Hundreds more are inspired to write Pilipino songs and are being taught by no less than Maestro Ryan Cayabyab (Mr. C.) through the well-received and highly successful “Song Writing with the Maestro” nationwide tour.
After its successful launch in Manila and second leg in Davao, over 400 more have had the exceptional experience to be schooled by Mr. C whose workshop includes lectures on Pilipino music history, songwriting as a tool for nation building, self-expression, entertainment, social commentary and the like, tips and guidelines on writing songs, and musical presentations by the known and respected personalities aimed to encourage the attendees to make their own music.
The foundation is behind the Philippine Popular Music Festival
The PhilPop MusicFest Foundation (PhilPop) with its thrust is to enrich original Pilipino music and educate this and future generations on its uniqueness and importance; to resound and preserve the vanishing perhaps forgotten musical gems from the rural areas; to empower Filipino songwriters whose music can inspire and motivate a nation.
The foundation has come up with a program that uplifts this challenged industry, with its Executive Director Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan at the helm.
With the assistance of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PhilPop has launched its nationwide tour in key cities, holding a workshop with Maestro Cayabyab and several music industry veterans and Philippine Popular Music Festival finalists.
San Beda College, Ermita campus was the first stop of this unique program, with its College of Arts and Science students and its SBC Symphony Singers were amongst the hundreds in attendance, along with students from La Consolacion College, and the University of Sto. Tomas.
Philpop 1st placer Toto Sorioso who wrote “Tayo Tayo Lang” led the cast of other budding songwriters like Krist Melecio (“Piso”), Noah Zuniga (“Dulo ng Dila”), Keiko Necesario (“3am”), Thyro Alfaro (“Himig ng Panahon”), Kennard Faraon (“Slowdancing”) and Smart People’s Choice winner James Leyte (“Brown”) who all shared their experiences, and performed their winning songs.
“The outcome was very encouraging and the students were really engaged and captivated by the lecture”, shared Maestro Cayabyab. “More than that, they had fun! Through this tour, we are doing our part to ensure that this generation and future generations will have a real appreciation of our Pilipino music”.
The second stop of the tour was in Abreeza Mall in Davao where local partner Phoenix Fuels gathered hundreds of students from several schools, and members of different music organizations in the region where they interacted with the Maestro, award-winning R&B duo Thyro and Yumi, and one of the industry’s best Trina Belamide.
With the tour’s official airline Cebu Pacific, the “Songwriting with the Maestro” tour will be headed to Cebu (Benedicto College on October 12), Puerto Princesa (Palawan State University on October 16) Naga (with the Francis Padua Papica Foundation on November 24), Baguio (University of Baguio on December 17) and other key cities.
The project is supported by Maynilad, Smart, Meralco, PLDT, Resorts World Manila, TV5, Metro Pacific Investments, North Luzon Expressway, Sun Cellular, First Pacific Leadership Academy, PICC, Philex Mining, the official airline Cebu Pacific and official food sponsor McDonald’s.
- Justin -
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