Costanilla: Top 12 music pop songs

SCREENING. It was more than eight hours that this writer and seven others had to spend just to listen to 113 songs submitted as entries to the 33rd Cebu Popular Music Festival, a project of the Cebu Arts Foundation Inc. chaired by Rep. Eduardo Gullas.

The songwriting festival is slated on Jan.20 next year at the Cebu Coliseum. The songs carried various themes and genres, but they all reflected the beauty of the Cebuano/Visayan culture and tongue. Sadly, some composers, obviously neophytes, violated an important contest rule that bars them from revealing their identity on the lyric sheets.

Rule. This particular rule says that the lyric sheets should not bear the name of the songwriter so that the members of the screening committee would not know who the composer is. This is to avoid suspicions of bias in his/her favor. The name of the songwriter is only known after the screeners shall have decided on the top 12 songs.

The so-called magic 12 will vie for the major cash prizes on the festival’s grand championship.

Songs. The top 12 songs and their composers are: Oh Sweldo by Ulysses Earl Tenchavez and Jesson Morata; Salamat by Erwin Lirazan; Balik Na, Pinangga Ko by Jade Castro; Usa Ka Libo ug Usa Ka Panamilit by Jude Gitamondoc and Cindy Velasquez; Kay Unsa Ra Man Ako by Jay-arr Librando; Entertainers Lang Kami by Franklin Padayogdog, Carlito Betito and Roy Tabasa; Magkuyog Ta, Panalipdan Ta by Fr. Charles Louise and Ramonito Carbon; Gugma Ko by Fr. Ponce Jed Bellones; Amumahon Ko by Niño James Bañares and Ramonito Carbon; May Katumanan ang Tanan by Lauro Flores; and Awitan Mo Na Lamang by Norberto Lesiguez.

Fun. The whole activity at the University of the Visayas alumni office was fun. But the task of choosing the top 12 songs was a big challenge for the members of the screening body because we had to make sure that only the good entries got selected.

It’s one way of preserving the credibility and integrity of the yearly songwriting festival. Happily, the competition has never been accused as a venue of shenanigans.

With lawyer Joseph Baduel as the festival executive director, we are assured of a more credible songwriting competition in the years ahead. The screening was more fun with the involvement of other individuals who also have the same passion for the propagation and upliftment of Cebuano/Visayan songs.

Screeners. Aside from this writer, the other members of the screening body were veteran singer Baby Condeno, composers Erick Villarojo, Eugene Tan and Elvis Somosot, lawyer Pat Acabodillo and stage actor Lau Rogero. The coordinators were Gani and Gloria Villarojo of Soundtraxx Production Studio and their staff Alex Entrada and Roland Villarosa.

Movie. The premiere showing of the Visayan indie movie, Palad Ta Ang Nagbuot, has been moved to the first week of November instead of Oct. 21 as originally scheduled. There are ongoing negotiations for a local civic club to sponsor the premiere screening and sell tickets to the public.

Lead star Nonito Donaire, veteran actress Gloria Sevilla and director Dandin Ranillo are also coming over to attend the event. This writer will give you updates on the upcoming premiere showing in our future articles. In the meantime, enjoy the movie’s trailer on the YouTube or Google by simply typing “palad ta ang nagbuot movie trailer.”