The nationwide songwriting campaign Vispop is on its fourth run as six finalists were winning the hearts of Cebuanos with their Visayan pop songs of love which the audience at the Centerstage, SM Seaside, can relate to. The Finals Night was hosted by Rowell Ucat aka Medyo Maldito and DJ Chixie of MOR Cebu. FILSCAP Vice President Mr. Jim Paredes of Apo Hiking Society and President Mr. Rico Blanco of Rivermaya graced the show as guests of honor.
The Second prize song, PEP-PEP is composed and interpreted by Kenneth Corvera. It is about a relationship likened to one’s journey. Despite the hardships in any given relationships, one finds happiness in the company of the loved one. Pep-pep is the expression when the composer is happy being with his girlfriend as confides during the press con. The song is also inspired by his girlfriend and their travels together in Hong Kong and Macau.
SUWAT NI MARIA, composed by Marie Salvaleon and interpreted by Joe Branzuela, won Third prize. The song was written three years ago when the composer, was so sad and frustrated about a lot of things. From an outsider listening to the song, the song may deem as a melody talking about being inspired and happy to the extent of feeling so euphoric in falling in love but Marie felt the opposite while writing it.
FILSCAP Choice Awardee, Jerika Teodorico composed and interpreted her song, BAKLAY which is a first person point-of- view of what basically happens when friends decide to go out for a walk and end up travelling long distances because they are enjoying each other’s company. Jerika made this simple story about laag-laag to an ode to Cebu.
Out of sheer boredom, John Cadelina and Irving Guazon wrote the song, DAMGO years ago about dreams and aspirations of a person. And truly the song came out as an inspiring song for everyone.
IMOHA RA AKONG KASINGKASING, composed by Sherwin Fugoso & Marajane Monton and interpreted by Von Saw & Aine Abella won the Netizen’s Choice Award and MOR 97.1 Listener’s Choice Award. The song is a product of simple experimentation by Sherwin and Marajane. They intended it to be a fun song about love that draws everyone to fall in love with it as they listen to the song.
After the show, the winners and finalists were in high spirits as they indulged the media with a brief talk about their whole experience.
How was the whole journey going through the whole Vispop experience from the practices down to the Finals Night?
Marie Salvaleon: Personally, I did not expect that my song would make it to the Finals since I wrote it (Suwat ni Maria) three years ago and my music shifted from “patweetums” to something different.
(TRIVIA: Maria composed the song, Papictura ko Nimu, Gwapo)
Kenneth Corvera: Lingaw kaayo gikan nagsuwat sa song hantod nadawat nya na-Finalist. Wala jud ko nag-expect kay lahi ako expectation na masolod. So lingaw jud so plano nako mojoin napod next year.
Joseph Gara: “Ako dili pwede mohilak kay basig dili mahuman ang kanta.” (everyone laughing) It was quite smooth from the time the winner was announced. Of course, I find it thrilling and after the whole experience, I was brought back to reality because I was relieved from all the pressure – from the entries trimmed down to forty then finally six finalists. The whole process was smooth, thanks to the whole production team, the Fat Boys production for doing a good job.
Is it the first time you’ve joined Vispop?
Joseph Gara: Yes, it’s my first time. I’ve written a Visayan song before, Duyan which I only played online then Jude Gitamondoc (Vispop Creative/Musical Director), who’s my friend for a long time, discovered the song and encouraged me to join Vispop4.0. I was told to send my entry before January 18 but when it was already second week of January, I still haven’t finished my entry since I am a moody writer, I write at a slow pace – depends on my mood but luckily I was able to beat the deadline and sent the winning song.
To all the songwriters, what made you write songs and what inspired you to write such entry?
Marie Salvaleon: When I was still young, I’ve always been into Arts. When it comes to Music, it is related to Arts, right. I used music as an outlet to express my frustrations in life – my frustrations from pursuing my passion or in school – not necessarily more on about love life. In fact, the song Suwat ni Maria is not really about love. It’s actually finding myself back into being enthusiastic of the things I used to love. That explained the line from the song, “Pagkanindot nalang na ---“ It was a realization of how much music and arts have given me so much happiness though it’s frustrating to think that the society we now belong is so preoccupied on capitalism.
Jerika Teodorico: In my experience, I consider myself a wordsmith. I am so fascinated with words. Then I later on discovered that I can write words in “Bisaya”.
Sherwin Fugoso: We value music “labeh na Bisaya noh? Mas nindot man jud mosuwat og kanta na Binsisaya.” What moved me to write songs? “Siya” (pointing to his partner, Marajane Monton then everyone cheered on). We’ve been sending entries since Vispop2.0 then it’s only this year that our entry made it to the Finals because of her (being my lucky charm.) (Everyone cheered even more.)
To all the song interpreters, were the composers strict on how should you deliver the songs or were there special requests? So how was the whole experience working with everyone?
Joe Branzuela: My first experience started when Sir June Gitamondoc asked me to interpret a song. Everytime I ask for the material, I’m always careful as to whom I represent and so when they gave me the material, they sent me the demo of her (Marie) singing with the guitar. It almost sounded like Dream, Dream a little Dream of Me. So I accepted it and did it. And so when they give me the final mix, I was surprised at how it sounded. From pure guitar demo, Sir Jad Bantug (Musical Arranger/The Soul of Vispop) gave the song a whole different direction. And I was also a bit nervous because I was scared to sound sensual which I don’t like to advocate such style but everyone explained that it must be that I was influenced by so many genre that made me sound like that even if I didn’t mean to. She was very open as to how I deliver the song so she gave me the freedom to interpret it in my own way.
Jayneil Enriquez: Same with Joe (Suwat ni Maria Interpreter), Sir Jude sent me a message if I could interpret one song for Vispop. When he told me about it, I got nervous because I am not used to singing Visayan songs. Well, he reminded me of one song which we worked on together for a film of the Fat Boys production. It was also in Bisaya, then he explained that the song Piyong has the same feeling with the song I’m going to interpret this year. So he sent me the demo. When I heard the song for the first time, contrary from what the other singers have mentioned, Joseph’s song had no huge difference from the demo to its final mix. It still has the same rhythm and feel – folky and the blending between the male and female singers were totally perfect. At first, I made it sound like the one singing in the demo who happened to have a soft voice but they encouraged me to sing it naturally – how I would sing it. There was too much pressure working on the song because it was such a beautiful masterpiece that the song can simply stand alone even without the arrangement because of its poetic verses and the melody which I can totally relate to it. The song was all about second chances – coming back to a loved one. He wrote of a story of woman waiting for her husband who is a seafarer. So each time I sing that song, I feel the ache through its verses.
Von Saw: When Sir Jude sent the demo, I find it a fun song and sound so Pop. And because of the whole Vispop experience, it inspired me to write songs of my own.
Aine Abella: When Sir Jude sent me a copy of the song through email and heard it for the first time, I noticed that the girl was like a back-up singer. Then when it was time to record the song, it turned out that the whole song was divided and the girl was no longer singing back-up. It was a fun experience recording the song.
You appear as tight or close to one another. For how long have you been working together?
Jayneil Enriquez: We may look so close with one another as if we’ve been friends for a long time but in reality it’s totally the opposite. I guess there’s a certain environment with Vispop and everyone in the production team and the band. They are all encouraging and motivating through the whole process from picking the song then down to recording – everyone is so empowering. And the Vispop as a whole is really a campaign rather than a competition. There’s not one bit a rivalry among neither composers nor interpreters. So everyone is loved.
Joseph Gara: Everyone is there to perform so whoever wins, there isn’t a bit of bitterness among us.
To Marie, Kenneth and Jerica: you’ve joined previous Vispops and consistently lands top 6, what pushed you to join Vispop year after year?
Kenneth Corvera: I want to continuously contribute to the advocacy to promote Visayan music to everyone by making good songs that’s why I’ll be joining next year.
Marie Salvaleon: Same with Kenneth, I want to share to the Cebuano people a different style or approach on how to introduce a Visayan song because to tell you honestly, my influences are mostly UK indie bands. My next mission now is to challenge everyone not to be safe with their music but try to open up their minds and try the indie sound this time.
Jerika Teodorico; Aside from contributing something good to the local music scene, another reason is that I miss the feeling of being a contestant. And also the feeling I get as what Jayneil had mentioned about the mini-community established in Vispop – it’s not a competition but a family bonding. And I also have this want or need to tell a story about Cebu. I want to write more songs about Cebu not the stereotyped ones we used to hear in the past but a sound that appeals to the younger generation now. Songs will be a showcase of the different places here in Cebu.
4th Visayan Pop Music Finals Night Awardees
NETIZEN’S CHOICE AWARD
“Imoha Ra Ang Akong Kasingkasing”
Composed by Sherwin Fugoso & Marajane Monton
Performed by Von Saw & Aine Abella
MOR 97.1 LISTENER’S CHOICE AWARD
“Imoha ra ang Akong Kasingkasing”
Composed by Sherwin Fugoso & Marajane Monton
Performed by Von Saw & Aine Abella
FILSCAP CHOICE AWARD
“Baklay”
Composed and Performed by Jerika Teodorico
BEST INTERPRETER
“Paghunas”
Composed by Joseph Gara
Performed by Jayneil Enriquez & Joseph Gara
THIRD PRIZE WINNER
“Suwat ni Maria”
Composed by Marie Salvaleon
Performed by Joe Branzuela
SECOND PRIZE WINNER
“Pep-pep”
Composed and Performed by Kenneth Corvera
CHAMPION
“Paghunas”
Composed by Joseph Gara
Performed by Jayneil Enriquez & Joseph Gara
The special awardees received a plaque and the Champion, Second Prize Winner & the Third Prize Winner received a plaque and cash prizes of 30,000Php, 20,000Php and 10,000Php, respectively.
Vispop is a brainchild of Artist and Musicians Marketing Cooperative commonly known as ArtistKo and supported by the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc (FILSCAP) and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
Beyee Caballes
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