12 songs in finals of 26th Pop Music

Twelve original Cebuano compositions will compete in this year's 26th Cebu Popular Music Festival to be held at the Cebu Coliseum on January 13.

The prizes at stake in the composition include P150,000 for the first-prize winner and P10,000 for the best interpreter.

Cebu Pop executive project director Philogene Florita said that this year's competition will be unique compared to the past years since there will now be a Texters' Choice award, which will be given to the composer with the highest number of votes submitted through text. Florita said that Cebuano music lovers can vote for their favorite song by keying in Cbupop (space) song code and send to 2800 for Globe and Sun subscribers while Smart subscribers may send it to 6808.

The festival is the offering of the Cebu Arts Foundation Incorporated to the Holy Child, whose festivity, the Sinulog, falls on January 15.

The 12 song finalists that will compete in the song festival with their respective composer and lyricist are Bitoon Mo by Jun Aliño Cabillar to be interpreted by Ma. Lourdes Calma, Laylay sa Inahan by Glenn Salve to be interpreted by Marion Louise Busano, Bidlisiw sa Bag-ong Paglaum by Dennis Gregory Sugarol and Gwendolyn Suico-Crescencio to be interpreted by Robert Bernada and Wendy Prado, and Bumbero, Kusinero, Barbero composed by Frederick Villarojo to be interpreted by Pol, Dino and Erick Villarojo.

Sugbuok (Sugbo nga Tibuok) composed by Troy Ciar will be interpreted by Marical Suaring, Sandra Tan, Kristine Demetrio and Mikaela Arrizabal, Buhata Na is composed and interpreted by Junie Tampos, Kaminero by Fr. Ponce Jed Bellones will be interpreted by Carding Obiasada, Bahalag Yabag by Jay-arr Librando and Rogacciano Melgar will be interpreted by the group D major 7, Tatay Pauli Na by Dennis Gregory Sugarol and Gwendolyn Suico-Crescencio will be interpreted by Grant Dosdos, Ning Kiliran by Jun Cabillar will be interpreted by Jed Andrew Rosit, Silpon composed by Eugene Tan will be interpreted by Chiko Pineda, while the song Ang Hagit composed by Joseph Abella and Eugene Tan will be interpreted by Annalee Sol.

The song Bakakon Ka Diay composed by Lauro Flores was the first prize winner in last year's competition. - Jasmin R. Uy