Cebu City, Philippines — More than a month after they announced that they will produce the Visayan Pop Songwriting Competition 2019, the Sacred Heart School for Boys Batch 1985 Foundation has decided to launch the Visayan Music Awards (VizMA).
The group’s official statement regarding their decision to launch a new songwriting competition was sent to Cebu Daily News Digital on the evening of April 8, 2019.
“This year, as previously announced, our advocacy of promoting Visayan culture will be further strengthened through music. We thought the best way to do this is to continue the legacy of Vispop, a songwriting competition that has been inactive for almost two years now,” the statement read.
The developments of coming up with a new competition came after holding collaborative discussions with stakeholders and numerous industry professionals to make it more inclusive to other genres.
“We have decided that the best way to move forward is to start fresh with our own endeavour instead. Thus, we will launch the Visayan Music Awards,” the official statement continued.
Based on its official website, VizMA is a songwriting competition that promotes the Visayan language and culture.
“It aims to build, grow, and nurture a community of artists across the Visayas and Mindanao regions. We hope this will evolve into what we envision to be the biggest platform for songwriters and musicians to hone their craft,” the producers said.
The competition is not just open to songs written pre-dominantly in the Visayan language but also in English, with context that promotes Visayas region including food, places, and people.
“The competition will also embrace all genres from pop, rock, R&B, reggae, hip-hop to country, soul, and folk among others,” the statement reads.
VizMA will have Board of Advisors including Apl.De.Ap, Filipino-American rapper and member of Black Eyed Peas;
Ryan Cayabyab, National Artist of the Philippines; Jimmy Borja, songwriter; Christine Bendebel, songwriter and
music licensing manager for House of Tunes Music Publishing; and Evelyn Music Publishing Director for Universal Music Publishing.
The Sacred Heart School for Boys Batch 1985 Foundation also clarified that those entries previously submitted for the Vispop 2019 will be carried in the VisMA.
The submission of entries is still open until May 31 on their new website at https://www.visayanmusicawards.com.
The grand finals is slated on July 27 at the Oakridge Pavilion. The grand winner will take home P100,000.
Vispop controversy
After a press conference for Vispop 2019 was held last February 27, songwriter Jude Gitamondoc, who is one of the co-founders of Vispop aired his side in a series of lengthy Facebook posts.
He previously raised concerns against Artist Ko regarding the trademark registration, royalty issue, and the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP) concerns on Vispop’s growth.
Artist Ko, a registered cooperative with artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs as members, owns VisPop.
When sought for comment on the new development, Gitamondoc said he supports VizMA since behind the event are good people both the organizing team and board of advisors.
“I know organizer Barney Borja is up to the task and that he’s sincere in bringing transparency and in making sure that the artists’ rights are protected,” he told CDN Digital.
Ian Zafra, GM of Artist Ko, said he won’t comment on behalf of the group.
“Personally, however, I support this initiative,” he said.
“I support this because I too am a musician. Events like these are good incentive platforms for the music community.” he added. /bmjo