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.

"Buhi" (Keith John Quito) - Ferdinand Aragon

REVIEW. Keith John Quito’s “Buhi” signifies the title’s dual meaning in Bisaya, "letting go" and "being alive." The moving-on song after a failed relationship is interpreted by indie-folk singer-songwriter and leading Visayan balladeer Ferdinand Aragon. The song begins innocently as an acoustic-tinged ballad, but the emotion swells as the orchestral loops come in. That distinct heavy Visayan accent that makes the Visayan of "Hey, I'm going to the grocery right now, you want me to get something for you?" sounds like it says - depending on your mood - "I am so emotionally distraught right now that I will drain the blood out of 999 human bodies and drink it all straight up...Spartaaaa!!!!!" or "What makes lovemaking and reading resemble each other most is that within both of them times and spaces open, different from measurable time and space.” (Italo Calvino) works best on the song's bridge as it helps amp up the "emo-ness" of the song. RATING: 4 out of 5.

REVIEW. "Papahiram" by Moira Dela Torre and Johnoy Danao is a beautiful ballad of unconditional love amidst undertainties and mental anguish masterfully written by Rinz Ruiz. "Papahiram ko sa iyo ang aking dalawang mata / Para malaman mo kung pa'no kita nakikita / Maging ang puso ko, kapalit ng nasa sa 'yo / Para maramdaman, nilalaman..." RATING: 4 out of 5.

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.

REVIEW. Sunkissed Lola’s frontman Alvin Serito expresses the magical feeling of falling in love no matter how cruel the world can be in “Kurba” interpreted by this year’s breakthrough OPM artist Maki. Serito has the knack for crafting his lyrics from ingenious and unexpected angles, and this track is another example of that. 

The finals night held last March 22 at the New Frontier Theater also featured the other top 12 songs. Ice Seguerra performed Francis Contemplacion’s “ATM,” Jolianne sang Relden Campanilla’s "Dili Na Lang,” Khimo gave a beautiful rendition of Kevin Yadao’s “Ghostwriter,” and Geca Morales, together with Lyka Estrella and Annrain, brought life to her composition “Langit Lupa.”

P-pop group VXON performed Rob Angeles’ “MHWG,” Kurt Fick interpreted Jimmy Ricks’ “Salamat (Nga Wala Na Ta),” Noah Alejandre sang Maric Gavino’s “Taliwala,” while Shantel Cyline Lapatha performed her entry “Tulala.”

Rendering powerful performances of OPM classics were special guests Erik Santos, BGYO, Sheena Belarmino, Esang de Torres, Jason Dy, Maymay Entrata, Jeremy G, and Kyla.

The evening likewise looked back on some of the winning entries from Philpop and Himig Handog over the years, with performances from Bituin Escalante, Gello Marquez, Angela Ken, Jarea, Yumi Lacsamana, Janah Zaplan, and Jed Madela, together with Jason, Jeremy, Esang, and Kyla.

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.”

“Ang tagal po nating hinintay itong finals na ito pero sa wakas, ito na po siya at we are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of OPM,” he added.

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. Also joining the momentous event were ABS-CBN Music and Integrated Events head Roxy Liquigan, ABS-CBN Global COO Jun del Rosario,   ABS-CBN Music creatives, content, and operations head Jonathan Manalo, and renowned musician Noel Cabangon. 

PhilPop Himig Handog Songwriting Festival marks the first-ever collaboration between two of the country’s most prominent songwriting institutions. The collaborative venture between PhilPop and Himig Handog kicked off with an intensive two-month songwriting camp, culminating into the selection of the top 12 finalists who advanced to the main event.

Between the two songwriting competitions, they both boast of some of OPM's biggest hits. For starters, Himg Handog has "Akin Ka Na Lang", "Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako", and "Kung Ako Na Lang Sana", among many, many others. Philpop has "Triangulo", "Di Na Muli", and "Dati", etc.

PhilPop Executive Director Dinah Remolacio emphasized the festival’s significance in shaping the future of Original Pilipino Music (OPM), especially as it coincides with the movement’s  50th anniversary celebration. “The PhilPop Himig Handog Songwriting Festival’s goal was always to promote the excellence of Filipino songwriters and to push the possibilities of what Filipino music can be. We believe this is how we continue to celebrate the 50 years of OPM and how we continue to evolve the craft that makes us proud as Filipinos.”

While the finals night marked the culmination of the competition, the journey for these songs and their creators are far from over. According to Manalo, both PhilPop and Himig Handog are committed to providing ongoing support, which would eventually open doors to future opportunities for the finalists.

Even if the finals night is finished, he firmly stressed that they will continue to promote these songs because they represent the excellence of Filipino songwriting and music. “We can also expect the winners to become potential speakers and mentors for future songwriting camps so that they can share their story and their advice to other aspiring songwriters who would want to join our songwriting festivals in the future,” Manalo added.

PhilPop Himig Handog Songwriting Festival is an initiative of PhilPop Music Foundation, Himig Handog and ABS-CBN Music. This year’s game-changing event remains unwavering in its obligation to come up with innovative approaches in music-making and songwriting that are at par with international standards. The event is co-presented by Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Smart Communications, Inc., and in partnership with  TV5, Cignal TV, and Tunecore.

Stream the top 12 on Spotify and all digital streaming platforms worldwide.