“THIS is a songwriting competition this is not just whatever. This is a competition for a songwriters talaga,” giit ni Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, Philpop Executive Director kahapon nang makausap namin ito sa paglulunsad ng Top 12 finalists ng Philippine Popular Music Festival (PhilPop).
Kasabay ng paglulunsad sa Top 12 finalists ng PhilPop ay ang partnership nila sa Viva Entertainment. ”We’re excited every year. Pero this time mas excited dahil were partnering with Viva. Our music partner kasi, what were doing is..the first year we had Ivory Records, then Universal Records, and this year is Viva.
“Ang PhilPop, we want to state our cause, we want this to be industry undertaking kaya hindi kami nag-stay sa isang company lang. And then of course, it’s Viva Entertainment who’s handling the recording, the release etc., Siguro pati presentation and sila ‘yung magsu-supervise ng MTV, ‘yung ang sure na gagawin nila para sa PhilPop,” paliwanag ni Mr. C (tawag kay Mr. Cayabyab).
Sa pagsasama ng PhilPop at Viva Entertainment, ang Top 12 Finalists ay nakasisiguro ng access para sa Viva’s impressive roster of talents na kinabibilangan nina Sarah Geronimo, mark Bautista, Hitdog, Top Suzara, Jinky Bidal, at Ronnie Lianggayundin ng mga sikat nilang alagang artista na sina James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Andre Paras, Donnalyn Bartolome, Yassi Pressman, Anya Aguilar, Climax, at The Juan.
“We are very excited about this partnership as although Viva is involved in every aspect of entertainment including film, television, the company’s main thrust has always been music,” giit naman ng Viva Vice President for Corporate Media na si Baby Gil.
Bukod sa makakasama sa official PhilPop album na ipo-prodyus ng Viva, ang music videos para sa Top 12 finalists ay nakatitiyak din sa heavy rotation ng MTV Pinoy.
Ang Top 12 finalists for this year ay kinabibilangan nina Thyro Alfaro at Yumi Lacsamana (Triangulo), Paul Arsemin (Tanging Pag-asa Ko), Gino Gonzales Cruz atJeff Arcilla (Apat na Buwang Pasko), Ned Esguerra (For The Rest of My Life),Johannes Daniel Garcia (Edges of the World), Davey Langit (Paratingin Mo Naman Siya), Melchor Magno Jr., (Musikaw), Lara Maigue (Nasaan), Ramiro Mataro(Walang Hanggan), Melvin Joseph Morallos (I Owe You My Heart), Soc Villanueva(Kilig), at Mark Villar (Sa Ibang Mundo).
Umabot sa 2,500 songs ang pinagkinggan ng mga hurado sa taong ito kasama na ang mga entry mula sa Filipino songwriters na nakabase hindi lamang sa Pilipinas gayundin mula sa Australia, Canada, Middle East, iba pang bansa sa South East Asia at ibang states ng US.
Gaganapin ang 3rd PhilPop Grand Finals sa July 25 na ang magwawagi ay mag-uuwi ng P1-M cash. Katulong ng PhilPop sa pagbabahagi nito ang Smart at Spinnr, Maynilad, meralco, at PLDT Home. Sinusuportahan din ito ng NLEX, Sun Cellular, Metro Pacific Investments, TV5, Sony, Viva Communications, Viva Records, Pinoy Box Office, Pinas FM, Radio Republic, MTV Pinoy, Philippine Star, InterAksyon, at Pep.ph..
ni Maricris Valdez Nicasio