User:Verbosmithie/Visayan Pop Songwriting Campaign

Visayan Pop Songwriting Campaign, also known as Vispop and/or Visayan Pop Music Festival, is a national songwriting campaign and competition for pop music compositions written in the Cebuano language launched in Cebu City, Philippines on 2012. The competition is under the auspice of Artists and Musicians Marketing Cooperative (Artist Ko) in cooperation with the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP).

History
Vispop was founded by Cebuano songwriters and artists Jude Gitamondoc, Ian Zafra, Cattski Espina, and Lorenzo Niñal through the Artists and Musicians Marketing Cooperative (ArtistKo) with the support of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Its goals were to encourage songwriters to compose in Cebuano, the mother tongue spoken in central Philippines, Visayas, and most parts of Mindanao, and to introduce fresh, radio-friendly songs with mainstream appeal as an alternative to Bisrock and local novelty songs. In his talk in the Tedx event organized by the University of San Carlos in 2015, co-founder Gitamondoc explained that Original Pilipino Music (OPM) is not only composed of Tagalog songs, but also those that are written in regional languages, and Vispop was conceived as a venue for Cebuano songwriting.

In 2012, the Vispop campaign launched its first series of songwriting workshops in Cebu's educational institutions, including St. Theresa’s College, Don Bosco Technical College, University of Southern Philippines Foundation and University of San Carlos, while at the same inviting submission of entries for the competition.

1st Visayan Pop Music Festival
The 1st Visayan Pop Music Festival was held at the Benedicto College Artists Hall on May 18, 2013. The entries were judged by Department of Trade and Industry regional director Nelia Navarro, singer-actress Anna Fegi and Filscap board member and songwriter Gary Granada. Out of 80 entries, the following were adjudged winners:


 * Grand prize: Duyog by siblings Jewel and Joe Villaflores
 * Second runner-up: Laylay by Lourdes Maglinte
 * Third runner-up: Balay ni Mayang by Kyle Wong and Marianne Dungog

Vispop 2.0
The 2014 edition of the competition was re-branded Vispop 2.0 and was held at SM Cebu Cinema One on June 24. The judges were musician and TV host Errol "Budoy" Marabiles, Eping Amores, and MOR 97.1 DJ Jacky G.The grand prize second runner-up, and third runner-up winners won Php 30,000, Php 20,000, and Php 10,000 respectively.


 * Grand prize: Labyu Langga by Jerika Salve Teodorico. It also won the MOR 97.1 Listeners' Choice Awards and Super Song Award.
 * Second runner-up: Kasikas by Johnever Canlom
 * Third runner-up: Dili Pa Panahon by Kenneth Corvera. The song also received the Pinaka-Fighter Vispop Award.

The following songs made it to the final 6:


 * Intergalactic Gugma by Kaye and Keith Jonas Dinauto
 * Imong Bayani by Michael Vincent Tuico
 * Habak by Gasser Perez

Vispop 3.0
Vispop 3.0 attracted 220 entries and was held at SM City Cinema One on June 26, 2015. Judges Eva Santos, Mandaue Children's Choir choirmaster Dennis Gregory Sugarol, and vocalist-columnist Luis Quibranza III judged during the awards night.


 * Grand prize: Buwag Balik by Lourdes May Maglinte
 * Second runner-up: Pangandoy by John Stephen Cadelina and Irving Ladanan Guazon. Singer Daryl Leong won Best Interpreter.
 * Third runner-up: Bok Love by Felipe Anjelo Calinawan and Therese Marie Villarante. It also won the Netizen’s Choice Award and MOR Listener’s Choice Award.

The following songs made it to the final 6:


 * Tug Ta Tug by Earnest Hope Tinambacan and Jerry Angelo Catarata
 * Brgy. Blues by Andy Calope
 * LQ (Sige La’g Away) by Adam Niel Corvera

Vispop 4.0
Vispop 4.0 was held at SM Seaside City’s Centerstage on June 20, 2016 and gathered over 360 entries. Apo Hiking Society's Jim Paredes and musician Rico Blanco were guest of honors during the awards night that hailed the following winners:


 * Grand prize: Paghunas by Joseph Gara
 * Second runner-up: PepPep by Kenneth Corvera
 * Third runner-up: Suwat ni Maria by Marie Salvaleon

The following songs made it to the final 6:


 * Damgo by John Cadeliña and Irving Guazon
 * Imoha Ra Akong Kasingkasing by Sherwin Fugoso and Marajane Monton. It also won the Netizen's Choice Award and MOR Listener's Choice Award.
 * Baklay by Jerika Salve Teodorico

Vispop 5.0
With over 350 entries, Vispop 5.0 was held at SMX Skyhall, SM Seaside Cebu with the following announced as winners:


 * Kung Di Pa Lang Ko Buang by Chai Fonacier
 * Kung Di Man Gani Kita by Jerika Salve Teodorico
 * Kurog Ko by Jeremy Sarmiento. It also won the BaiTV Netizen’s Choice Award and MOR 97.1 Listeners’ Choice Award.

The following songs made it to the final 6:


 * Unsa Ning Tamaa by RJ Ensalada
 * Siya Ra Tawn Ang Nahigugma by Winset Jacot and Jane Abaday
 * Hulagway by Dexter Latosa and Ma. Rhodora Veloso