Independent electro-pop singer-songwriter-producer Tiara Shaye triumphs with co-collborator/interpreter FANA. 

Rising Filipino artists Tiara Shaye and Fana took home the coveted Grand Champion title at the PhilPop Himig Handog Songwriting Festival held at the New Frontier Theater on Saturday evening. The indie electropop singer-songwriter-producer Tiara Shaye and co-interpreter Fana won 1 million pesos.

Their winning song “'Wag Paglaruan” enthralled the jury with its potentially timeless pop songwriting appeal and contemporary, fashionable artistry, standing out among the twelve finalists from the top Philippine songwriting competition. Tiara Shaye wrote the award-winning piece, with both herself and Fana bringing a soulful, poignan take that further lifted up the track’s crossover potential.

Looking back on her motivation, the singer-songwriter said, “Parang kailangan kong mag-create ng song na may matutunan sila at the same time magkakaroon ng hope ang mga taong napaglaruan na they can find a better person. Don’t settle for red flags.”

She also hoped that listeners while be inspired through her entry. “I’m just so glad na na-appreciate nung judges yung message ng song. Hopefully lahat po ng makarinig ng song ay hindi lang ma-LSS, kumbaga masapuso nila at ma-inspire sila sa song.”  

For FANA, interpreting the winning entry with Tiara was truly a “dream come true.”

REVIEW. The electro-pop bubblegum pop song “Wag Paglaruan” showcases Tiara’s upbeat and multi-layered writing, diving into the wariness of being emotionally played by someone manipulative. FANA’s vibrant vocals complement the song, which also features Tiara herself. The song's bubblegum pop nature jibes with all the craze with BINI and othe rall-female kpop favorites to the now. It is about red flags with lyrical play on Filipino games inspired by different relationship and situationship issues Tiara got to read on social media.  RATING: 4.5 out of 5.

The competition also recognized other outstanding compositions. The Cebuano-penned track “Buhi,” composed by Keith John Quito and interpreted by Ferdinand Aragon, secured the first runner-up position, while the emotional ballad “Papahiram,” won second runner-up. Written by Rinz Ruiz and performed by acclaimed singer-songwriters Moira Dela Torre and Johnoy Danao, the song resonated deeply with both judges and audiences.

Written by Alvin Serito of SunKissed Lola, “Kurba” interpreted by Maki got two special awards. It was named Smart People’s Choice while its music video by Chapters PH was the MYX Choice Award for Best Music Video. With nearly 7.5 million streams on Spotify, it emerged as the most-streamed track in the competition.

Entries were evaluated based on artistic merit, composition, and originality. Jonathan Manalo, AVP/Creative Director of ABS-CBN Music and a past Himig Handog  winner explains, “The judges also evaluate a song’s uniqueness and its ability to stand out amongst the rest. This is usually seen in how the concept or the story is executed in a song or in the way the song was composed or arranged. Since it is also a pop songwriting contest, we also have to factor in a song’s relatability and appeal to the audience, especially with the younger fans.”

PhilPop Board Member and National Artist Ryan Cayabyab echoed this sentiment, praising the winners for embracing the modern sound of Filipino music and identifying with the younger fans. “We think these PhilPop Himig Handog songs standout not just because of excellent songwriting and composition, but also because of their ability to relate to the stories of the Filipino audience.”

Among this year’s roster of esteemed jury include Noel Cabangon, Jungee Marcelo, Trina Belamide, Nica del Rosario, Bret Jackson, Maribel Hernaez, and Yumi Lacsamana—a formidable team composed of multi-awarded composers, industry professionals, and music media executives.