Philpop MusicFest Foundation.

“This is what honest to goodness foundation work is all about, we inspire, we spark positive change, and we truly help,” quipped Patrick Gregorio, the VP of the foundation. 

The Song writing with the Maestro activities are aligned with the foundation’s advocacy of enriching original Pilipino music and educating this and future generations on its uniqueness and importance; resounding and preserving the vanishing perhaps forgotten musical gems from the rural areas; and empowering Filipino songwriters whose music can inspire and motivate a nation.

The foundation aims to uplift the Pilipino music industry with Mr. C, its Executive Director, and Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan at the helm, ensuring that our identity through our music is not lost.

“Through this tour, we are doing our part to ensure that this generation and future generations will have a real appreciation of our Pilipino music,” Mr C shares. 

The project is supported by Maynilad, Smart, Meralco, PLDT, Resorts World Manila, TV5, Metro Pacific Investments, North Luzon Expressway, Sun Cellular, First Pacific Leadership Academy, PICC, Philex Mining, the official airline Cebu Pacific and official food sponsor McDonald’s.

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.   

Hundreds Join The Songwriting with the Maestro Tours

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Hundreds more are inspired to write Pilipino songs and are being taught by no less than Maestro Ryan Cayabyab (Mr. C.) through the well-received and highly successful “Song Writing with the Maestro” nationwide tour.

After its successful launch in Manila and second leg in Davao, over 400 more have had the exceptional experience to be schooled by Mr. C whose workshop includes lectures on Pilipino music history, songwriting as a tool for nation building, self-expression, entertainment, social commentary and the like, tips and guidelines on writing songs, and musical presentations by the known and respected personalities aimed to encourage the attendees to make their own music.

The foundation is behind the Philippine Popular Music Festival

The PhilPop MusicFest Foundation (PhilPop) with its thrust is to enrich original Pilipino music and educate this and future generations on its uniqueness and importance; to resound and preserve the vanishing perhaps forgotten musical gems from the rural areas; to empower Filipino songwriters whose music can inspire and motivate a nation.

The foundation has come up with a program that uplifts this challenged industry, with its Executive Director Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan at the helm.

 

With the assistance of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PhilPop has launched its nationwide tour in key cities, holding a workshop with Maestro Cayabyab and several music industry veterans and Philippine Popular Music Festival finalists.

San Beda College, Ermita campus was the first stop of this unique program, with its College of Arts and Science students and its SBC Symphony Singers were amongst the hundreds in attendance, along with students from La Consolacion College, and the University of Sto. Tomas. 

Philpop 1^st placer Toto Sorioso who wrote “Tayo Tayo Lang” led the cast of other budding songwriters like Krist Melecio (“Piso”), Noah Zuniga (“Dulo ng Dila”), Keiko Necesario (“3am”), Thyro Alfaro (“Himig ng Panahon”), Kennard Faraon (“Slowdancing”) and Smart People’s Choice winner James Leyte (“Brown”) who all shared their experiences, and performed their winning songs.

“The outcome was very encouraging and the students were really engaged and captivated by the lecture”, shared Maestro Cayabyab.  “More than that, they had fun!  Through this tour, we are doing our part to ensure that this generation and future generations will have a real appreciation of our Pilipino music.”

The second stop of the tour was in Abreeza Mall in Davao where local partner Phoenix Fuels gathered hundreds of students from several schools, and members of different music organizations in the region where they interacted with the Maestro, award-winning R&B duo Thyro and Yumi, and one of the industry’s best Trina Belamide.

With the tour’s official airline Cebu Pacific, the “Songwriting with the Maestro” tour will be headed to Cebu (Benedicto College on October 12), Puerto Princesa (Palawan State University on October 16) Naga (with the Francis Padua Papica Foundation on November 24), Baguio (University of Baguio on December 17) and other key cities.

The project is supported by Maynilad, Smart, Meralco, PLDT, Resorts World Manila, TV5, Metro Pacific Investments, North Luzon Expressway, Sun Cellular, First Pacific Leadership Academy, PICC, Philex Mining, the official airline Cebu Pacific and official food sponsor McDonald’s.

PhilPOP Search for the Next, Big Filipino Composer is Ongoing

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Philippine Popular Music Festival (PhilPOP), led by its executive director and music maestro Mr. C, Ryan Cayabyab, issued a last call to Filipino composers, performers and music lovers to join the PhilPOP songwriting competition.

“We are inviting all Filipino composers to come out and share their work. This is your moment to shine. It’s high time we once again celebrate the artistry of the Filipino musician. Your big shot at song-writing success begins at this first ever Philippine Popular Music Festival,” Cayabyab said.

Fourteen (14) finalist will be chosen for a final performance and competition night to be held on July 14, 2012 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). The composer of the top winning entry will receive P1 million in cash and two runners-up will each receive P500,000 and P250,000 respectively. A People’s Choice award will also be given to the most popular entry as decided by online and text votes.

With PhilPOP, Cayabyab now comes full circle in his career as one of the Philippines’ most celebrated musicians – inspiring a new generation of song writers and composers as well as spearheading the renaissance of OPM through a familiar platform he himself has gone through a familiar platform he himself has gone through.

More than just the excitement of the prizes at stake, the music maestro explained the long-term impact of the competition for the eventual winners. 

“PhilPOP” is not just a one-time, big-time shot at fame. It can be stepping stone to the building a long and successful music career. More than anything else, it’s a chance to carve a niche in the industry and change the landscape of local music,”  he added.

The PhilPOP buzz has traveled beyond the archipelago and has now reached Filipinos in other parts of the world including Thailand, North America, Hong Kong, Ireland, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, France and the United Kingdom.

PhilPOP is a collaboration among respected local artists and prominent personalities from various industries brought together by a shared vision – to sprak renewed pride and enthusiasm in Origianal Pilipino Music (OPM) and bring about another golden age in Philippine music.

Interested composers may still submit their entries online at PhilPOP.com.ph until midnight of May 10, 2012.

* Song entries must be in MP3 format and can be in any popular music genre or a fusion of known genres, in any form or structure. 

* Each composition must not exceed four minutes. 

* Contestants can submit a maximum of two songs, either as a sole composer or as a collaborator. * Song lyrics may be in Filipino, English, any Filipino dialect or a combination thereof. 

* Entries will be judged based on the artistry and creativity of music (50%) and lyrics (50%).

Click this to register at PhilPop. 

The Philippine Popular Music Festival is jointly presented by Maynilad, Meralco, PLDT, Smart Communications, Sun Cellular, North Luzon Expressway, Metro Pacific Investments, PICC, Philex Mining Corporation and TV5.

For more information, please visit PhilPOP.com.ph.