MANILA, Philippines—The celebrated PhilPop Himig Handog Songwriting Festival remains devoted to fostering the potential of the upcoming generation of music industry professionals and aspiring hitmakers through an enduring and world-class mentorship program.
This collaborative venture, produced and presented by the renowned songwriting institutions, PhilPop and Himig Handog, commenced with a meticulously curated Digicamp series. The series was thoughtfully designed to nurture the skillsets of aspiring participants in diverse fields such as songwriting, music arrangement and recording, branding, marketing, career development, and intellectual property.
Image Courtesy of PhilPop.
Following an intensive two-month workshop-based training and songwriting course, attended by some of the most promising talents in the industry, the nation’s premier songwriting competition has chosen the top 12 entries to advance to the main competition:
Entries underwent rigorous evaluation, overseen by distinguished Board Members, producers, key leaders, prominent songwriters, and decision-makers associated with PhilPop and Himig Handog. The said finalists who achieved a place in the esteemed songwriting festival are listed in alphabetical order:
- Luzon / Bulacan: Rinz Ruiz – “Papahiram”
- Luzon / Laguna: Francis Contemplacion – “ATM”
- Metro Manila: Tiara Cino – “Wag Paglaruan”
- Metro Manila: Kevin Yadao – “Ghostwriter”
- Metro Manila: Rob Angeles – “MHWG”
- Metro Manila: Geca Morales – “Langit Lupa”
- Metro Manila: Alvin Serrito – “Kurba”
- Visayas/Bacolod: Shantel Lapatha – “Tulala”
- Visayas/Cebu: Relden Campanilla – “Dili Nalang”
- Visayas/Cebu: Jimmy Grajo – “Salamat (Nga Wala Na Ta)”
- Visayas/Bohol: Keith Quito – “Buhi”
- Mindanao/Davao: Maric Gavino – “Taliwala”
The Future of Filipino Music
ABS-CBN Music Creative Director, Jonathan Manalo, emphasized the selection criteria for the top songs in this year’s PhilPop Himig Handog Songwriting Festival. Quality in songwriting and composition was paramount, adhering to the high standards set by both PhilPop and Himig Handog. The fellows’ ability to apply lessons from the PhilPop Himig Handog DigiCamp and their capacity to push the boundaries of Filipino pop music were also essential considerations. Additionally, market appeal played a crucial role in choosing the finalists to cater to a broad spectrum of Filipino music listeners.
The collaborative endeavor between the two influential songwriting organizations is set to make this year’s festival grander and more ambitious. Armed with combined resources and expertise, the project aims to showcase export-ready Pinoy Pop on a global stage, captivating audiences worldwide with music that is distinctly Filipino yet universally appealing. The goal is to promote OPM on an unprecedented scale, breaking new territories and commanding cultural conversations beyond borders.