Ryan Cayabyab
After going on a hiatus last year, the PhilPop Foundation is bringing back its namesake songwriting competition—this time, boasting significantly more varied entries from different provinces and in different languages.
Of the 30 semifinalists, more than half are from outside Metro Manila: eight from Luzon, five from Visayas, and five from Mindanao. And a good number of which, contest organizers said, were written in Hiligaynon and Bisaya.
The diversity of this year’s roster is the result of the songwriting boot camps PhilPop held in 2017 in Antipolo, Baguio, Cebu and Davao cities.
Boot camps
“We noticed that the majority of finalists and winners of the contest’s previous editions were all from Metro Manila or nearby provinces; that almost all the entries were in Filipino or English,” Dinah Remolacio, PhilPop executive director, said at a recent press conference.
“But knowing that there are other talented songwriters around the country, we thought of holding boot camps in different key cities,” she added.
From here on, PhilPop’s songwriting competition and boot camp components will be held in alternate years.
About time
Acclaimed musician Ryan Cayabyab, who facilitated the lectures at the boot camps, stressed that it was about time “that we start opening our ears” to songs in other Philippine languages.
“We have to listen to the works of our fellow composers from different regions, because they have their own stories,” he said.
For instance, Bisaya, Cayabyab noted, creates “specific sounds or melodies that are unique.”
“It has its own inflections and rhythm,” he pointed out. “Whenever I hear Visayan pop songs, I’m instantly drawn to them, because they sound new and, strangely enough, also familiar and affecting. We want to encourage budding artists to make songs; write about their unique experiences in their own languages.”
The 30 semifinalists’ songs will be produced by PhilPop’s label partner, Viva Records.
The roster will be trimmed down further to 10 after another round of judging, and will proceed to the finals. The Top 10 will be showcased at the finals night on Nov. 30 at the Capitol Commons in Pasig.
Top 30
Here are the Top 30 entries: “AEIOU” by Kenneth John Pores (Cavite); “Ako, Ako” by Jeriko Buenafe (NCR); “Away Wa’y Buwagay” by Eamarie Gilayo and Jovit Leonerio (Davao del Sur); “Bumbero” by Michael Llave (NCR); “Di Ko Man” by Ferdinand Aragon (Cebu); “Ikaw ang Aking Pag-ibig” by Mark Jay Felipe (Nueva Ecija); “Isang Gabing Pag-ibig” by Carlo Angelo David (NCR); “Kariton” by Philip Arvin Jarilla (Rizal); “Kelan Kaya?” by Sarah Bulahan (NCR); “Kilabl” by Karlo Frederico Zabala (NCR);
“Korde Kodigo” by Jeremy Sarmiento (Davao del Sur); “Laon Ako” by Elmar Jan Bolano and Donel Transporto (Iloilo); “LDR (Layong ’Di Ramdam)” by Russ Narcies Cabico (NCR); “LGBT (Laging Ganito Ba Tayo?)” by Kyle Pulido (Davao del Sur); “Lilipad” by Agatha Morallos and Melvin Joseph Morallos (Benguet); “Loco De Amor!” by Edgardo Miraflor Jr. (Negros Occidental); “Mahirap Magselos” by Paul Hildawa (NCR); “Makisabay” by Carlo Angelo David (NCR); “Malilimutan Din Kita” by Marvin Blue Corpuz (South Cotabato); “MMRA” by Oliver Narag (NCR);
“Nanay Tatay” by Teodoro Festejo III (Davao del Sur); “Oka” by Michael Angelo Aplacador (NCR); “Perfectly Imperfect Human” by Barry Villacarillo (Cebu); “Pilipit (Paano Sasabihing Mahal Kita)” by Sean Gabriel Cedro and John Ray Reodique (Rizal); “Promise Sorry Note” by Michael Angelo Aplacador (NCR); “Pwede” by Agatha Morallos and Melvin Joseph Morallos (Benguet); “Tama Na” by Michael Rodriguez and Jeanne Columbine Rodriguez (NCR); “Unang Adlaw Nga Wala Ka” by Therese Marie Villarante and Henrick James Pestano (Cebu); “Utang” by Ignacio Dennis Roxas (Bulacan); and “‘Yun Tayo” by Donnalyn Onilongo (Rizal).