Eleven original Filipino songs will vie for the Grand Prize during the First KBP Pop Music Festival awards night this coming Friday, April 27, at seven o’clock in the evening at the Star Theatre, Star City Complex in Pasay City. The 11 songs have already won in their respective categories in the songwriting contest launched last 2010 by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), the broadcast media association, and the Filipino Composers Development Cooperative (FILCOMDEC) to encourage local composers to produce new songs that would “rekindle pride in Filipino music” through airplay on radio stations.

KBP President Ruperto S. Nicdao, Jr. said that some of the songs entered in the songwriting contest have already been played on the air by KBP stations and made available on the music download site of Click Music Philippines, a joint project of KBP and FILCOMDEC. Nicdao said that after the finals night on Friday, both the winners and the finalists will receive even greater public exposure.

“The KBP opened the radio airwaves to original Filipino compositions in 1975 and helped to establish in the minds of our people that Filipino songs are the equal of foreign songs.” Nicdao said. “We are hoping that the KBP Pop Music Festival will further reinvigorate the creative powers of our composers and give the public more new songs to enjoy and be proud of.”

The Grand Prize winner in the competition will receive a cash prize of 100,000 pesos and a trophy. The First Runner-up will receive a cash prize of 75,000 pesos and a trophy and the Second Runner-up 50,000 pesos and a trophy.

The 11 songs that will compete for the Grand Prize, and are already entitled to receive a cash prize of 25,000 pesos each as category winners, are:

1.  Hatinggabi, Agatha Morallos, composer, Pop category winner
2.  Awit Mo, Awit Ko, Michaell Bon, composer, Folk category winner
3.  Chaket Ulo, Chaket Tyan, Marlon Mendoza, Jr., composer, Novelty category winner
4.  Posible, Mary Gian Ajero, composer, Rock category winner
5.  Lumuluha ang Puso Ko, Edwin Marollano, composer, Country category winner
6.  What Am I to You, Andre Calixto, composer, R &B category winner
7.  Sandata, Arman Ato Alferez, composer, Gospel/Inspirational category winner
8.  Lead the Way, Kat Lopez, Cedric Bonjoc & James Palma, composers, Hip Hop category winner
9.  Stop, Look and Listen, Agatha Morallos, composer, Dance category winner
10. Maynila, Mike de Lara, composer, Jazz category winner
11. Give the Children A Chance, Leo Rosario, composer, Children’s song category winner

Press Release 012-001. KAPISANAN NG MGA BRODKASTER NG PILIPINAS.

GARY V opens the summer season with a series of 8 concerts at the Music Museum,marking his 29th anniversary in the industry and the 25th  year of his company Manila Genesis Entertainment & Management, Inc. Stricken by Type 1 juvenile diabetes for 30 years now, this unmatched performer has been a shining beacon of inspiration in the country and he remains complication-free and still, on top of his game. Gary has consistently inspired his millions of fans through his craft as a singer, musician, songwriter, video producer, dancer, actor, musical arranger and a multi-awarded television host/performer for 9 years on the undisputed top-rating musical variety show, “ASAP.”  

After visiting typhoon victims in Cagayan De Oro and Iligan for UNICEF, Gary V jumpstarted the year with a
new segment on “ASAP 2012” entitled “With Love: Gary V”  --a spin-off of his platinum CD under Star Records and his much-talked about television special which aired seven times on ABS-CBN and MYX in 2011 and twice on The Filipino Channel. The segment features Gary as he showcases stories of love, forgiveness, redemption, and faith while he sings songs that celebrate the beauty and goodness of humanity. “With Love Gary Valenciano,” the CD compiles the soap opera and movie theme songs which he performed and recorded for ABS-CBN and Star Cinema. Just this March, Gary, together with the ASAP team, flew to Cagayan De Oro to shoot a video with a courageous flood victim for his segment.  All these efforts let led to “On Higher Ground,” a fundraiser for UNICEF and the Shining Light Foundation, two faithful partners dear to Gary V, who has been National Ambassador for UNICEF for 14 years now.

In his stellar career, one of Gary’s most celebrated corporate relationships was with Coca-Cola with whom he
 had a contract for over ten years. Two years ago, he was tapped to launch their refreshing product, Real
Leaf, and this year was invited again to record “Tuloy Ang Happiness” the 100th Year official anthem of Coca-Cola with Sarah Geronimo and Someday Dream, with powerful appearances at the Gala Night at Makati Shangrila as well as the “Concert Ng Bayan” at SM MOA last March 26.  

The country is excited for Gary’s much awaited return to the silver screen via an upcoming movie under
Straight Shooters Media entitled “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” which he will star in together with Zsa Zsa Padilla, Eugene Domingo, Sam Concepcion, and Ogie Alcasid. He has appeared in 13 films for Regal Films, Seiko Films, Viva Films, and Star Cinema.

For his concert series at Music Museum, fans can look forward to witnessing Gary V in his best element as he
 performs his greatest hits as well as some of today’s hottest chart-toppers, party anthems, and homegrown favorites. Fans can also expect groundbreaking and pioneering technology and excellent audio-visuals through their corporate partners Videosonic and Soundcheck.

“I’m very excited and at the same time a bit nervous because we have come up with new routines and a lot
of surprises for this series,” says Gary. “I am particularly excited for our opening production number. It will be awesome. I really hope it works the way I envisioned it.”  Gary V will be performing with two world-class musicians, Awit Awards 2008 Best Female/Best New Female Singer Julianne and Juan Miguel Salvador, formerly of Rage Band and now the musical director of Authority, which represented the country in the 2005 Global Battle of the Bands in London.

“Gary V: On Higher Ground” happens at Music Museum on April 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27; and May 9
and 10. The show will be for the benefit of UNICEF and Shining Light Foundation. The show is supported by
ABS-CBN, MYX, Smart, Soundcheck, Videosonic, Gold’s Gym, Aficionado, Coca Cola, Goldilocks, Lee,
Universal Records, Star Records, Studio V, Essensuals Toni & Guy, Fernando’s, with media partners: Radio
 High 105.9, Crossover 105.1, Monster Radio RX 93.1, Tambayan, Magic 89.9, DZMM 630, Philippine Daily
Inquirer, Philippine&am p;nb sp;Star, Business World, People’s Journal and People’s Tonight.  

“Gary V: On Higher Ground” will be directed by Gary and son Paolo Valenciano with Musical Direction
by Mon Faustino. Tickets are priced at Php 3,500.00, 2,500.00, 1,500.00, 1,000.00, and 500.00.

For tickets contact Ticketworld (891-9999), Music Museum (721-6726; 721-0635), and Manila Genesis (706-2170 to 71; 0915-4975225; 0908-8871397).

Four weekly and three daily regional publications have made it to the finalists’ circle in the 2011 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards. Weekly publications Mabuhay (Malolos, Bulacan), Baguio Midland Courier (Baguio City), Edge Davao (Davao City) and The Mindanao Cross (Cotabato City) figured prominently in the the screenings. Daily publications Sun.Star Davao (Davao City), Sun.Star Cebu (Cebu City) and Sun.Star Pampanga (City of San Fernando) also made it to the initial round of judging.

All seven community newspapers will be vying for excellence in six major categories: best in photojournalism, best in culture and arts reporting, best in science and environmental reporting, best in business and economic reporting, best editorial page, and best edited community newspaper.

The winners will be announced during the awards program on April 24 at Traders Hotel Manila during the 16th National Press Forum and Annual Membership Meeting of the Philippine Press Institute. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales will be the guest of honor and speaker for the 16th awards season. No less than President Benigno S. Aquino III will keynote the opening ceremonies of the conference which has “Media Accountability and Public Engagement” as this year’s theme. The PPI is celebrating its 48th founding year and 25 years since reactivation after the People Power Revolution.

The additional category on culture and arts, which is this year’s theme for photos and stories exhibit will be presented by the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA). The winner of the exhibit will receive trophy and cash.

The management of the awards, cash prizes and trophies are being funded by The Coca-Cola Export Corporation (TCCEC) and the six newspaper-members of the Board such as Malaya, Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessWorld, The Philippine Star, Manila Standard Today, and the Journal Group. The TCCEC is the major strategic partner of the PPI for its project on Building Better Communities Through Civic Journalism since 2002.

The forum and awards are also being supported in part by St. Luke’s Medical Center which is this year’s exclusive forum partner. Other major sponsors are: Chevron Philippines Inc., Liwayway Marketing Corporation, Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Anflo Management Investment Corporation, Petron Philippines, United Laboratories, Land Bank of the Philippines, Pilipinas Shell, McDonald’s Philippines, and Smart Communications, Inc.

Part of the donations will go to the training fund of the Institute to support workshops and seminars for its members for continuing media education and professionalization.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE
Room 312 BF Condominium, Intramuros, Manila
Tel. Nos.: 5279632/5274478        Fax: 5273390
Email       : ppi1@mozcom.com

For the first time in its history and in celebration of its 25th year since reactivation, the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) will have President Benigno S. Aquino III and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales as keynote speakers during its 2-day by-invitation only 16th National Press Forum on April 23-24 at the Traders Hotel Manila. 

This also marks the 48th founding year of the Institute since 1964.  It was rendered moribund during martial law, re-activated after the People Power Revolution, and incorporated in 1987.

President Aquino will be the first head of state to address the only annual gathering of owners, publishers and editors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, representing 72 publications.   The President is expected to deliver a message on the “protection and preservation of press freedom and democracy” in the opening ceremonies on April 23.  Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales will keynote the Community Press Awards, honoring the best civic journalism reportage of the previous year.