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The PhilPop Grand Prize Winner and Me

8/15/2012

29 Comments

 
Today, a month and one day after the Philippine Popular Music Festival Finals Night, my new friend Karl Villuga, who has so far won the biggest prize in Filipino songwriting contest history, flies to Singapore to start a new life there.  This has long been his plan, even before joining Philpop, so not even this victory, which has given his group the Akafellas a welcome boost, can keep him from leaving.

I had met Karl before Philpop but never got to know him or spend time with him before.  It was my friend Jhett Baroma, also a member of Akafellas, who  told me Karl had also made it to the Finals.  Jhett had pestered Karl to submit his song, which Karl reluctantly did on the deadline of submission.  I guess Karl had suffered so many rejections before and didn't really believe his song had much of a chance.

So he was just beside himself at the Press Conference to present the Top 14 selected out of almost 3,000.  Which is not to say he was the only one who was excited. All of us were and very much so.  But a big part of my excitement was for Karl.  I'd turn to him every so often with wide eyes and smile and go "Eeeeee!!!" and he would close his eyes and have this silently giddy oh-my-god look.  He would shake his head often in disbelief.  You could tell he meant it when he said this was it for him, being chosen for once as one of the country's best, and that anything else good that would happen would be a bonus.    Sobra akong natuwa sa kanya. 
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Karl had performed a cover version of my song "You've Made Me Stronger" a couple of years ago and posted on YouTube.  I was glad to see that in spite of this kind of admiration for my work, he was comfortable enough around me to not call me "Ma'am Trina" or say "po" - thank God!
His humility, humor and comfort around an "old-timer" like me (parang ang tanda!) made us instant besties.  Backstage, I asked him to keep my cellphone and pressed powder in his pocket (ginawang alalay, LOL!) Minutes before the announcement of winners, we sat together.  Aware that this could be the last time we were hanging out, he made the most of the moment by "interviewing" me and asking for songwriting tips, comparing notes when it came to working on songs.  When we talked about the problem of writing songs on the piano and I saw that he could relate to the problem of having one's hands fall into the same chord progressions, I told him "Eh alam mo na 'to eh!"  In other words, who was I to be giving him tips?  This guy already knew how to write songs!  He had the talent and just needed a break.

Minutes later, he got the biggest break any Filipino songwriter could ask for.


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Driving to Cavite the next day and listening to the PhilPop album in my car, I found myself crying when "Bawa't Hakbang" came on - and I do mean crying to the point where I had to remove my shades, dab my eyes with tissue and blow my nose.  Knowing about Karl's struggles to succeed in music, his frustrations in life that inspired him to write this wonderful song that now, by some twist of fate and by God's will, made him win the Grand Prize, all the happiness I felt for him and the sadness of knowing he would be leaving for Singapore for good...wow, I'm getting teary-eyed again just thinking of it all. 

PhilPop could not have picked a more deserving winner.  We'll miss you, Karl! Keep those good songs coming, okay?
29 Comments
t2e
8/14/2012 07:24:21 pm

Wish all the naysayers and bashers who were crying foul even before the judging happened could read your blog. It shows what a terrific sport you are, that you took that contest way beyond the competition, that there is a whole lot more to you than just composing music and way even more than just winning! You're a winner, hands down!

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Trina
8/14/2012 10:08:49 pm

Thanks, T2E!

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Jhett Baroma
8/14/2012 08:26:48 pm

Awww... This just made me teary-eyed. Thanks Trina!

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Bert
8/14/2012 09:02:12 pm

But I still can't believe a professional songwriter like Karl Villuga submitted a song that's already uploaded and published. Yet, the 2000 plus amateurs who joined. followed what PhilPOP said during the submission period. I understand why he's leaving for Singapore for good after that once in a lifetime break, historical first grand prize winner of PhilPOP. only one word I can say "Guilty!"

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Trina
8/14/2012 10:08:02 pm

Hi Bert! The Philpop official website did not display any rule about not allowing songs already on youtube, so technically, Karl did not break any rule. The mistake was made by the Philpop organizers through that email that mentioned disqualifying entries uploaded on websites, and they did apologize for the confusion. Hopefully they handle things better in the future. Karl's proceeding to Singapore is also a dream come true for him, to pursue studies in finance. He's already invested a lot and prepared for it, so anyone can understand that one doesn't suddenly switch plans, even with a victory like that. As far as I know, he'll still continue to write songs in his spare time so he isn't throwing his big break away.

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bert
8/16/2012 02:15:54 pm

by the way, PhilPOP official website rules say "it must not be licensed to any publisher" did you know that when you upload your song on youtube. it's considered licensed to a publisher? because youtube is an online publisher and once you upload your song on youtube you agree to youtube's licensing agreement. since you made it available to the public, that's self-publishing. tulad ng mga indie artists na nagdistribute ng mga cd's nila that's self-publishing. so, technically nag violate pa rin ng rules

Jhett Baroma
8/15/2012 12:40:44 pm

Being uploaded in Youtube is NOT being published. Publishing, in recording industry terms, is if it was bought and released by a recording label. Karl's song, although made in 2010, was never released. It was POSTED on Youtube. it was NOT "PUBLISHED" on Youtube. You don't call that being "published". One thing more, you cannot put a good man down. Try crafting a song first that would get the attention of esteemed judges before you judge other people.

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bert
8/16/2012 02:17:27 pm

please read your dictionary what is the meaning of published?

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bert
8/16/2012 02:31:57 pm

bakit recording label lang ba pwede mag published? how about online publishing tulad ng mga blogs, news, articles, songs on any website? how about mga indie artists na nagdistribute ng sarili nilang cd's at may sariling recording company? di pa rin published because it wasn't bought, released by a recording label? BWAHAHAHA! kaya pala ang daming palpak ng PhilPOP di pala kayo marunong umintindi. "you can't put a good man down" we're not trying to put someone down we just want rules implemented and understood by PhilPOP.

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Cheesecake
8/16/2012 05:08:11 pm

please read your dictionary what is the meaning of published?-- ANO BANG KLASENG SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION 'TO?!

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Cheesecake
8/16/2012 05:09:52 pm

bakit recording label lang ba pwede mag published? --- PATI TAGALOG SABLAY.

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Cheesecake
8/16/2012 05:13:37 pm

YOU SAID: "I understand why he's leaving for Singapore for good after that once in a lifetime break, historical first grand prize winner of PhilPOP. only one word I can say "Guilty!"

SABAY BAWI KA: "we're not trying to put someone down we just want rules implemented and understood by PhilPOP."

DUDE... YOU JUST CONTRADICTED YOURSELF. NO WONDER BAKA HINDI PUMASOK YUNG SONG NA SINUBMIT MO SA PHILPOP KASI HINDI KA MARUNONG MAG-KUWENTO.

I SAID MY PIECE. MAG-MOVE ON KA NA DUDE. TRY KA NA LANG ULI SUMALI NEXT YEAR. GOD BLESS! :-)

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bert
8/16/2012 07:05:23 pm

nakapasok ka nga sa finals panloloko at pandaraya naman at low IQ ka pa at di marunong magbasa. BWAHAHA!

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bert
8/16/2012 07:09:15 pm

kapag sinabi namin GUILTY! siya it means we're trying to put him down? No! we're just telling the truth and the truth hurts.

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bert
8/16/2012 07:35:51 pm

Kung marunong kang magbasa basahin mo nga ito.

Rules Violated by PhilPOP:
Mr. Cayabyab violated when he allowed his daughter Krina to interpret Belamide's Bigtime song and hence, violated Item 4 of your SET OF RULES which states, "WHO MAY JOIN: Composers who are not involved in the competition. Employees or members of the organizers and administrative, artistic and technical staff, and the panel of judges -- including their immediate family members -- are not allowed to join the competition?" (end of quote) Don't you think that Ms. Belamide and Mr. Granada made a double-kill of this same RULE when both of them as PROFESSIONAL CELEBRITY ENDORSERS made a pitch earlier during the project pre-launch only to find out later you will compete as finalists for the multi-million prizes?

RULE on "published works"(http://www.flickr.com/photos/46575463@N05/7423470740/) which allowed PhilPop's top 3 winners -- erstwhile YouTube sensations -- to get their prizes laughing all the way to the bank in utter mockery of the other 11 finalists (and the other 3,000 entries) who complied with this RULE? How about the top three song-interpreters, Sam Concepcion, Ebe Dancel and Mark Bautista -- adjudicators all -- who picked out the winning songs to make it to the Magic 14 list then personally 'rendering justice to their respective masterpieces' by making winners out of them? Do you really think there's decency and justice here when they gave away themselves as UNPROFESSIONAL and UNETHICAL? THINK HARD ABOUT THIS: THESE AMATEURS FOLLOWED THE RULES TO THE LETTER; YOU AND YOUR KIND (SO-CALLED PROFESSIONALS) PLAYED AND TINKERED AND VIOLATED YOUR OWN SET OF RULES for the sake of OPM (Other Peoples' Millions). Manny V. Pangilinan's Millions

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Trina
8/16/2012 09:21:31 pm

Bert:

1. PhilPop is a songwriting contest, not a singing contest. Krina Cayabyab did NOT join the contest. She did not write any song for it. No rules were made as far as interpreters and singers because it's all about the composers, not the singers. My interpreter was Baihana, a group of 3 girls, and Krina was one of them. Getting her to sing did not break any of the rules, especially because the identity of the singers were not known to any of the judges. Plus Mr.C was not even a judge. All the adjudicators can attest to this.

2. Gary and I were not what you call "endorsers" of the contest. We were 2 of many professional songwriters who were asked to give blurbs to show our support for this new songwriting contest, which of course we support as professionals in this industry. We were also asked to join and submit our own entries just like everyone else, and so we did. The contest was open to professionals, so we joined and we played by the rules. Simple as that.

3. As for Sam, Ebe and Mark... As of the time of selecting the Top 14, interpreters for the songs had not been decided. Obviously because there was no Top 14 yet. These guys were NOT the interpreters of the Top 14 at this point in time, so they were not invested in any of these songs. These songs made it to the Top 14 based on the criteria that the contests set: music, lyrics, overall impact. Identities of songwriters and singers were not known, so there were no biases. Sam, Ebe and Mark were only approached to interpret the songs AFTER the songs were chosen as Top 14.

Hope this clarifies matters.

bert
8/16/2012 07:37:35 pm

and watch this video to know the truth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKn8iQDxAbw&feature=related

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Cheesecake
8/17/2012 09:19:31 am

AND AGAIN. ANG AGAIN. MOVE ON DUDE. Kung ayaw mong sumali next time, eh di wag. Walang pumipilit sa 'yo. Tutal, wala ka namang chance manalo. Dahil ngayon pa lang, hindi ka marunong tumanggap ng pagkatalo.

Kung 'yang negativity mo, china-channel mo to something positive... baka may mangyari pa sa buhay mo. Try mong mag-culinary. Baka mag-shine ka dun. Try mo nang i-accept. Baka songwriting is NOT for you

AND YES. YOU SAID IT. TRUTH HURTS. and maybe THAT'S THE TRUTH FOR YOU.

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bert
8/21/2012 08:29:03 pm

panloloko and pandaraya is for you and that's the truth!

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Bert
8/21/2012 08:37:07 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICZUmvwXPzQ

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Denise
8/17/2012 02:14:55 pm

Ang masasabi ko lang:

Bert, wag kang negastar! Kesa, kesa, kesa pumangit, isipin mo na lang lahat ng maganda. No, no negative!

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Cheesecake
8/17/2012 09:06:49 pm

RIGHT ON Denise! LOL The NEGASTAR himself! LOL!

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Dexter
8/19/2012 11:44:58 am

Mam Trina, Cheesecake, Denise, wag kayong magpakabulag sa sinasamba nyong Philpop. Ilang beses tinanong sa FB Page ng Philpop kung pwede ba ang uploaded sa youtube. At ilang beses sinagot ng Admin ng FB Page na 'IDI-DISQUALIFY ANG MGA KANTANG UPLOADED TO ANY WEBSITES, KASAMA NA ANG SA YOUTUBE." Hindi nga Mam Trina? Hindi pa kayo napili ni Sir Gary, noon? Yung rules nyo nga hindi nyo sinunod, pano kami maniniwala sa sinasabi nyo?

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Trina
8/19/2012 01:24:30 pm

Hi, Dexter! Apat na bagay:

1. Hindi namin sinasamba ang Philpop. Nirerespeto lang namin. May ilan sa inyo na hindi maganda ang naging karanasan sa Philpop, nirerespeto ko yun at naiintindihan ko. Ako, maganda ang naging karanasan ko. Kinukwento ko lang lahat ng dahilan kung bakit maganda ang naging karanasan ko. Sana respetuhin niyo rin.

2. Nagkamali ang Philpop, totoo yan. Alam na natin lahat ng detalye tungkol sa pagkakamli ng admin sa pagbitaw ng salita na hindi naman pala naaayon sa rules na nasa website nila. Inamin nila, at humingi na ng paumanhin ang organizers. Ano pa ba ang gusto ninyong gawin nila? Buti nga umamin pa sila na nagkamali sila, puwede namang hinde. At contest nila yan at tapos na ang contest. Kung hindi kayo naniniwala sa Philpop, at kung sa tingin niyo ay walang credibility ang contest na ito, huwag na lang kayo sumali. Wala namang pumipilit sa inyo na salihan ito.

3. Hindi ko maintindihan ang ibig mo sabihin sa pagsabi mo ng "rules niyo hindi sinunod" - rules namin? Hindi po ako kabilang sa organizers ng Philpop at hindi po ako ang gumagawa ng rules.

4. Kung ayaw niyong maniwala sa sinsasabi ko, okay lang yun. Sabi nga nila, you can't please everybody.

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Cheesecake
8/20/2012 08:36:59 pm

Parang gusto kong kumanta ng "Sinasamba kita" LOL.

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Bert
8/21/2012 08:26:26 pm

check this video this is the best song of PhilPOP. napakanta na ang buong madla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjwAEDQku8c

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marco
8/25/2012 12:36:08 pm

Wahahahahaa. Ang pangit sobra. This is such as disaster. Did you write this? My goodness. I hope not... especially if one considers the inappropriate courage you've shown in writing against Trina Belamide on her own website.
You guys are like begging for an award you don't even deserve.
To the person who wrote the song: Okay lang mag-protesta. That’s your right. Kaso… galingan niyo naman. Isagawa. Patunayan.
Hindi lang Philpop ang paraan. Kung magaling talaga kayo, e gumawa kayo ng hit song. Ngayon na! You talk about “binawian kayo ng pag-asa”. Well youtube and facebook are within your reach. Gamitin ito para i-promote ang sinasabi ninyong magaling ninyong musika. 

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Cheesecake
8/26/2012 08:26:52 pm

Puwede kang endorser ng ENERGIZER. You just keep going and going ang going and going. LOL

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Cheesecake
9/18/2012 01:49:14 am

At buhay ka pa rin ha? HAHAHAHA tindi mo 'teH!

Reply



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    My name is  Trina Belamide and I'm a songwriter and record producer.
    GreatSongsToSing is my online store and I thank you for dropping by! Do comment on my blog posts. I'd love to hear from you!
    Learn more about me on
    www.trinabelamide.com.

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