Himig Handog mamimigay na naman ng milyones!

Bagama’t impressed kami sa entries in this year’s Himig Handog competition, Salve A., somehow, nalungkot kami habang pinakikinggan ang mga ito. Lalo na sa mga hugot song, which speak of pain, unrequited kung hindi man lost love, plus mga awiting pag-ibig na ‘di mo alam kung kailan darating o hindi na.

All in all, 12 ang na-consider na top entries from among 4,000 na isinabmit. Karamihan ay galing sa malalayong probinsiya, tulad ng Cebu, Iloilo, Isabela at Cagayan, at ang mga kompositor karamihan ay pawang mga millennial.

Kung sabagay, huwag isnabin ang prizes na naghihintay sa mananalo.

Bukod sa pagkakataong maging popular single ang awiting nanalo, maririnig din ito sa radio station ng DZMM at DZMM Tele­radyo at magiging contract talent din ang kompositor ng Star Music.

In any case, here are the prizes at stake, P1-M sa grand winner, P500,000 for the second placer and for the third fourth and fifth, P200,000, P150,000 and P100,000 respectively.

And Grand finals ay magaganap live on October 13 sa ASAP Natin ‘To at the presscon for his upcoming Himig Handog 2019 event, present were Roxy Liquigan, head ng Star Music na for six years ay siyang nagma-mount ng competition na ito, kasama rin si Jonathan Manalo ng ABS-CBN Music audio head.

The members of media present had the chance na mapakinggan ang mga awiting kasali sa competition, sung live by their chosen interpreters, such as Janella Salvador, TJ Monterde at Jenine Berdin, among others.

Janella at Elmo ‘mainit’ pa rin sa isa’t isa

Hindi pa man nagtatagal ang bago at first series together nina Joshua Garcia at Janella Salvador na The Killer Bride, may mangilan-ngilan na fans ng dalawa ang bumubuo ng grupo.

Bagama’t maituturing na controversial pa rin ang dahilan ng pagka-buwag ng love team nina Joshua at Julia Barretto, still the two insist, they are still good friends.

They have yet an unreleased flick, Block Z, produced by Black Sheep and co-starring them with Ian Veneracion, Maris Racal at McCoy de Leon.

In the case of Janella at Elmo, balitang hindi pa rin okay ang dalawa ngayon. Hindi raw nga kasi na­ging maganda at magaan ang hiwalayang namagitan sa kanila. Nauwi raw sa something physical.

Lea hindi pa rin nagbabago

Must see na maituturing ang gala performance, aptly titled Perfect 10 ni Lea Salonga on August 30 and 31 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.

She has for a special guest, her pre-teen daughter, Nicole Chien, who looks a cross between her and husband, Rob Chien.

Other special guests are Michael Lee, Esang de Torres and Tanya Manalang.

Flory Quintos will be the stage director, while Lea’s musician brother, Gerald Salonga will be the concert’s musical director. Also featured are the members of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra.

Of Lea, she is seen on TV Saturdays and Sundays, with fellow voice coaches Bamboo and Sarah Geronimo of the reality singing competition, The Voice Kids.

Angelica certified ‘tita’ na

Much as she would love to have a daughter, as her two sons with Paolo Paraiso are now both in their teens, Mylene Dizon said she cannot imagine herself getting pregnant at 42.

Mylene has been in a happy relationship with former top cager and now a topnotch basketball coach, Jason Webb.

At tsaka, maganda ang takbo ng kanyang showbiz career. Now with GMA-7, kasama siya sa cast ng seryeng Sahaya.

She just finished the Cinemalaya movie, Belle Douleur, where she shared intimate scenes with 24 year-old new actor, Kit Thompson.

Mapapanood din siya sa upcoming digital series, Call Me Tita, where she is cast with Lorna Tolentino, Cherry Pie Picache, Agot Isidro at Joanne Ampil.

Featured is Angelica Panganiban.

“She is kasi only in her mid-30s,” ani Mylene tungkol kay Angelica. “The rest of us are in our 40s and above.”