Ogie, Regine, Martin in PhilPop 2013 Night

MANILA, Philippines - A grand night of music featuring the Top 12 finalists of the Philpop 2013 songwriting competition culminates tomorrow night at 9 on TV5 from the Meralco Theater in Pasig City.

Philpop 2013 began its search early this year welcoming a variety of song submissions from around the world. A total of 3,383 entries answered the call, with mostly Tagalog songs.

“I heard a lot of rock, pop, rap, hip-hop, folk, R&B, ballad, a sprinkling of swing, and dance music,” said Philpop MusicFest Foundation executive director Ryan Cayabyab.

It will be a special evening with an impressive line-up of singers in the country interpreting the chosen songs led by Christian Bautista, Karylle, Yael Yuzon, Sitti Navarro, Kean Cipriano, Kimpoy Feliciano, Tippy Dos Santos and Sam Concepcion. Also performing other songs are Julianne Tarroja, Ace Libre of the band Never the Strangers, former 6CycleMind vocalist Ney Dimaculangan, Joey Ayala, Gloc 9, Quest, Six Part Invention and Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola.

Joining in the night’s grand musical festivities are Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, The CompanY, Kanta Pilipinas finalist 5AZ1, Baihana and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers.

The show will be hosted by Ogie, Charice and Jasmine Curtis Smith.

The grand prize winner of the competition will walk  away with P1M and a Ramon Orlina trophy. The first and second runners-up will walk away with P500,000 and P250,000, respectively. Special prizes will also be given to the SMART People’s Choice awardee and the Meralco Special Award winner.

Philpop 2013 is under the auspices Philpop Musicfest Foundation chaired by Manny V. Pangilinan.

The contest is co-presented by Maynilad, PLDT and TV5. Major sponsors include NLEX, Sun Cellular, Jollibee, the First Pacific Leadership Academy, Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Philex, Sony with media partners Business Mirror, Business World, Myx, Radio Republic, Rappler, RX 93.1 and production partners Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, Essensuals Tony and Guy, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, Jing Monis Salon and Universal Records.