From more than 1,000 submissions, the list was whittled to 100, then down to the Top 30. So, drumrolls, please, who are the Pinoy songwriters to take the next step towards battling it out for glory in PhilPop 2018? FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN Ryan Cayabyab At the grand reveal held Tuesday presided over by Festival Chairman Ryan Cayabyab, along with the mentors, last year’s finalists, and representatives from Viva Talent Management, they are “AEIOU” by Kenneth John Pores (Gen. Trias, Cavite); “Ako Ako” by Jeriko Buenafe (Taguig, NCR); “Away Wa’y Buwagay” by Eamarie Gilayo and Jovit Leonerio (Davao City, Davao Del Sur); “Bumbero” by Michael Llave (Quezon City, NCR); “Di Ko Man” by Ferdinand Aragon (Cebu City, Cebu); “Ikaw Ang Aking Pag-Ibig” by Mark Jay Felipe (Guimba, Nueva Ecija); “Isang Gabing Pagibig” by Carlo Angelo David (Quezon City, NCR); “Kariton” by Philip Arvin Jarilla (Antipolo, Rizal); “Kelan Kaya?” by Sarah Bulahan (Mandaluyong, NCR); “Kilabi” by Karlo Zabala (Valenzuela City, NCR); “Korde Kodigo” by Jeremy Sarmiento (Davao City, Davao Del Sur); “Laon Ako” by Elmar Jan Bolaño and Donel Trasporto (Tigbauan, Iloilo); “LDR (Layong ’Di Ramdam)” by Russ Narcies Cabico (Quezon City, NCR); “LGBT (Laging Ganito Ba Tayo?)” by Kyle Pulido (Davao City, Davao Del Sur); and “Lilipad” by Agatha Morallos and Melvin Joseph Morallos (Baguio, Benguet). The other half on the list are “Loco De Amor!” by Edgardo Miraflor Jr. (Bacolod City, Negros Occidental); “Mahirap Magselos” by Paul Hildawa (Makati City, NCR); “Makisabay” (formerly “Daydream”) by Carlo Angelo David (Quezon City, NCR); “Malilimutan Din Kita” by Marvin Blue Corpus (Koronadal, South Cotabato); “MMRA” by Oliver Narag (Valenzuela City, NCR); “Nanay Tatay” by Teodoro Festejo III (Davao City, Davao Del Sur); “Oka” by Michael Angelo Aplacador (Pateros, NCR); “Perfectly Imperfect Human” by Barry Villacarillo (Lapu-Lapu, Cebu); “Pilipit” by Sean Gabriel Cedro and John Ray Reodique (Antipolo City, Rizal); “Promise Sorry Note” by Michael Angelo Aplacador (Pateros, NCR); “Pwede” by Agatha Morallos and Melvin Joseph Morallos (Baguio, Benguet); “Tama Na” by Michael Rodriguez and Jeanne Columbine Rodriguez (Makati City, NCR); “Unang Adlaw Nga Wala Ka” by Therese Marie Villarante and Henrick James Pestaño (Talisay City, Cebu); “Utang” by Ignacio Dennis Roxas (Malolos, Bulacan); and “Yun Tayo” (formely “Taken”) by Donnalyn Onilongo (Angono, Rizal). Note that 10 of the 30 finalists are from Visayas and Mindanao. SOME OF the Top 30 PhilPop finalists Although he has zero participation in the selection of the finalists, Cayabyab said he finds it refreshing to hear music written in other Philippine dialects as these predispose the music to unique directions based on the inflections of the words. This year is the sixth time PhilPop is being held since it started in 2012. The PhilPop Foundation took a year off in 2017 to reinvent the festival. If before, songwriters from everywhere just submitted their entries, many in the current pool of talents are fellows who earned spots in the PhilPop Songwriting Boot Camp held earlier in Antipolo, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao. Some of the mentors who tutored the participants in these camps were Trina Belamide, Gary Granada, Jimmy Antiporda, Jungee Marcelo, Jonathan Manalo, Yumi Lacsamana, Thyro Alfaro, Lara Maigue, and Ben&Ben. According to the website, the 2018 PhiliPop Music Festival is a year-long celebration of original Filipino music compositions highlighted by a series of events that put the spotlight on new Filipino songs churned by Filipinos across the country and the world. PhilPop 2018 features a songwriting competition; mall tours and activations in key Philippine cities; songwriting boot camps in colleges and universities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; and concerts during the Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino. What happens now? PhilPop Foundation shall determine the Top 10 finalists, then the Top 3 winners and special awardees on finals night. But before that, a circle of coaches comprised of PhilPop alumni (winners of previous PhilPop songwriting competitions) and seasoned composers will be established to help the Top 30 songwriters refine their songs. At least two Coaching Camps will be held for the semi-finalists. Half-day songwriting workshops will be held for aspiring songwriters across the country. Each workshop will feature some of the Top 30 finalists and PhilPop alumni coaches. The boot camps will be done in partnership with colleges and universities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Then, each finalist shall be given a support team to include a musical arranger, music producer, interpreter, a lead coach, instrumentalists, and other performers (if needed) to help him/her prepare for the final presentation of his/her song at the Music Festival Day on Nov. 30, 2018. As usual, the Grand champion gets to take home R1-Milion tax-free. Also, runners-up will receive R500,000 (1st runner-up), and R200,000 (2nd runner-up). ---------------------------- Past PhilPop grand winners: 2012 – “Bawat Hakbang” written by Karl Villuga 2013 – “Dati” – Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana 2014 – “Salbabida” – Jungee Marcelo 2015 –“Triangulo” – Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana 2016 –“Di Na Muli” – Jazz Nicolas and Wally Acoloca