3 newcomers join Final 12 for 27th Cebu Pop Music Fest

Three relatively new composers were able to get into the list of 12 official entries that will vie for the grand prize of the 27th Cebu Popular Music Festival on January 19, 2007 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The three were Renante Jumao-as, Fortunato Viovicente Jr., and Norman Jabonero. They would be pitting their songs with nine others that have been deemed "veterans" of the festival for being finalists in past editions of the annual contest.

Cebu Pop Music Festival executive director Philogene Florita said the three compositions of newcomers among the Final 12 are: 1) Kausaban by Viovicente Jr. with lyrics by Roy Caballero; 2) Buhing Pangandoy by Jumao-as; and 3) Kalandrakas by Jabonero.

The other finalists are: 1) Sabong by Ronald Amila; 2) Bakho sa Anghel by Frederick Villarojo with lyrics by Gweendolyn Suico-Crescencio; 3) Pahimangno ni Nanay by Fernando Rabutan; 4) Pobreng Ilusyonista by Lauro Flores; 5) Sugbuanon Ako by Dennis Martin and Norms Tomada; 6) Lihok Kabataan by Jun Cabillar; 7) Puno sa Gugma by Fernando Rabutan; 8) Bisan Anino Lang by Frederick Villarojo; and 9) Ikaw Unta by Rev. Fr. Ponce Jed Bellones.

The 12 finalists this year have been chosen from among 109 entries from aspiring and veteran composers from Visayas and Mindanao.

Their compositions underwent a six-hour long selection process, conducted by an elite board of screeners that first pared the list to 22 before coming up with the final 12.

The Final 12 songs deal with themes such as pains and joy of falling in love, call for change and unity, fulfillment of a childhood dream, the present state of society, and good values inculcated by a mother to her child.

The board of screeners was composed of Dr. Orvilla Hershman, Nayla Beltran, Vilma Galan, Ryan Mark, Jay Unchuan, Baby Condeno, Sam Constanilla, Gloria Villarojo and lawyer Rey Belarmino. - Ryan P. Borinaga