Himig Handog: Who will be ‘it’?

MANILA, Philippines - Guess what Filipinos like to write and sing about?

Based on the 2,500 entries submitted to the come-backing ABS-CBN and Star Records songwriting tilt Himig Handog, majority of them were about heartbreak and its various shades and colors — from unrequited feelings, abortive romance, to pining for a lost love. 

“They sent us very emotional songs,” said Star Records head Roxy Liquigan of the entries to the 2013 edition. “Pinoys are into heartbreak songs... I think we can relate more to those kinds of songs. That’s how we see it.”

Himig Handog had its initial run in the early 2000’s and produced such OPM hits as Kung Ako Na Lang Sana, This Guy’s in Love with You, Pare and Hanggang.

“With the revival going on in the music industry, we thought of bringing (Himig Handog) back so we can discover new composers and songs that ABS-CBN can use in the future — as themes for movies or teleseryes,” Liquigan said. “Iniisip din namin baka may bagong tunog na rin… so that people have something new to hear.”

The huge turnout has since been trimmed down to 12 finalists, most of which are works from amateur songwriters. And the sounds come in variety, too, from reggae, slow to up-tempo.

Making up the 12 finalists are Alaala by Ma. Fe Mechenette Tianga, Melvin Huervana and Joel Jabat Jr.; Ano’ng Nangyari sa Ating Dalawa, Jovinor Tan; Hanggang Wakas, Soc Villanueva; If You Ever Change Your Mind, Marion Aunor; Kahit Na, Julius James de Belen; Nasa Iyo na ang Lahat, Jungee Marcelo; One Day, Agatha Morallos; Pwede Bang Ako na Lang Ulit, Jeffrey Cifra; Sana’y Magbalik, Arman Alferez; Scared to Death, Domingo Rosco Jr.; Tamang Panahon, Wynn Andrada; and This Song’s For You, Jude Gitamondoc.

These were interpreted and recorded by such Kapamilya singers as Toni Gonzaga, Daniel Padilla, Jovit Baldivino, Angeline Quinto, Aiza Seguerra, Juris, Erik Santos and KZ Tandingan (with two composers — Wynn and Marion — singing their own songs) for the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs album.

After the finalists’ radio airplay nationwide and music videos made by college students airing on MYX, the big winner is to be determined tomorrow night, Feb. 24, in a grand show at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, also featuring the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra (under the baton of maestro Gerard Salonga, also the music director of the finals night).

Music industry bigwigs, established composers, ABS-CBN execs and recording artists will compose the judging panel.

What makes a song the winner? For Liquigan, “No. 1 is the melody, of course, then musicality, lyrics and overall impact of the song.”

As for the prizes, P1M will go to the first prize winner, with the P500,000, P200,000, P150,000 and P100,000 for the second, third, fourth and fifth placers, respectively. Non-winners, on the other hand, will get P50,000 each. There will also be five special awards from Star Records, MOR, Tambayan, MYX and TFC.

Unlike in other songwriting tilts, there will be no award for the best interpreter, as they want the focus to be on the composer.

The singers like Bugoy and Juris said that they were nervous and very careful about getting the song interpretation right, always keeping in mind that the competition is not about them but about the composers.

At any rate, the Top 12 are winners already, given the assurance that their songs will be used by ABS-CBN. “We have projects lined up for their songs already,” said Liquigan, adding that to date, three finalists have already been chosen as theme songs for a movie, another three for a teleserye and one for a Koreanovela. “That’s the point of choosing the 12 — that their songs will be used for sure.”

Good news for some of the songs that weren’t able to make it to the Top 12 as they are also being considered for future use. Liquigan said, “It just so happened that we had to choose 12. But we have another batch of about 50 songs that we’re thinking of producing in the next three years,” to become singles in the future albums of Star Records artists.