Ryan & Noel are Philpop bootcamp masters

Music industry leaders and also musicians and performers Ryan Cayabyab and Noel Cabangon will serve as boot camp masters for this year’s Philpop Songwriting Boot Camp which will be held nationwide. Ryan and Noel along with other noted songwriters will be sharing all the know-how they have learned these past many years. They will train, shepherd, mentor or whatever the term is, at least a hundred aspirants through the deceptively simple intricacies of songwriting.

I know, a lot of would-be songwriters, and also many veterans, were very disappointed about the news that there will be no Philpop Music Competition this year. (Collective sighs all around). I admit that I was disappointed, too. The experience of listening to new compositions and trying to predict which will be the winners is always exciting. But then I am starting to warm up to the idea of having this boot camp which will certainly open doors for new talents from all over the country.

Music feeds off new blood and there is always a need for this all the time. Admittedly, the annual Philpop competition is already showing wear and tear with repeat winners and finalists like Jungee Marcelo who was already a songwriting champion 30 or so years ago and the young and very good team of Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana. This brings about inertia which is not good for Philpop. 

This, however, is not to begrudge them the prize if they deserve it and if it will happen. It might, because of the same people adjudicating and whose collective tastes dictate who will be the finalists year after year. But new names and new sounds will add excitement to this quest for great Filipino pop songs, which I am glad the Philpop Foundation remains very hot about. And I think this boot camp, sponsored by Maynilad, is a great way to intensify and deepen the search.

For one, former Philpop finalists are disqualified from joining. They will be around but they will instead be helping with the mentoring tasks. They have already earned the right to do this. For another, 20 fellows from each boot camp will be chosen to join the three-day all expense paid session.  That means that based on the merits of their submitted entry they will get to join the workshop for free. And these fellows will automatically be part of the Top 300 of the Philpop Songwriting Competition in 2018. 

Note that those who do not make the grade can still join the boot camp but they will have to pay a fee of P15,000. And having the boot camp does not mean that others who were not in it, cannot join Philpop anymore. They can still send entries via the usual process next year. Warning though, I am sure the competition will be hotter, which can only augur well for the future of Filipino music.

 Qualified to send entries to the boot camp are Filipinos, 16 years old and above. They can be amateurs or professional songwriters. All that is required are basic songwriting skills and experience. Has at least one composition. I repeat they could have sent entries but have never been a Philpop finalist. They must be a resident of the area where the boot camp will be held and they can only apply in one area.

These areas are the following: Antipolo on May 11 to 14 for residents of Metro Manila, Central Luzon and South Luzon; Baguio, July 13 to 16 for residents of Metro Manila, Central Luzon and North Luzon; Cebu, Sept. 14 to 17 for residents of the Visayas; and Davao, Nov. 23 to 26 for those from Mindanao.

To enter, you can go to the Philpop website at  www.philpop.com.ph, which has the application section for the boot camp. Fill it up as per instructions and submit. The application period is until March 31. The list of accepted Philpop fellows will be posted on the website.

I encourage everybody who has ever written a song to try to qualify. Who cares if you don’t make it. You can always try again. Those who will make it have everything to gain from this experience. Ryan and Noel, plus other popular music figures, will be sharing their secrets with you. 

Of course, that does not mean you will end up being another Mr. C, after three days. Songwriting is a craft. They will teach you how to do it. The rest, and that includes the genius, is all up to you.