Text starts here: DUBAI: The dream of Ralph Maligro, a young OFW from Bohol, who is presently living in Ras Al Khaimah, to become famous is now become a reality. His composition emerged as the grand winner of the second edition of Dubai Dubai Musikahan on Friday, August 4 at the Boracay Club, Asian Hotel in Dubai.
Maligro’s “Kayumanggi”, bested 11 other shortlisted entries, which emphasizes on unity, camaraderie and pride of being Filipino. The composition was interpreted by Pepito Comanda Jr.
“Nais kong iparating sa inyo mga kababayan ko na dapat ipagmalaki natin sa buong mundo ang kulay nating kayunmanggi. Taas noo Pilipino.” – Raplh Maligro, grand winner Dubai Dubai Musikahan Songwriter Competition year 2
“Nais po ko pong iparating sa inyo ang mensahe ng pagkakaisa lalo na sa panahon ng sakuna at kaguluhan sa bansa. Ang Pilipino ay laging handang tumulong sa kapwa at makipagbayanihan. Kaya nais kong iparating sa inyo mga kababayan ko na dapat ipagmalaki natin sa buong mundo ang kulay nating kayunmanggi. Taas noo Pilipino,” Maligro said in his video message to the audience.
Maligro went home with Dh5,000 cash prize, a Dh500 voucher, and a trip to Armenia. His song will also become an official single under ABS-CBN’s Star Music and will be sang by one of its artists.
The other DDM 2 winners were Jessie Paderes, second place, and Christopher Pilapil and Lucino Casenas, in third place.
Paderes won for his song Dugong Pinoy, interpreted by Leonardo Manalac and Delmar Del Mundo. Paderes won DH3,000 cash prize, Dh500 voucher, and one return flight ticket, Dubai – Manila – Dubai.
Pilapil and Casenas, meanwhile, won for their song Tama Ka, Pilipino Ako, interpreted by TechPenz Band. The duo went home with DH2,000 cash prize, DH500 voucher, and a staycation package.
Renowned songwriter Trina Belamide, who wrote the song “Now That I Have You” by the CompanY, one of the three-member panel the judges. She said they had a hard time deliberating which song will they chose to be the grand winner.
“We had to break a tie. We have decided that overall appeal has a lot to do with it (as our best choice) as Star Music will be recording it. We used our ranking method because it was the best to even out things, dahil magkakaiba din yung tastes naming mga judges,” explained Belamide.
Other esteemed judges were Jonathan Manalo – record producer, arranger, songwriter who created songs for Gary V., Lea Salonga, Sharon Cuneta, among others, and is currently the A & R and Music Content Head of Star Music; and Marion Aunor, a multi-awarded indie pop singer-songwriter who is currently a recording artist under Star Music and Star Magic. Aunor has also written songs for Filipino music icons like Sharon Cuneta and Erik Santos.
In his interview with The Filipino Times, Manalo said, he and the other judges were expecting that the winning song will become an anthem for Filipinos abroad.
“We are looking for a song that will connect to the heart. Na kapag narinig natin ay magiging proud tayo sa pagiging Pinoy. Sa side naman ng pagiging commercial, yung madaling sabayan at madaling matandaan at hahamunin ka sa sinasabi ng kanta,” he said.
“I was looking for a song that touches that heart. I’ve read the lyrics of the final entries beforehand and since our theme is about being nationalistic and all that, I think the song should speak to the Filipinos and inspires them to keep up the Filipino spirit,” said Aunor.
Dubai Dubai Musikahan songwriting competition is part of the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Dubai and Northern Emirates’ celebration of the Philippines’ “Buwan ng Wika” (“National Language Month”). It is one of the major projects of Filipino Ladies of Dubai, chaired by Dr. Yasmin Balajadia-Cortes, to help promote cultural diplomacy of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for overseas Filipinos and other nationalities to better appreciate Filipino culture.
“We are very lucky to have very famous judges from the Philippines and partner with Star Music of ABS-CBN for this second edition of Dubai Dubai Musikahan. The winning song will later be interpreted by a famous Filipino artist in Manila. We are also working on the possibility of getting some of the entries on board Star Records. We hope that sana, they too will be given a chance,” Dr. Cortes told The Filipino Times.
