“Enrich the spirit, inspired by music with a song of praise straight from the heart.” – ASOP Music Festival.
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – THE MAESTRO. Musician Ryan Cayabyab, also known as Mr. C, had experienced a wow moment as judge during the ASOP Music Festival Year 4 Grand Finals night. He was in awe, together with some of the distinguished music veterans in the music industry, of the said event. It was held at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on October 13, 2015.
Christian songs may not be the kind of music that are commonly heard nowadays in the mainstream due to its notion of having a distinct genre or beat. But the ASOP Music Festival’s self-produced praise songs obviously changed that thought. It developed praise songs in different styles and beat that would surely attract the mainstream.
ASOP Wows Judges
ASOP varies from Contemporary Gospel to R&B to Pop Ballad to Pop Rock Alternative to Jazz Fusion, which people of different ages can easily relate to. With that, ASOP Music Festival Year 4 has once again received numerous praises from distinguished personalities in the Philippine music industry.
“Unang-una sa lahat, maraming salamat sa pag-imbita sa akin para umupo dito… I was very inspired tonight dahil ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng isang-damukal na mga awiting ganyan. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa mga composers na congratulations, tuwang tuwa ako sa mga nilikha ninyo,” expressed by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab (Chairman of the Board of Judges)
Cayabyab also admits that he was moved by the songs he heard during the presentation of the twelve ASOP who competed that night. “Heto nga… mayroong ilan diyan sa mga awitin na yan na talagang tumama sa akin.” He even exclaimed, “Wow! Ang ganda ‘nun ha!”
Moreover, Cayabyab encourages the ASOP Year 4 composers to continue their passion of composing songs of praise, “’Wag kayong titigil sa paglikha (ng awit), huwag na huwag. Ito ay regalo sa atin at kailangang ibalik natin sa Kaniya.”
Other prominent music personalities who graced the event include Celeste Legaspi of Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM); Lachmi Baviera of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI); Singer Jett Pangan; Multi-awarded singer, composer, musician Doc Mon del Rosario; Renowned gospel music composer Jungee Marcelo, were also very surprised. They applauded the ASOP Music Festival competition for its unique endeavor and advocacy of producing original Pilipino music.
Celeste Legaspi (Multi-awarded singer) praises ASOP Music Festival for the quality of music it has produced. “Ngayong gabi talagang the quality of singing, ang mga lyrics, ang mga words, and the music, napakaganda… So, I am very happy to be part of this endeavor maraming salamat for inviting me. Thank you so much,” she happily said.
Lachmi Baviera (Record industry, PARI) was also amazed and very happy knowing there is such a song writing competition like ASOP. She also admits that it is very hard to be one of the ASOP judges. “Yung huling nag-judge ako,I was asked kung mahirap, I said hindi, hindi mahirap, madali lang. Pero ngayon, hirap na hirap talaga ako. Ang galling lang, kasi sinasabi ko nga kay Doc Mon parang ibang mundo ito, ngayon ko lang narinig… Di bale, malapit na, malapait na I think magkakaroon ng exposure talaga lahat, digital world na ngayon, everything is accessible… I’m so happy mayroong ganito”, she explained.
Jett Pangan (Singer) shares the same feeling on how hard it is to be one of the ASOP judges and was moved by the songs he heard. “I would like to personally thank the production, kayo, nila Tony and Richard at saka sa lahat ng nandito ngayon dahil the beautiful music and the beautiful praises, personally, tonight my faith is strengthen. So, salamat,” he admitted.
Jungee Marcelo (Gospel song writer) commended ASOP for its remarkable undertaking of producing great songs – songs that intended for the Lord. “Natutuwa ako kasi for me ah nag-me-mainstream na yung aspirational – inspirational songs. Salamat sa ASOP kasi sa pamamagitan ng inyong kompetisyon (ay) ipinapakita na may isang uri ng pagsusulat ng awitin… Actually one of the best kind of song-writing yung mga awiting iniaalay sa Panginoon; na lumikha ng awiting nagbibigay pugay sa ating Panginoon… Congratulations,” he said.
Doc Mon Del Rosario (ASOP’s Resident Judge and Music Producer) “Well, dahil ina-adjust ko kasi yung tunog ng kanta, so may mga kanta po diyan na pang teenager, may mga kanta pong pang-oldies. Mayroon ding mga kantang pang-seryosong tao, may kanta doon sa medyo may arte, negative, may pinagdadaaanan. Pero, kailangan kasi, apart from the message yung music (ay) kaya niyang makapag-paliwanag ng damdamin. he replied when he was asked during the ASOP PressCon at Elements in Centris Walk, Quezon City last October 7, 2014, on why the ASOP songs is very much commercialized.
He also recognized the compositions of the ASOP Year 4 composers. “Mahirap ikumpara. Para sa akin, kung ako ang tatanungin, panalo silang lahat.”
The ASOP Music Festival Year 4
Twelve glorious months, twelve new songs of praises, the UNTV’s A Song of Praise (ASOP) Music Festival reached another milestone of producing great-sounding original Pilipino praise music. The contribution of ASOP Music Festival in the Philippine music industry is indeed commendable; primarily the support it is giving to the Original Philippine Music (OPM) industry.
The people behind this great endeavor, Bro. Eli Soriano, the Overall Servant to the Members Church of God International (MCGI), and Kuya Daniel Razon, the UNTV’s CEO, obviously deserve to be honored and to be thanked for such contributions. Nevertheless, they remain humble and always giving the glory and honor to God the almighty.
“It has been four years since we have started ito pong ASOP Music Festival on television and naging maliit na instrumento rin po tayo in contributing na hindi lamang po doon sa pag-awit ng pagpuri sa Panginoong kundi maging sa ating pong Pilipino Music, ang Original Pilipino Music na alam natin na kailangan din nating masuportahan. But of course, most importantly with songs that will reach the spirit and give glory to God. It is a very big blessing to us that we are able to continuously create songs of praises to God. And as we always say, after we’ve done things that need to be done, we remain humble instruments. We are just servants of His kindness. To God be the glory.” – expressed by Razon
Thanks be to GOD for @BroEliSoriano who conceptualized #asoptv #ASOP4GrandFinals http://t.co/rl9YtCqOov—
ASOP-UNTV (@asoptv) October 16, 2015
“Music does things to us especially if we dedicate it to the Lord. It restores and strengthens our faith, and it can give hope to us and to other people as well.” – Bro. Eli Soriano shares on how important ASOP is.
ASOP Year 4 Winners
The song Kung Pag-ibig Mo’y Ulan sang by Leah Patricio and composed by Christian Malinias was awarded as the “Song of the year,” which bagged the grand prize of P500, 000. And Leah Patricio, the fifth “Hall of Famer” at the reality show contest Talentadong Pinoy, won as the “Best Interpreter” and received P50,000.
Here is the list of the runners-up:
First place: “Pakamamahalin Din Kita” composed by Dennis Avenida, which received P250,000.
Second place: “Jesus, I Love You” composed by Timothy Joseph Cardona, which received P150,000.
Third place: “Pahintulutan Mo” composed by Leonardo de Jesus III, which received P100,000.
Best Music Video: “Sabik Sa’ Yo” compsosed by Joseph Bolinas, which received PHP50,000.
People’s Choice Award: “Dakila ka, Ama” composed by Ella Mae Septimo, which received PHP50,000 .
ASOP has indeed became a home not only for professional songwriters but also for aspiring and budding composers that has been given the chance to hone and share their talents through writing songs dedicated to the Lord.
#asoptv hosts Richard Reynoso and Toni Rose Gayda during the #ASOP4GrandFinals http://t.co/Gxq8qflIko—
ASOP-UNTV (@asoptv) October 16, 2015
ASOP Music Festival is hosted by the two great people, the best host tandem for the show none other than Mr. Richard Reynoso and Ms. Toni Rose Gayda . ASOP airs on Sundays, 7 p.m. on UNTV. For more information on how to join ASOP, click here.
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