Philpop 2016 now open for entries

The door to a million bucks and other prizes, plus the chance to have your song recorded and performed by big name stars, is now open. Philpop, the most prestigious songwriting competition in the country, is now accepting entries for the 2016 competition. All amateur and professional songwriters are invited to join and be the ones to define the original Filipino sound of today.

Under the aegis of the Philpop Musicfest Foundation and spearheaded by the iconic composer, arranger and performer Ryan Cayabyab, Philpop is now entering its fifth year and is once more celebrating music that is loud, proud and ours. It has already received over 1,000 song entries these past four years and honored 12 of those with trophies and cash prizes.

Your songs could be one of those in the Philpop contest finals come July 2016. For all you know, it can also be that next foreign song which will break into the major music markets in Europe, the US of A and Asia. Send your entries now. Deadline for submission is on Jan. 31, 2016. For more details, follow Philpop’s official social media accounts: Facebook: @Philpopmusic; Twitter: @philpopmusic; and YouTube: Philpopmusic or Vivamusic.

And now with Philpop 2016 only a few months away, this would be a good time to review this year’s exciting batch of finalists. Check them out on YouTube or at the Philpop website. Better yet get a copy of the album.

Included 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 shared the honor with singer Jeric Medina. Triangulo won the P1M grand prize and a glass trophy by Ramon Orlina.

There are also Paratingin Mo Na Siya composed and interpreted by Davey Langit came in as first runner-up with a cash prize of P500,000 and an Orlina trophy; Sa Ibang Mundo by Mark Villar interpreted by Nadine Lustre and Kean Cipriano 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 and performed by aspiring singers and actors and now MTV VJs Yassi Pressman and Josh Padilla 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.

The other finalists were: Walang Hanggan by Ramiro Mataro, performed by Ramiro with Donnalyn Bartolome; Musikaw by Melchior Magno Jr., interpreted by James Reid 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 Jinkee Vidal; Apat Na Buwang Pasko by Gino Gonzalez Cruz and Jeff Arcilla, performed by Jon Santos; Nasaan composed and performed by Lara Maigue; and Tanging Pag-asa Ko by Paul Armesin, sung by The CompanY.

And speaking of Cayabyab, the Maestro also finds the time to once in a while revisit his long running television show, Ryan Ryan Musikahan. The most recent of these was the star-studded shoot of Christmas From The Heart by Jeepney TV that premiered last Dec. 5.

The Yuletide presentation is the third show in a series of specials featuring Cayabyab’s popular musical variety show Ryan Ryan Musikahan that used to air on ABS-CBN during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. It showcased the best of Holiday music and heartfelt songs with guest performers Piolo Pascual, Nikki Gil, Klarisse, the UST Singers, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers and Ogie Alcasid. They were accompanied on the piano by Mr. C himself and members of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra on strings.

There is no need to feel bad if you missed last week’s airing or the Cinema One telecast the next day and the one on the Lifestyle Channel last Saturday. You can still watch that first-ever Piolo and Ogie duet, the UST Singers’ take on Ryan’s composition Munting Sanggol, Mr. C singing Baby It’s Cold Outside with Nikki and other great numbers. Just go to IWant TV and SKY on Demand anytime and ask for Ryan Ryan Musikahan: Christmas from the Heart and watch at your pleasure.

The show was for the benefit of the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, a joint project of Jeepney TV alongside the other ABS-CBN cable channels Cinema One, Lifestyle, MYX, Hero and Balls.