Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika

The last week of July is designated as Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino (Week of Filipino Music) by virtue of Proclamation No. 933 in 2014. For its week-long celebration, liwaliw Sounds features some of the winning entries from the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival, or Metropop, during its run between 1978 and 1985.

I selected particularly the winning entries that are about, or that celebrate, music and singing. And no other way to start this series but the first grand prize winner, in 1978, the song which would later be the Festival's de facto anthem, "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika," music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab, and interpretation by Hajji Alejandro.

Magmula no'ng ako'y natutong umawit
Naging makulay ang aking munting daigdig
Tila ilog pala ang paghimig
Kung malalim, damdami'y pag-ibig
Kung umapaw, ang kaluluwa't tinig
Ay sadyang nanginginig

The First Metropop's other winners include:

• "Pagdating Mo," music and lyrics by Nonoy Gallardo, and interpretation by Celeste Legaspi, awarded Second Prize;
• "Narito Ako" (or "Narito Ako Umiibig"), music and lyrics by Nonong Pedero, and interpretation by Maricris Bermont, awarded Third Prize; and
• "Ibig Kong Ibigin Ka," music and lyrics by Vic Villafuerte and Rolando Tinio (who would be proclaimed National Artist for Theater and Literature in 1997), and interpreted by Anthony Castelo, awarded Fourth Prize.

Check out this YouTube upload of the awarding ceremonies: