ORGANIZERS launched on Tuesday a jingle contest wherein the winning entry will serve as the official jingle of Cagayan de Oro City.

The Cagayan de Oro Jingle Contest is a project of the City Tourism Board chaired by Josie Aliñabon, in partnership with SM City Cagayan de Oro, Promote CdeO Foundation led by president Ruben Vegafria, the City Government of Cagayan de Oro through the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office headed by Imma Rae D. Gatuslao, and the City Council Committee on Tourism chaired by City Councilor Alden Bacal.

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The jingle contest is open to all amateur and professional songwriters, regardless of nationality or origin. The entry must encapsulate the heart, brand, personality, and identity of Cagayan de Oro City. The winning entry will serve as the city's official jingle, which will be performed and played during public shows, festivals, and wherever the city is represented.

Lyrics of the jingle may be in English or Bisaya or both and must be shorter, at most one minute only. All entries must be original compositions and must not infringe on any copyright of any other rights of any party. Criteria of the contest are as follows: composition 25 percent, melody 25 percent; lyrics 25 percent, and originality 25 percent.

First prize winner will bring home a cash prize of P30,000 while second and third prize winners will receive P20,000 and P10,000, respectively. Consolation prizes will also be given to the top 10 qualifiers.

All entries submitted to the City Tourism Board shall become their property. Entrants shall agree that should their song be selected as the winning jingle, this shall be used for promotional advertising and publicity purposes of the city and further permit the City Tourism Board to use their song without additional compensation.

Each entry must have the following: completed entry form, three (3) copies of song lyrics written legibly or typewritten on the official entry sheet and each entry requires two (2) separate CDs with recorded song labeled with composer's entry number and title of song written in black marker. The singers and accompanists that will perform the jingle should not exceed six persons.

The screening of entries will be on August 1, 2009, and the qualifiers will be presented on August 7 at 4 p.m. at the Atrium in SM Cagayan de Oro. The final competition will be held on August 17.

Entry forms are now available in the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office at the ground floor, City Tourism Hall, City Hall, the City Tourism Showhouse in Divisoria, and SM City Cagayan de Oro. Deadline for submission of entries will be on July 31, 2009. (CIO)