ASOP Hosts Richard Reynoso and Toni Rose Gayda. (Photo by: Apolinar Espos, Photoville International)

The Philippine music scene is alive and continues to be vibrant as local songwriting tilt like ASOP Music Festival shows. Now on its sixth year, ASOP will hold its grand finals night on November 7 at the Big Dome.

Apart from adding twelve new praise songs to the local music industry, ASOP fest’s biggest cash prize to date of over one million is a huge boost to local songwriters to encourage them produce more Original Pilipino Music.

Incidentally this year, the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) industry celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In Support of OPM

UNTV-BMPI CEO Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon is the proponent of the five-year-old A Song of Praise Music Festival. (Photo by: Dennis Narcida, Photoville International)

An advocate of OPM, Kuya Daniel Razon conceptualized UNTV’s A Song Of Praise (ASOP) Music Festival as a television show that invites Filipino amateur and professional songwriters to submit their praise song compositions.

Through ASOP music fest, Razon wants to bring to the mainstream the gospel and praise song genre in an effort to give hope and instill in the hearts of people the importance of praising God Almighty.

Kuya Daniel, the Chairman and CEO of UNTV-BMPI, is himself a hitmaker and singer of original Filipino songs.

Meanwhile, International Televangelist Bro. Eli Soriano and Members Church of God International (MCGI) are key supporters of ASOP Music Festival since its foray in television in 2012.

Grand Finalists and Judges

These twelve original compositions hurdled past both the television program’s weekly and monthly eliminations.

During a press briefing, ASOP announced that the “Song of the Year” and “People’s Choice Award” will receive Php500,000 and Php50,000, respectively.

Cash prizes of Php250,000, Php150,000 and Php100,000 will be awarded to the first, second, and third-runner up, respectively. ASOP “Best Interpreter” will bag Php50,000.

All non-winning entries will receive a consolation prize of Php20,000 each.

OPM Balladeer Jed Madela is one of the judges for tonight’s A Song of Praise Year 5 Grand Finals to be held at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. (Photo by: Madz Milana, Photoville International)

This edition’s board of judges include multi-awarded actress-singer and the Philippine cinema’s superstar, Ms. Nora Aunor. Aunor will be accompanied by Dr. Mon Del Rosario, Jed Madela, Isah Red, Jonathan Manalo, and Ms. Trina Belamide.

Del Rosario, ASOP resident judge, is a veteran songwriter and hitmaker; 2005 WCOPA World Grand Champion Madela is one of the country’s top male balladeers; Red is veteran entertainment editor/columnist and president of Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors or SPEED; Manalo is a record label executive; and, Belamide is one of the country’s premiere songwriter.

To date, ASOP Music Festival has released five albums with 60 original Pilipino praise songs. PMPC Star Awards for Music and for Television awarded it the “Inspirational Album of the Year” in 2013 and the “Best Talent Search Program” in 2015.

See the list of all the grand finalists this year:

Araw at Ulan
Composer: Joselito Caleon
Interpreter: Sitti

Ikaw Pala
Composer: Wilfredo Gaspar
Interpreter: Ima Castro

Tapat Mong Pangako
Composer: Gulliver Enverga
Interpreter: The Voysing

Ikaw Lamang
Composer: Jonathan Sta Rita
Interpreter: Tim Pavino

God Will Always Make a Way
Composers: Glenn Bawa and Ronald Calpis
Interpreter: Bugoy Drilon

You Stood By Me
Composer: Vincent Labating
Interpreter: Jason Fernandez.

Pag-ibig Ka Oh Dios
Composer: LJ Manzano
Interpreter: JBK

Patawarin Mo Ako
Composer: Fernando Gardon
Interpreter: Kris Lawrence

Tanging Ligaya
Composer: Angelica Soriano
Interpreter: Zendee

Ang Iyong Pangalan
Composer: Romarico Mendiola Jr.
Interpreter: Jovit Baldovino

Kumapit Ka Lang
Composer: Noemi Ocio
Interpreter: Mela Ravanilla

Mula sa Aking Puso
Composer: Joseph Ponce
Interpreter: Carlo David

To know more about ASOP praise songs, you can visit www.asoptv.com. You can also follow and subscribe to their Facebook via facebook.com/asop.untv, Twitter at twitter.com/asoptv, and YouTube channel thru www.youtube.com/asoptv to get updates of their upcoming events.

Written by: Gauden Joe Sumayod