The PhilPop Himig Handog songwriting festival, a major collaboration in music, has unveiled the top 12 songs that capture the essence of today’s OPM, reflecting the generation’s struggles, emotions, and aspirations.

The diverse selection of fully produced tunes was handpicked by the two music institutions (PhilPop and Himig Handog), who have made history by teaming up to find the next wave of global superstars and industry titans.

Some of the artists selected to interpret the songs include chart-topping R&B sensation Maki, award-winning singer-songwriters Moira Dela Torre and Johnoy Danao, folk-pop icon Ice Seguerra, pop recording artist Jolianne, Cebu’s pride Ferdinand Aragon, rising P-pop boy band VXON, and a number of newcomers: KHIMO; Lyka Estrella, Annrain, and Geca Morales; Kurt Fick; Noah Alejandre; Shantel Cyline and Extrapolation; and FANA and Tiara Shaye.

PHILPOP HIMIG HANDOG

Courtesy of NYOU Marketing

Check out the full list of Top 12 entries and their performers below:

  •  “ATM” by Francis Contemplacion (performed by Ice Seguerra)
  • “Buhi” by Keith John Quito (performed by Ferdinand Aragon)
  • “Dili Na Lang” by Relden Campanilla (performed by Jolianne)
  • “Ghostwriter” by Kevin Yadao (performed by KHIMO)
  • “Kurba” by Alvin Serito of Sunkissed Lola (performed by Maki)
  • “Langit Lupa” by Geca Morales (performed by Geca, Lyka Estrella, and Annrain)
  • “MHWG” by Rob Angeles (performed by VXON)
  • “Papahiram” by Rinz Ruiz (performed by Moira and Johnoy Danao)
  • “Salamat (Nga Wala Na Ta)” by Jimmy Ricks (performed by Kurt Fick)
  • “Taliwala” by Maric Gavino (performed by Noah Alejandro)
  • “Tulala” by Shantel Cyline Lapatha (performed by Shantel and Extrapolation)
  • “Wag Paglaruan” by Tiara Shaye (performed by Tiara and FANA)

According to Jonathan Manalo, the creative director of ABS-CBN Music, the final roster of tracks was determined through a rigorous adjudication process. The selection of songs involved direct consultation with the songwriters to determine the creative direction of their respective material and identify collaborators who aligned with their overall vision for the competition.

“We then shortlisted possible interpreters for each track, and a lot of things had to be considered or fall into place,” Manalo explains. “The next steps include choosing an artist that fits the genre and production schedule. We couldn’t simply pick someone based on name value. They had to make sense in terms of style, the songwriter’s vision, and overall commitment to the song, among others.”

Since its first iteration in 2000, PhilPop Himig Handog has stood out as a mentorship program, which included workshops and songwriting sessions for emerging Filipino composers nationwide. Prior to this year’s iteration of the festival, the last time PhilPop Himig Handog took place was during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020.

The selected top 12 entries will compete for the title of this year’s best compositions, with the winners receiving cash prizes of the following amounts: PHP 1,000,000 (1st place), PHP 500,000 (2nd place), and PHP 200,000 (3rd place).

As we anticipate the release of the Top 12 entries on digital platforms, listen to 2020’s first-place winning track “Marupok,” composed by Daniella Ann Balagtas and performed by KZ Tandingan, below: