Jolina Magdangal So Classy and Sophisticated in Himig Handog 2016

One of the biggest surprises for me in last night's Himig Handog show was to see how good Jolina Magdangal is as a singer!

I would usually associate her with Dingdong Dantes and their juvenile movies and see her more as a good comedienne-actress than a singer.

I think she can pull off a Barbra Streisand kind of show if she wants to perform live because she already has the maturity and the bearing for it.

Not to say that she's old, but it's a career move she can do now that there's a new generation of ingenues that have taken her place.

She and the composers of her song, "Tama Lang" also won one of the prizes last night, a victory, they truly deserve!

Itchyworms and Davey Langit Rule Himig Handog 2016

I was actually introduced to Lea Salonga through the 1985 Metro Pop Music Festival where I saw her sing with her brother Gerard, a song which eventually won 2nd prize Amateur Division in THE songwriting competition of that time.

At that time, to win in that competition was a big deal for composers and OPM artists since past winners include classics like Ewan by the APO Hiking Society, Bulag Pipi at Bingi by Freddie Aguilar and Magsimula Ka by Leo Valdez, among others.

It was also there that I discovered THE hugot composer of our generation, Odette Quesada. Kaya pag manalo ka dun, you've arrived na talaga!

Anyhow, I attended a songwriting competition last night sponsored by one of our top TV channels and the judges chose Itchyworms "Dalawang Letra" as the Grand Prize winner.

No surprise there because the composer, Davey Langit has already been writing for himself and for other artists, upbeat and pretty positive songs. Sya yung nagsulat ng "Selfie Song" which was popular a few years ago.

Two of my bets also won, Kyla and Kris Lawrence's "Monumento" written by Jungee Marcelo (another prolific composer) and Angeline Quinto and Michael Pangilinan's "Parang Tayo Pero Hindi" written by Marlon Barnuevo.

My OPM Top 10 (April 15, 2016) #1 Bailey May / Ylona Garcia - O Pag-ibig

Bailey May and Ylona Garcia both get their very first #1 hit in My OPM Top 10 countdown, as O Pag-ibig, ascends to the top spot this week.

It's the first song from the Himig Handog 2016 set to top my OPM countdown.

Youtube views: 623,748 (2.34%)   

My OPM Top 10 (April 15, 2016) #3 Angeline Quinto / Michael Pangilinan - Parang Tayo Pero Hindi

Angeline Quinto is no stranger to My OPM Top 10 countdown, with Parang Tayo Pero Hindi as her eleventh top 10 hit.  On the other hand, this is Michael Pangilinan's first visit in my OPM countdown.

The song zooms up to #3 in My OPM Top 10 countdown this week and it's the second Himig Handog 2016 song to chart this year.

Youtube views: 502,662 (3.24%)  

My OPM Top 10 (April 15, 2016) #6 Kyla / Kris Lawrence - Monumento

Kyla's sixth top 10 hit, Monumento, moves up to #6 this week in My OPM Top 10 countdown.  The song is also Kris Lawrence's third top 10 hit.  

The song is one of the four entries of Himig Handog 2016 to have entered my weekly OPM countdown.

Youtube views: 325,440 (3.10%)