VISPOP: A Platform of Visayan Music

Now on its 3rd year, VISPOP has lured in songwriters, composers and singers from all over Visayas. It became a platform to advocate Visayan music to the public and to acknowledge the growing music scene all over the region.

Six finalists from the 220 entries made it to perform for the night. ‘Buwag Balik’ written and performed by Lourdes May Maglinte; ‘Pangandoy’ written by John Stephen Cadelina and Irving Ladanan Guazon and performed by Daryl Leong; ‘Bok Love’ written by Felipe Anjelo Calinawan and Therese Marie Villarente and performed by Kurt Fick and Therese Marie Villarente; ‘Tug ta Tug’ written by Earnest Hope Tinambacan and Jerry Angelo Catarata and performed by Earnest Hope Tinambacan; ‘LQ’ written by Adam Niel Corvera and performed by Eugene Corpin and Julyann Uy, and ‘Brgy. Blues’ written by Andy Calope and performed by Earl Andrei Ornopia.

Bok Love won the Netizen’s Choice Award, MOR Listener’s Choice Award and bagged the 3rd prize as well.

Pangandoy won second place and its performer, Daryl Leong, won the Best Interpreter of the night.

The Grand Champion of Vispop 3 was none other than the song Buwag Balik, a smart yet sarcastic take on on-and-off relationships Maglinte observed from her friends.

The judges of the night were Eva Santos, an entrepreneur and the Philippines’ Tina Turner; Maestro Dennis Gregory Sugarol, the choir conductor of the famous and multi-awarded Mandaue Children School; and Luis Quibranza III, Filscap member, the band Bethany’s vocalist, Sunstar editor and the chairman of the board of judges.