Smart backs Mr. C’s “Song: Writing with the Maestro” tour

CEBU, Philippines - Seeking to encourage Filipinos to make their own music, wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is backing Ryan Cayabyab’s “Song Writing with the Maestro” nationwide tour – a series of music workshops targeting the youth.

Hundreds of students in Manila, Davao, Cebu, and Palawan have already participated in Mr. C’s workshops which include lectures on song writing and Filipino music history. The tour is a program of the PhilPop Music Fest Foundation, an organization that aims to enrich Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and educate Pinoys about its importance.

Smart and other major companies like Maynilad, Meralco, PLDT, Sun Cellular, and Metro Pacific Investments are supporting PhilPop’s project. Smart’s chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan serves as the chairman of the PhilPop Foundation, while Smart’s chief wireless advisor Orlando Vea is one of the foundation’s executive directors.

“Smart has been promoting Filipino music for several years, lending support for initiatives like the recent Philippine Pop Music Festival. We’ve also been providing Pinoy artists and composers with different channels for their songs, such as ringtones, caller ringtunes, and full-track music downloads. Our strong push for OPM is based on our belief that music has the power not only to entertain, but also to inspire a nation,” Vea said.

Cayabyab, who is also an executive director of the PhilPop Foundation, said the students’ active participation in the workshops was encouraging. “The students were really engaged and captivated by the lecture. More than that, they had fun,” he said.

San Beda College in Manila was the first stop of the tour, followed by Abreeza Mall in Davao, Benedicto College in Cebu, and Palawan State University, where hundreds of participants interacted with Cayabyab and other Filipino musicians.

Among the songwriters who joined the tour were PhilPop Festival finalists Toto Sorioso, who wrote the winning entry “Tayo Tayo Lang,” and Smart People’s Choice winner James Leyte who wrote the song “Brown.” They and other PhilPop finalists shared their experiences with the crowd and performed their winning songs.

Mr. C and company are heading next to the Francis Padua Papica Foundation in Naga (November 24), University of Baguio (December 17), and other key cities. (FREEMAN)