The greatest Filipino songwriters of the pop era

Ta-da! Here they are, my choices for the greatest Filipino songwriters of the pop era. That means no Nicanor Abelardo or Mike Velarde here and others who are now enshrined alongside other greats. These names are of recent times, most of them from the Manila Sound era. They do not only have the talent to create the music, they are also at times, fearless, innovative trailblazers.

As some of you might recall, this list was inspired by the recent Rolling Stone Magazine poll of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time that chose folk rocker Bob Dylan as the best of them all. I thought that it might be fun to come up with a Filipino version and I finally got around to doing it.

l will not say that these songwriters are the greatest or the best. Only time will decide on that. Besides, there are a lot of composers whom I admire but who did not make the list simply because they do not have enough hit songs or might have now been forgotten.

Maybe, their songs have not been covered by other artists, used in teleseryes or performed by contestants in The Voice. I thought it would be best to base this list on the hits because those songs have already been adjudged by the public as enduring and popular.

This is in no particular order. But of course, because they happen to be uppermost in the minds of everybody when the term great Filipino composer comes up, I will start with the “C”s, those great songwriters who created the most popular works of the past 40 years and whose surnames all happen to begin with the letter “C.”

1. George Canseco ---— Kapantay Ay Langit, Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan, Ngayon At Kailanman; 2. Willy Cruz — Pangarap Na Bituin, Sana’y Wala Ng Wakas, I’ll Never Say Goodbye; 3. Ryan Cayabyab — Kailan, Iduyan Mo, Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka; 4. Jose Mari Chan — Christmas In Our Hearts, Refrain, Can We Just Stop and Talk A While; 5. Vehnee Saturno — Forever’s Not Enough, Be My Lady, Only Me And You; 6. Louie Ocampo -— Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin and Kahit Isang Saglit with Joey Albert and You Are My Song with Martin Nievera; 7. Snaffu Rigor — Bulag Pipi, Bingi, T.L. Ako Sa ‘Yo, Bato Sa Buhangin with melody by Ernani Cuenco; 8. Cecile Azarcon — Lift Up Your Hands, Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin, How Did You Know; 9. Odette Quesada — Farewell, Give Me A Chance, Till I Met You; 10. Rey Valera — Maging Sino Ka Man, Pangako Sa ‘yo, Naaalala Ka.

11. Dennis Garcia and Rene Garcia — Manila, Ikaw Ang Miss Universe Ng Buhay Ko, Annie Batungbakal; 12. Mike Hanopol — Buhay Musikero, No Touch, Laki Sa Layaw (Jeproks); 13. Aaron Paul del Rosario — Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang, Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso; 14. Florante — Handog, Ako’y Isang Pinoy, Sana; 15. Gary Granada — Tagumpay Nating Lahat, Kahit Konti, Mabuti Pa Sila; 16. Ogie Alcasid — Kailangan Kita, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala; 17. Vic Sotto — Rock Baby Rock and Ipagpatawad Mo and Awitin Mo At Isasayaw Ko with lyrics by Joey de Leon 18. Freddie Aguilar — Anak, Magdalena, Ipaglalaban Ko; 19. Gary Valenciano — Take Me Out Of The Dark, Di Bale Na Lang and Sana Maulit Muli with lyrics by Angeli Valenciano; 20. Sampaguita — Sa Diyos Lamang and Bonggahan and Tao with Gary Perez.

21. Cesar “Saro” Baneres — Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran, Itanong Mo Sa Mga Bata and Ang Bayan Kong Sinilangan (Cotabato) with Lolita Carbon; 22. Danny Javier — Di Na Natuto, Pumapatak Ang Ulan, Kabilugan Ng Buwan; 23. Ely Buendia — Ang Huling El Bimbo, Pare Ko, Ligaya; 24. Rico Blanco — Kisap Mata, Hinahanap-hanap Kita and Liwanag Sa Dilim with the members of Rivermaya. 25. Chito Miranda — Harana, Yes Yes Show, Please Don’t Touch My Birdie; 26. Trina Belamide — Let Us Tell The World Of His Love, Now That I Have You, Shine; 27. Celso Abenoja — Basang-basa Sa Ulan, Bakit, Luha; 28. Yoyoy Villame — Magellan, Philippine Geography, Mag-exercise Tayo. 29. Lolita Carbon — Ang Pagbabalik, Himig Ng Pag-ibig, Usok; 30. Heber Bartolome -— Ako’y Isang Pinoy, Nena, Almusal.

I know I did not make 100. One of these days, I might just bring my list up to that number. I must because I am sure that there are still a lot of songwriters out there who created the songs we are enjoying now whom I was not able to include in this list.  What do you think of Manoling Francisco S.J., with his Hindi Kita Malilimutan and Tanging Yaman or of Nonoy Tan with My Love Will See You Through and It’s Only Make Believe.