ANGELES CITY – The grand finals of the first annual Kapampangan Pop Song Festival is slated on Dec. 11 with 10 finalists ready to battle it out with original compositions in Kapampangan.
The Angeles University Foundation (AUF) said the theme for the festival is ‘lugud’ or ‘love’ and will be held at the AUF Sports and Cultural Center at 7 pm.
In a statement, AUF said “the Kapampangan Pop Song Festival is a songwriting competition with the Kapampangan language as the medium. The event is in line with the city’s advocacy on promoting Kapampangan as Angeles City’s official language alongside existing national languages.”
“The public is urged to vote for their favorite composition through text votes by keying VOTE <space> Song Code and send to 8933. Voting is exclusive for Smart, TNT, and Sun Cellular subscribers,” AUF said.
The codes and corresponding entries include: [RF1] ‘Dalagang Kapampangan’ by Clark Vencci Pelayo; [RF2] ‘Sabi Da’ by Romeo Canilao; [RF3] ‘Bulan’ by Calvin Concepcion and Jhon Sevilla; [RF4] ‘Kanyaman Lulugud’ by Leonardo Calma and Paul Edward Concepcion; [RF5] ‘Aguiang Na’ by Dennis Gomez, Eleonor Rodriguez, and Harold Diamsay; [RF6] ‘Ika Mu’ by Kenneth Macapugay; [RF7] ‘Lugud Mu Ing Bie’ by Shane Kim Lumanog; [RF8] ‘Pengakung Luguran’ by Richard Co and Jemima Co; [RF9] ‘Prinsesa’ by Mark David Ocampo; [RF10] ‘Kampay’ by Daniel Dato.
The AUF said the finalists held an “exclusive preview” of their entries in the presence of Angeles City Heritage, Culture and Arts Officer Joy Cruz, Culture and Arts Council of Angeles Executive Director Wing Pingol, AUF President Dr. Joseph Emmanuel Angeles and, AUF Center for Culture and the Arts (AUFCCA) Director Gildo “Boron” Garcia Jr.
Angeles congratulated l the participants “for coming up with beautiful compositions,” even as he expressed his “excitement and determination to give his one hundred percent support to the event.”
During the preview, Garcia formally presented all the songs of the 10 finalists “to give everyone an idea on how the entries were arranged and recorded through the help of Filipino music genius and composer, Vehnee Saturno.”
For his part, Pingil said “the contest seeks to perpetuate the Kapampangan prose in its stylish and rhythmical form while harnessing the aptness of talents of the Kapampangan songwriters and championing solidarity among different cities and towns of Pampanga.”
“This event will be an annual activity in line with the celebration of Fiestang Kuliat,” he added.
