After reaching its second year as the Philippines’ first and only praise songwriting competition, ASOP TV Music Festival will now go international, veteran broadcast journalist Kuya Daniel Razon recently announced.

Photo by: Rovic Balunsay / Photoville International

Razon, Chairman and CEO of Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International, also revealed that the full details and complete mechanics of ASOP TV International is now being finalized.

Earlier, Bro. Eli Soriano, radio-television host of Ang Dating Daan program, broached the future of ASOP TV during its grand finals night in Smart-Araneta Coliseum on September 9 this year.

“Participants will initially come from the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries,” explained Bro. Eli. “Internationally, we will have participants from Portugal, Brazil, Africa and Europe who will create songs of praises for the glory of God.”

Photo by: Rovic Balunsay / Photoville International

A Song of Praise (ASOP) Music Festival was started short nine years ago as an exclusive event inside the Members Church of God International (MCGI), conceptualized by Bro. Eli, Presiding Minister to MCGI.

ASOP’s goal primarily is aimed at “encouraging professional and amateur composers inside the organization who will create praise songs for God.” In keeping true to this goal, Razon, together with Bro. Eli, opened the ASOP Music Festival to the public through UNTV-37 two years ago, the first time the song writing competition started accepting entries from non-members of MCGI.

Photo by: Rovic Balunsay / Photoville International

Aside from giving composers the opportunity to let their songs of praise be heard all over the world, ASOP Music Festival is the most generous in doling out cash prizes.

Crowd favorite, “Ikaw” (You) swept the major prizes, including Song of the Year and Best Interpretation. Composer Christopher Boy Ramos took home the half-million grand prize while interpreter of that song, Jonalyn Viray received P50,000.

(Written by Daryleene Evasco)