Aiza tops Awit Awards

This new wind for the award-giving season for the music industry continues with the Awit Awards for 2001’s best releases. This comes really late. It is now September. But late or not, this bit of news is certainly most welcome for music fans and certainly for the winners who can add another trophy to their collections.

Sharon Cuneta was out of town and unable to personally accept the Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino award the Philippine Association for Record Industry conferred on her in recognition of her achievements as a music artist these past 25 years. But she did tape her acceptance speech earlier. And Rico Puno, Rey Valera, Hajji Alejandro and Richard Merk did sing up a storm of the Megastar’s biggest hits during the 15th Awit Awards ceremonies held last Thursday evening at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The other big honoree of the night though was very much present. Former child star Aiza Seguerra officially joined the ranks of Filipino music greats when she reaped a total of four trophies including the much-coveted Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist. Take note that the diminutive Aiza was up against some of the brightest female stars in this category – Regine Velasquez, Lea Salonga, Jessa Zaragoza, Jolina Magdangal and Sharon Cuneta. The competition was formidable. But with a song as popular as Pagdating ng Panahon, it was not at all likely that Aiza would miss. She received five nominations from the Awit and lost out in only one, that of Best Ballad Recording which went to Alipin Ako by Mari.

Another happy winner was Ogie Alcasid who recently returned from Australia where his wife Michelle gave birth to their second daughter, another girl. Ogie won for Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist for his bittersweet love song Ikaw Sana. This too, came as a surprise for many because Ogie was up against biggies like Martin Nievera, Rico J. Puno, Dingdong Avanzado and the only newcomer in the line-up LA Lopez. Ogie also bagged the biggest prize of the evening, the Album of the Year award for his A Better Man.

Here is the list of the Awit Award winners:

Best Vocal Performance, Female: Aiza Seguerra, Pagdating ng Panahon

Best Vocal Performance, Male: Ogie Alcasid, Ikaw Sana

Best Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group: The CompanY, Gusto Ko ng A Capella

Best Pop Collaboration: Dessa and Rannie Raymundo, Noon, Ngayon

Best Pop Recording: Pagdating ng Panahon

Song of the Year: Pagdating ng Panahon by Moy Ortiz and Edith Gallardo

Best Produced Album: Pagdating ng Panahon by Aiza Seguerra

Best New Female Artist: Karylle, Can’t Live Without You

Best New Male Artist: Gabby Eigenmann, Loving

Best New Duo or Group: Roots from Jesse Too Far Too Fast

Best Rap Recording: Isang Araw by Gloc 9

Best Alternative Recording Artist: Rivermaya, Umaaraw, Umuulan

Best Novelty Recording Artist: Gladys & D’Boxers, Ako’y Napapa-Uhh

Best Jazz with Vocals: Sa Aking Tabi by Jaya

Best Ballad Recording: Alipin Ako by Mari

Best Rock Recording: No Falter by Wolfgang

Best Instrumental Performance: John Lesaca Heal Our Land

Best Movie Theme Song: Habang Atin ang Gabi from La Vida Rosa by South Border

Best Christmas Recording: Can’t Stop Christmas by Martin Nievera

Best Music Video: Money for Food and Sumasarap ang Gumising by True Faith

Best Album Cover: Joseph de Veyra, Nothing I Want More by Sharon Cuneta

Album of the Year: A Better Man by Ogie Alcasid.

The Awit Awards night was hosted by Randy Santiago, Rachel Alejandro, Franco Laurel and Roselle Nava. Others who performed in the show were Dulce, Dessa, Ladine Roxas, Arnee Hidalgo.

Congratulations to all the winners. Congratulations too to PARI for a simple, well-produced presentation, albeit, low-key if compared to other awards nights. PARI should also take a bow for 15 years of the Awit Awards. This is no easy task and the organization has certainly made some mistakes and gotten its share of brickbats. But the Awit remains alive and mind you, this is despite monumental problems like diminishing sales, piracy and foreign music competition.

UST Symphony Orchestra concert

On the concert scene, The University of Santo Tomas, in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, presents The UST Symphony Orchestra in Concert at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the CCP tonight at 8. Featured soloists are Frenvee Andra, bassoon, Ronan Ferrer, tenor and Thea Perez, soprano. The concert’s highlight is the performance of the multi-movement composition The Planets by Gustav Holst.