Couple composers win again in this year’s PhilPop songwriting tilt

Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana

Singer-composers Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana were declared champions of this year’s Philippine Popular Music Festival (PhilPop) songwriting competition after their entry, “Triangulo,” bested 11 other songs during Saturday night’s grand finals at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City.

It was the second PhilPop win for the prolific songwriting tandem and real-life couple, which first triumphed in the tilt’s 2013 edition. “I’m about to cry! I’m overwhelmed because we didn’t have expectations. This time we joined to contribute to the local music scene,” Lacsamana told reporters.

Alfaro and Lacsamana received P1 million, as well as a trophy crafted by the renowned glass sculptor Ramon Orlina.

“This is a blessing. Our primary motivation was not winning, but sharing our works and talent,” pointed out Alfaro, who performed “Triangulo” onstage with Lacsamana and “X Factor Philippines” finalist Jeric Medina. “But of course, having this trophy is a wonderful feeling, a bonus.”

Davey Langit’s “Paratingin Mo na Siya”–which he performed–was first runner-up and won for its composer P500,000. Mark Villar took home  P250,000 for the second runner-up finish of his song “Sa Ibang Mundo,” which was interpreted by Nadine Lustre and Kean Cipriano.

Villar’s song likewise won the People’s Choice Award, for an additional P100,000. The Best Music Video trophy, along with P100,000 went to Johann Garcia’s “Edge of the World” (sung by Yassi Pressman and Josh Padilla).

Sixty percent of the entries’ scores were determined in a prejudging session. The remaining 40 percent, meanwhile, were determined by a seven-man panel on finals night.

Rounding out the Top 12 songs, their composers and interpreters  were: “Nasaan” by Lara Maigue (Maigue), “Tanging Pag-Asa Ko” by Paul Armesin (The CompanY);  “Kilig” by Soc Villanueva (Jinky Vidal); “Apat na Buwang Pasko” by Gino Cruz and Jeff Arcilla (Jon Santos);

“Musikaw” by Melchor Magno, Jr.; (James Reid feat.Pio); “For the Rest of My Life” by Ned Esguerra (Side A), “Walang Hanggan” by Ramiru Mataro (Mataro and Donnalyn Bartolome) ​and “I Owe You My Heart” by Melvin Joseph Morallos (Anja Aguilar).

E-mail [email protected]