ENTERTAINMENT | July 6, 2018
Himig Handog, the largest songwriting competition in the Philippines
today, continues to discover fresh Filipino talents that would someday become
key contributors in the local music scene in the near future. Now on its new
year, ABS-CBN and Star Music is now encouraging and inviting aspiring Filipino
songwriters to submit their own stories and songs and get a chance to become
one of those who will vie for the highly coveted Best Song recognition with
"Love Songs and Love Stories" as the theme of the much-awaited
competition.
Launched at the start of the new millennium which ran until 2003 and
revived after a decade, Himig Handog has been an engaging platform for
songwriters to interpret their own stories of life and love through their own
original songs. Over the years, many Himig Handog entries have become huge
successes on their own as chart toppers, theme songs of movies and television
shows, and even radio and TV commercial jingles. In fact, songwriters who have
taken part in the competition were given big breaks such as Jonathan Manalo
(Tara Tena) who became an award-winning composer, music producer and currently
the head of Star Music's audio content.
Many new artists who have interpreted the songs of Himig Handog have also
made their own mark in the Philippine music scene. One case in point is last year's
best song "Titibo-Tibo" composed by Libertine Amistoso - a huge hit
that catapulted Moira Dela Torre into one of the country's hottest artists
today. Aside from Moira, included in the Himig Handog Top 15 Hall of Fame since
2013 are KZ Tandingan for Edwin Marollano's "Mahal Mo O Mahal Ako"
and Domingo Rosco Jr.'s "Scared To Death", Daniel Padilla for Jungee
Marcelo's "Nasa 'yo Na Ang Lahat" and MJ Magno's "Simpleng Tulad
Mo", and Janella Salvador for Bobbie Mabilog's "Mahal Kita Pero".
Other hitmakers are Michael Pangilinan for Joven Tan's "Pare Mahal
Mo Raw Ako", Ylona Garcia and Bailey May for Jack Rufo and Yani Rabe's "O
Pag-Ibig", Morisette for Kiko Salazar's "Akin Ka Na Lang" and
Bugoy Drilon for Jeff Citra's "Pwede Bang Ako Na Lang Ulit".
Meanwhile, outstanding interpretations are also part of the Himig Handog Hall
Of Fame which include the following: Jona for Dante Bantatua's
"Maghihintay Ako", Toni Gonzaga for Jumbo De Leon's "Kahit
Na", Jovit Baldivino for Ato Arman's "Sana'y Magbalik", Barbie
Almalbis for Nica Del Rosario's "Ambon", and Ice Seguerra for the big
hit "Anong Nangyari Sa Ating Dalawa" composed by Joven Tan.
Interested songwriters may submit their entries at himighandog.abs-cbn.com until July 31, 2018. For details, follow
@HimigHandog2018 on Facebook. For more updates, check out ABS-CBN's Social
Media Newsroom or Star Music on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
