Triangulo wins grand prize in fun Philpop night

Andrew E with his remarkable rap chops, heartthrobs Mark Bautista and Dingdong Avanzado with the acrobatic A Team dancers set the pace with a medley of dance hits. And from then on, it was one fun number after another as Filipino talent laid out its best at the Philpop 2015 finals night held at the Meralco Theater last Saturday evening, July 25.

Philpop is a songwriting competition. So some finalists won and some lost. But it was really more than that. The enjoyable Philpop contest is a coming together of talent from everywhere in the country. It is also one more proof that if given the chance to shine, Pinoy talent will glow, sparkle, glitter, glisten and marvel with excellence. And this year, they did more than ever they have done before.

If I had 12 million bucks or maybe just P11M because Philpop is already giving away the P1M grand prize to the top winner, I would give each finalist a million to be divided among songwriters and interpreters and those music video directors who pooled their talents together to come up with these memorable entries we are enjoying now.

I had a feeling that was also what the audience at the Meralco Theater was thinking during the finals show directed by Paul Basinillo. They were also as torn as I was among the entries. They would love to have given it to Jon Santos with the Philippine Ballet Theater in one of those rare instances when a contestant received a standing ovation.  Maybe also to The CompanY with its stunning vocals or the suave, jazzy Side A or maybe to Anya Aguilar whose looks and beautiful singing sent waves around the hall.

Ice Princess Nadine Lustre met her flaming match with rocker Kean Cipriano. The daring Yassi Pressman skywalked while Josh Padilla sang. Ramiro and Donnalyn made a cute pair. Jinky Vidal’s scatting was so gorgeous and Davey Langit was a total crowd pleaser. I thought Lara Maigue had too much going on onstage but she looked and sounded pretty. And I do not know if there is anybody who will deny the fact that the best looking guy in the room and mind you, he had the voice to match, was James Reid.

And the winner, the one that bested them all is Triangulo by now-two-time Philpop grand champions Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana. They first won two years ago with Dati. This year they are sharing the honor with singer Jeric Medina. Triangulo won the P1M grand prize and a Ramon Orlina glass trophy.

Here now is the rest of the 2015 Philpop honor roll. Paratingin Mo Na Siya, composed and interpreted by singer, composer, guitaist, ukelele player and radio DJ, Davey came in as first runner-up with a cash prize of P500,000 and an Orlina trophy;. Sa Ibang Mundo, by Mark Villar and interpreted by Nadine and Kean, was named second runner-up with a cash prize of P250,000 and an Orlina trophy

Special prizes went to Edge Of The World composed by Johannes Daniel Garcia, performed by aspiring singers and actors and now MTV VJs Yassi and Josh with video director Nolan Buencamino, which was awarded the Best Music Video trophy and P100,000 from Meralco; and to Sa Ibang Mundo which won the People’s Choice Award from Maynilad with a cash prize of P100,000.

And once again, here are the other finalists. It is just, too, bad that not all of them can win a prize. But believe you me, each of them is worthy of becoming a future classic: Walang Hanggan by Ramiro Mataro, performed by Ramiro with social media darling Donnalyn Bartolome; Musikaw by Melchior Magno Jr, interpreted by heartthrob James featuring rapper Pio; I Owe You My Heart by Melvin Joseph Morallos, performed by singing champion Anya Aguilar; For The Rest Of My Life by Ned Esguerra, sung by Side A. Ned is the bassist for the popular band Side A;

Kilig by Soc Villanueva, interpreted by former Freestyle Jinkee Vidal; Apat Na Buwang Pasko by Gino Gonzalez Cruz and Jeff Arcilla, performed by actor, comedian, impersonator and host Jon; Nasaan, composed and performed by Lara, a music student at the University of the Philippines; and Tanging Pag-asa Ko by Paul Armesin, sung by The CompanY, the country’s foremost vocal group which recently celebrated its 30th year.