Music pros win P1.75 million in Philpop tilt
A member of a professional vocal group, a signed artist of a major record label and a previous grand prize winner of an ABS-CBN-backed songwriting contest were named winners of the first Philippine Popular Music Festival, a songwriting competition held at the PICC in Pasay City on Saturday night, July 14.
The composition "Bawat Hakbang," written by Akafellas member Karl Villuga, took the grand prize of one million pesos, with Karl himself interpreting portions of the song with singer Mark Bautista.
MCA Music artist Toto Sorioso was named first-runner up, winning P500,000 for his song, "Tayo-Tayo Lang." It was performed by former band frontman Ebe Dancel.
Veteran tunesmith Soc Villanueva was announced second runner-up. His entry, "Kontrabida," won him P250,000. Villanueva's song, "Kung Ako Na Lang Sana," was the previous grand winner of the 2002 Himig Handog competition for radio-friendly love songs.
Grand prize winner Villuga revealed that his entry took off from the inspirational story, "Footprints in the Sand."
All three winners were given trophies designed by renowned glass sculptor Ramon Orlina.
Public nod for amateur entry
The professionals may have won over the judges but the popular vote favored aspiring singer-songwriter James Leyte. His entry, "Brown"," was named People's Choice, which went with a P200,000 cash prize.
"This is my first time joining a contest and hopefully I become a professional singer-songwriter after this," he said, before performing his song with the reggae band Brownman Revival.
Argued Trina Belamide, who wrote the theme song "Tell the World of His Love" for Pope John Paul II's Manila visit, "Being a professional does not guarantee you anything. There are new songwriters who are just as talented or even more."
Indeed, she, along with fellow pros Mike Villegas and Gary Granada, made the final 14 but didn't place in the top three.
Interesting interpreters, stellar judges
The line-up of interpreters straddled genres.
The group Rocksteddy performed "Takusa" by Byron Ricamara. The songwriter joined in on keyboard, being a member of a rock band member himself.
Nyoy Volante was at home singing "Slowdancing."
Joey Ayala interpreted Krist Melecio's "Piso."
Perhaps the most surprising presence was Marie Digby, a foreign act who sang Keiko Necesario's "3 AM." Digby was warmly welcomed by Pinoy fans when she first visited Manila and seemed comfortable enough to have participated in the competition.
The judges' table was a gathering of well-known songwriters, namely, Yahoo! OMG blogger Ely Buendia, Jim Paredes and Louie Ocampo. Radio DJ Chico Garcia, who was also a judge, said he was looking for "a song that will become a classic" when host Ogie Alcasid asked for his basis in choosing the winner.
Inspiring intermissions
Aired over TV5, the first Philpop Finals night also showcased the winners of the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival, a songwriting competition during the 80s that spawned the likes of Freddie Aguilar.
Classics from the Metropop, acknowledged to be the competition that started it all, were performed live by the likes of Barbie Almalbis, Kitchie Nadal, Gloc 9, Rachel Alejandro, Bugoy Drilon and Hajji Alejandro.
Also performing songs by iconic songwriters whose surnames start with letter C were Sharon Cuneta, Basil Valdez, Regine Velasquez, Erik Santos, Christian Bautista and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers.
