Metro Manila Popular Music Festival
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The METRO MANILA POPULAR MUSIC FESTIVAL (also known as Metropop) is a songwriting competition launched by the Popular Music Foundation of the Philippines in 1977. Its objective was to promote the advancement of Filipino music, and its chief proponents were Teodoro Valencia and Imee Marcos. There were a total of eight festivals held; the Finals nights were held from 1978 to 1985.
This songwriting competition was originally open to all music composers; however, from the Fifth festival onwards, the competition was divided into Professional and Amateur Divisions, to give new songwriters a level playing field without competing with more well-known composers.
These festivals launched many the careers of songwriters and singers (who interpreted the songs), and gave original Pilipino music more than a few memorable and modern-day song classics.
Following is a listing of all the Festival songs, songwriters and interpreters:
The First Metro Manila Popular Music Festival (Finals night: 1978)
Grand Prize: KAY GANDA NG ATING MUSIKA - Music and Lyrics: Ryan Cayabyab / Interpreter: Hajji Alejandro
Second Prize: PAGDATING MO - Music and Lyrics: Nonoy Gallardo / Interpreter: Celeste Legaspi
Third Prize: NARITO AKO UMIIBIG - Music and Lyrics: Nonong Pedero / Interpreter: Maricris Bermont
Fourth Prize: IBIG KONG IBIGIN KA - Music and Lyrics: Vic Villafuerte, Rolando Tinio / Interpreter: Anthony Castelo
Finalists:
ANAK - Music and Lyrics: Freddie Aguilar / Interpreter: Freddie Aguilar
ANG DAMPA SA GULOD - Music and Lyrics: Joe Reyes / Interpreter: Imelda Papin
MAHAL - Music and Lyrics: James Villafuerte / Interpreter: Lejan Lopez
MINSAN PA - Music and Lyrics: Jose Mari Chan / Interpreter: Janet Basco
NGUMITI...TUMAWA...MAGSAYA...KUMANTA - Music and Lyrics: Joe Reyes / Interpreter: Cynthia Garcia and the Kabataan
PAG-IBIG, ANO KA NGA BA - Music and Lyrics: Cecille Marcaida / Interpreter: Nick Gonzales
PANGAKO - Music and Lyrics: Vic Villafuerte, Rolando Tinio / Interpreter: Rex Demavivas
SAAN AKO PATUTUNGO - Music and Lyrics: Jose Ilacad, Jr., Nannette Inventor / Interpreter: Nannette Inventor
SWERTE-SWERTE LANG - Music and Lyrics: Joel Navarro / Interpreter: Joel Navarro
TAYO'Y MGA PINOY - Music and Lyrics: Heber Bartolome / Interpreter: Judas
"ANAK" didn't win the Grand Prize, but went on to become one of the most popular Pilipino pop songs ever, and it launched too the career of Freddie Aguilar. This period in time was right at the beginning of the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) boom, and after this first festival, the singing careers of Hajji Alejandro, Celeste Legaspi, Maricris Bermont, and Anthony Castelo went to full gear. Ryan Cayabyab is now a well-respected composer and musician; so with Joel Navarro. Imelda Papin and Janet Basco went on to big careers as well after they had other hit songs. Heber Bartolome's "TAYO'Y MGA PINOY" became a nationalistic anthem, and Ryan Cayabyab's "KAY GANDA NG ATING MUSIKA" became the anthem of sorts of Original Pilipino Music.
The Second Metro Manila Popular Music Festival (Finals night: 1979)
Grand Prize: BULAG, PIPI AT BINGI (ISANG PAG-AALAY) - Music and Lyrics: Snaffu Rigor / Interpreter: Freddie Aguilar
Second Prize: EWAN - Music and Lyrics: Louie Ocampo, Winnie Arrieta / Interpreter: The Apo Hiking Society
Third Prize: LUPA - Music and Lyrics: Charo Unite, Ernie dela Pena / Interpreter: Rico J. Puno
Finalists:
AKO ANG NASAWI, AKO ANG NAGWAGI - Music and Lyrics: George Canseco / Interpreter: Dulce
ANG AKING AWITIN - Music and Lyrics: Bong Gabriel / Interpreter: Bong Gabriel
GUSTO KONG UMAWIT - Music and Lyrics: Ernie Tagle, Eduardo Mataranas / Interpreter: Ernie Tagle
ITAY, SAAN KA MAN NAROROON - Music and Lyrics: Chito Sibayan / Interpreter: Chito Sibayan
LAGING BUHAY ANG BUHAY - Music and Lyrics: Celia T. Lising / Interpreter: Jacqui Magno
LARUAN - Music and Lyrics: Edgar Guerrero / Interpreter: Cynthia Patag
MASDAN, TINGNAN ANG BUHAY - Music and Lyrics: Ma. Isabella Mijares / Interpreter: Malou Evidente
PANAGINIP, PANGARAP - Music and Lyrics: Manuel Perlas / Interpreter: God's Ego
UMAGANG KAY GANDA - Music and Lyrics: Butch Monserrat, Babes Conde, Gryk Ortaleza, Anabelle Lee / Interpreter: Tillie Moreno and Ray-An Fuentes
This time around, Freddie Aguilar's interpretation of Snaffu Rigor's composition won the Grand Prize. However, the biggest pop hit to come out of the Second Metropop was "EWAN". This song launched the career of Louie Ocampo, now a well-respected composer, and added to the numerous hits of The Apo Hiking Society. The APo is one of Pinoy music's biggest acts ever, and their songs have been covered through the years. Rico J. Puno, already a big star at this time, interpreted the third place song, which also became a hit song for him. Composer George Canseco didn't win any of the top prizes, but with his songs before and after the competition, he became one of the most prolific and successful composers in the music scene. "UMAGANG KAY GANDA" also didn't win any prize, but became a classic pop hit.
The Third Metro Manila Popular Music Festival (Finals night: 1980)
Grand Prize: ISANG MUNDO, ISANG AWIT - Music and Lyrics: Nonong Pedero / Interpreter: Leah Navarro
Second Prize: IKAW, AKO, TAYO (MAGKAKAPATID) - Music and Lyrics: Jose Lozano / Interpeter: New Minstrels
Third Prize: NANDOON NA, NAWALA PA - Music and Lyrics: Alfredo Lozano Jr. / Interpreter: Ray-An Fuentes
Finalists:
BUHAY KO'Y MAYRO'NG IKAW - Music and Lyrics: Felipe Monserrat, Diana Legaspi / Interpreter: Pinky de Leon
HAHANAPIN KO - Music and Lyrics: Jose Mari Chan / Interpreter: Anthony Castelo
KAILANGAN KO, KAILANGAN MO - Music and Lyrics: Gerry Paraiso / Interpreter: Bambi Bonus and Richard Tan
LANGIT MO'Y LIKHA MO RIN - Music and Lyrics: Babes Tolentino / Interpreter: Babes Tolentino, Celso Llarina, Mon Gaskell
LARAWAN - Music and Lyrics: Thomas Santos / Interpreter: Joel Navarro
MAHALAGA - Music and Lyrics: Louie Ocampo / Interpreter: Rene Puno
NASAAN ANG PALAKPAKAN - Music and Lyrics: Nonoy Gallardo / Interpreter: Celeste Legaspi
SA DUYAN NG PAG-IBIG - Music and Lyrics: Willy Cruz / Interpreter: Passionata
SA 'YONG PAG-ALIS - Music and Lyrics: Felipe Monserrat, Jr. / Interpreter: Tillie Moreno
"IKAW, AKO, TAYO (MAGKAKAPATID)" turned out to be the biggest hot from the Third Metropop. The interpreters of the song, the New Minstrels, were already a famous vocal singing group at this time. This song added to their fame, and even when the original members left and new ones came in, the New Minstrels were always considered one of the best singing groups in the country. Composers Jose Mari Chan and Willy Cruz went on to turn out so many pop hits, Jose Mari singing a lot of his songs himself.
The Fourth Metro Manila Popular Music Festival (Finals night: 1981)
Grand Prize: SINO ANG BALIW - Music and Lyrics: Elizabeth Barcelona / Intepreter: Mon Del Rosario Jr.
Second Prize: KAHIT KONTI - Music and Lyrics: Gary Granada / Interpreter: Florante
Third Prize: MAGSIMULA KA - Music and Lyrics: Gines Tan / Interpreter: Leo Valdez
Finalists:
AAWITIN KO NA LANG - Music and Lyrics: Gary Granada / Interpreter: Bong Gabriel
ANG BUHAY AY NGAYON - Music and Lyrics: Benjamin Chua, B.S. Manas / Interpreter: Rene Puno
BABAE KA - Music and Lyrics: Ananias Montano / Interpreter: Something Special
BUHAY/PAG-ASA - Music and Lyrics: Butch Monserrat, Marilyn Villapando / Interpreter: Pol Enriquez
HATINGGABI (BAWA'T PANGARAP) - Music and Lyrics: Conrado Ricafort / Interpreter: Boy Camara
INSOMNIA - Music and Lyrics: Eduardo Achacoso, Joseph Olfindo / Interpreter: Joseph Olfindo
LANDAS - Music and Lyrics: James Villafuerte / Interpreter: Marco Sison
MAGKAISA - Music and Lyrics: J. Miguel Salvador / Interpreter: Eugene Villaluz
MR. MUSIKERO - Music and Lyrics: Sonny Nicolas / Interpreter: Sonny Nicolas
PUSONG "ROCK-N-ROLL" - Music and Lyrics: Felix Chok-Oy Viernes / Interpreter: Pabs Dadivas
UHAW NA LUPA - Music and Lyrics: Emilio Sanglay / Interpreter: Emilio Sanglay at Ang Bagong Pen Pen
Established singers like Florante, Eugene Villaluz, Leo Valdez, and Marco Sison interpreted their first Metropop entries. Something Special was an offshoot of The New Minstrels, and Joseph Olfindo also came from the latter singing group. Their was no big hit from the festival songs, although "KAHIT KONTI" and "MAGSIMULA KA" were relative successes. It is interesting to note that aside from the women in Something Special (there were male members as well), all the interpreters in this festival were men.
