Photo by: Rey Vercide, Photoville International

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ one and only songwriting competition on television, A Song Of Praise (ASOP) Music Festival, will soon hold weekly and monthly finals for amateur and professional songwriters abroad.

This came after Chairman and CEO of UNTV-BMPI, Kuya Daniel Razon recently announced plans to take the songwriting tilt to the international stage, which means the television program will start accepting praise-song entries from different countries in the near future.

“We will be taking ASOP to the next level. Ibig sabihin po aangat tayo ng kaunting level, and we will be going international,” Kuya Daniel said during his closing speech at the ASOP Year 5 Grand Finals night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum last November 7, 2016.

Razon, one of the primary persons behind the successful ASOP Music Festival on television, said ASOP will be done first in Asia, either in Singapore or in Hong Kong, to host and to showcase ASOP’s foray in the international community.

“God willing, we will be doing this in Asia. We are choosing between Singapore and Hong Kong to showcase ‘yung atin pong ASOP Music Festival para doon gawin yung isang buong buwan na magkakaroon ng weekly, then ‘yung monthly finals. Pero pagsusunurin namin yon,” Kuya Daniel said as he shared the concept of the upcoming international project.

Compositions Until Eternity

Photo by: Kenneth Valladolid, Photoville International

Meanwhile, Bro. Eli Soriano, the Overall Servant of the Members Church of God International (MCGI), who also graced the event, explained the significance of the ASOP Music festival.

Bro. Eli said via live video streaming that each song of praise composed by humans will have its place in eternity to come, adding it will be sung to praise God.

“Mayroon palang aawiting awit doon sa eternity, at ang aawitin doon ‘yong awit papuri sa Dios. Kaya ganun na lang ang aming pagpapahalaga dito sa ASOP,” Bro. Eli expressed before the nearly 15,000 people who attended the festive event.

Bro. Eli read the basis of his statement from the Book of Revelations, 15:3, which reads that the song composed by Moses is being sung in eternity to glorify the Almighty.

The international televangelist also pointed out that religious differences must never be a hindrance to anyone in praising God.

“For me, this is a very important event na magkasama-sama ang mga tao … na nagkakaisa tayong pumuri sa Panginoon. After all, tayong lahat naman creation ng Dios. Tayong lahat ay may utang sa Dios. We owe Him the sweetest, (and) the most beautiful praise. Kasi wala naman tayong maipaglilingkod na iba sa Dios kundi (ang) magpasalamat sa Kaniya, to praise His name,” Bro. Eli explained.

“Let us compose a song that is worth playing, that is immortal song. Immortal in a sense that it will supersede the existence of our heaven and our earth – a song that will be sung in the new heavens and in the new earth,” the televangelist added.

Going international will be another milestone for the ASOP Music Festival. And the ASOP management, through Kuya Daniel and Bro. Eli Soriano, is keen to make it happen.

The ASOP Music Festival Year 5 Grand Finals Night

Photo by: Rodel Lumiares, Photoville International

The Big Dome was filled with heavenly sound and music as the twelve new praise songs was performed and presented during the ASOP Year 5 Grand Finals and vied for the coveted title of “Song of the Year.”

The song “Kumapit Ka Lang,” composed by Noemi Ocio, the youngest ASOP songwriter, was hailed as the ASOP Year 5 Song of the Year, then took home a cash prize of Php 500,000 tax free.

Other ASOP Year 5 awardees are:

1st Runner Up
“God Will Always Make A Way”
Composers: Glenn Bawa and Ronald Calpis
Interpreter: Bugoy Drilon
Cash Prize: Php 250,000

2nd Runner Up
“Araw at Ulan”
Composer: Joselito Caleon
Interpreter: Sitti
Cash Prize: Php 150,000

3rd Runner Up
“You Stood by Me”
Composer: Vincent Labating
Interpreter: Jason Fernandez
Cash Prize: Php 100,000

“Mula Sa Aking Puso”
Composer: Joseph Ponce
Interpreter: Carlo David
Cash Prize: Php 100,000

People’s Choice Award
“Ikaw Lamang”
Composer: Jonathan Sta. Rita
Interpreter: Tim Pavino
Cash Prize: Php 50,000

Best Interpreter(s)
Jason Fernandez and Bugoy Drilon
Cash Prize: Php 50,000 each

The non winning grand finalists also received Php 20,000 each as a consolation prize.

Photo by: Ruby Vercide, Photoville International

Six distinguished personalities in Philippine music and entertainment industry served as panel of judges to give their final verdict for the song finalists. One of them is the award-winning actress and the Philippine Superstar, Nora Aunor.

Kuya Daniel Razon would also like to add an additional amount for the cash prizes for the next season of the ASOP Music Festival. ASOP Year 5 Music Festival gave a total of Php 1.3 million on its grand finals night. This does not yet include the cash prizes for its weekly and monthly finals throughout the season.

To know more about ASOP Music Festival just visit, www.asoptv.com.

Written by: Gauden Joe Sumayod