IN May last year, we selected outstanding music recordings by Bisaya songwriters and their interpreters in the first Cebu Siloy Music Awards. We named “Hahahahasula” composed by Jude Gitamondoc and Rowell Ucat as Song of the Year; Max Surban, Vocal Performance, Male for “Akong Harana”; Jacky Chang, Vocal Performance, Female for “Pero Atik Lang” and Hey Joe Show, Breakthrough Artist, for “Morena Girl.”
For the second edition of Cebu Siloy Music Awards, we did our research once more and noticed the surge in the number of homegrown recordings as well as materials created by Bisaya artists that have impacted not just Bisaya-speaking listeners, but audiences in the rest of the Philippines, if not the world. In the past few years, the compositions were derivative of previous hit materials, today new stuffs are coming out that are redefining not just the Bisaya music scene, but also Original Pilipino Music.
The surging popularity of Bisaya Orig can no longer be denied. OPM stalwart Nonoy Zuniga recorded “Pero Atik Ra” with Jolianne Salvado; a choir consisting of Korean youths performed “Balay ni Mayang” during the 2018 World Youth Camp; “Gugma’ng Giatay: The Musical” was presented in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig; Missing Filemon and The Ambassadors headlined concerts outside of Cebu; and Bisaya songs have been made it in the charts such as Pinoy Myx Countdown. Then there are the appearances of emerging Bisaya performers in some of the popular TV shows in Manila.
The following are the nominees in Cebu Siloy Music Awards 2018. Song of the Year (Composer): “Ayaw Pagsaad”, Edgardo Butalid; “Cebuana,” Karen Ann Cabrera; “Gugmang Maka” Russel Alegado-Ronil Watin; “Kun Di Pa Lang Ko Buang,” Chai Fonacier; “Sinsilyo,” Jude Gitamondoc; “Kawanangan,” Lorenzo Niñal; “Mangamatay Ra Tang Tanan,” Meunnie Cullantes-Winset Jacot.
Best Vocal Performance, Male: Vincent Eco “I Know You Do”; Insoy Niñal (of Missing Filemon) “Kawanangan”; Kurt Fick, “Puhon”; Jude Pastor, “Gibuhat Ko Ang Tanan”; Von Saw, “Ayaw La’g Huwat”; John Vëantur, “Char Char” and Hopia Tinambacan, “Sayaw Ta.”
Best Vocal Performance, Female: Chai Fonacier, “Kun Di Pa Lang Ko Buang”; Davelyn Cuenco, “Kung Di Man Gani Kita”; Joannah Jane Sy, “Nganong Pasalig Man”; Jerika Teodorico “Anino”; Jacky Chang, “Sinsilyo”; Karrencita “Cebuana”; and Bingbing Veloso, “Hulagway.”
Breakthrough Artist: Maka Girls, “Gugmang Maka”; Mandaue Nights, ‘You & I”; Winset Jacot, “Mangamatay Ratang Tanan”; Chai Fonacier, “Kun Di Pa Lang Ko Buang”; Bingbing Veloso, “Hulagway”; Karrencita, “Cebuana”; and John Vëantur, “Char Char.”
Should you like to listen to the songs of the nominees, you can visit the Facebook group, Cebu Music Oasis: https://www.facebook.com/groups/234378113616096.