THE stage was conquered as the finalists of Vispop 3.0 rocked their way into the hearts of the Cebuano audience. Eager supporters from all over, with light sticks in hand, packed SM Cinema One on June 26 to celebrate the third year of the Vispop Festival.
This year’s battle was brought to an end with Buwag Balik, written and performed by Lourdes May Maglinte, winning the title of being the Grand Champion of Vispop 3.0. An RnB song with an upbeat melody that got the audience hooked even from the first note, the song is about the reality of an unstable relationship people experience nowadays.
Aside from the upbeat RnB tract, Pangandoy, written by John Stephen Cadelina and Irving Ladanan Guazon, won second place. Its performer, Daryl Leong, was awarded the Best Interpreter of the night as he serenaded the audience with this heart-warming song. The cute and bubbly Bok Love, written by Felipe Anjelo Calinawan and Therese Marie Villarante and performed by Kurt Fick and Therese Marie Villarante, grabbed third place as well as the Netizen’s Choice Award and MOR Listener’s Choice Award.
The other finalists that were part of the best from the 220 entries were Tug ta Tug written by Earnest Hope Tinambacan and Jerry Angelo Catarata and performed by Earnest Hope Tinambacan, LQ written by Adam Niel Corvera and performed by Eugene Corpin and Julyann Uy, and Brgy. Blues written by Andy Calope and performed by Earl Andrei Ornopia.
The esteemed board of judges that are known personalities of the local and national music industry included Eva Santos, an entrepreneur and a songbird at heart coined as the Philippines’ Tina Turner, the choir master of the internationally acclaimed Mandaue Children’s Choir Dennis Gregory Sugarol, and last but not the least, a member of Filscap, the vocalist of the popular alternative rock band Bethany, as well as the chairman of the board of judges of that night, Sun.Star Cebu lifestyle editor Luis Quibranza III.
All time favorite Missing Filemon, Cebuano poet Cindy Velasquez and the trending Cebuano matinee idol Von Saw were only some of the electrifying performers who joined the stage that night.
The Visayan song-writing campaign that encourages aspiring songwriters and music aficionados to compose excellent Visayan songs is hosted by Cebu Business Month, in coordination with Artist Ko and the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Vispop has been making and will continue to make waves. Indeed, “Sugod karun, atung awitun, Vispop padayun ta!” (Mary Mae Rias / STC MediaCom Intern)