PhilPop Bootcamp 2019, The Maestro and the Women Behind its Silhouette

In its aim to bring out the best in every Filipino rising musicians, Philippines’ best singer-songwriters gather together to work as a team and reach out to those whom they share passion with through a PhilPop (Philippine Popular Music) Bootcamp 2019, headed by the Maestro and the country’s National Artist for Music, Mr. Ryan Cayabyab.

Its third training-workshop was held at Lingayen, Pangasinan last September 24-27, 2019 joined by 26 promising singer-composers. The said boot camp enables Filipino songwriters from different corners of the country to develop their skills to produce valuable content – worth listening to.

The Women Behind PhilPop Bootcamp 2019

However, one may easily notice how only a few Pinays are able to join and understand the rhythm of the maestro, along with his passion and make a name of their own in the industry. Among a few of these renowned female singer-composers are Trina Belamide (singer-composer, popularized the songs Tell the World of His Love, You Made Me Stronger, Shine, Now That I Have You), Yumi Lacsamana who both served as coaches to the participants and Dinah Remolacio (Executive Director – OPM), who with all her passion for music, spearheaded the event.

Trina Belamide

When asked about the difference between how men and women write songs, Trina Belamide says that there’s really no gender in songwriting. However, women may tend to have a lot of sensitivity. With the seemingly limited number of Pinay singer-composers, she thinks that the common factor affecting the involvement of such talents include one’s civil status.

Writing songs requires more time to focus, and being involved with an organization to help the younger generation with the same craft will demand more time. She thoughtfully acknowledged how moms could be more active even when their passion for music screams for their presence.

90’s kids may still hum the theme song of the World Youth Day in 1995 entitled “Tell the World of His Love” in time for Pope John Paul II’s visit to the Philippines. Trina emerged victorious in the songwriting competition for the said event about 20 years ago. With all honesty, she revealed that her very first motivation was to only win the contest with the prizes that include a trip to Rome for two, which she may give to her parents and of course, wanting to make a name of her own.

At the time, she has already been into songwriting, but somehow, Trina felt unworthy of writing Gospel songs as she described her relationship with God as casual and nothing really intimate. What she did, according to her, was say a prayer telling Him that if He wants to use her as an instrument, let it be through the song.

She described the writing process as though she was only putting rhyming words together and typically trimming and adding verses without even reading the bible at the time. To Trina, God works in mysterious ways as Tell the World of His Love led to a strengthened relationship with Him.

Among the artists she has worked for is Regine Velasquez, who sang her written pieces of You Made Me Stronger and Shine, The Company who sang Now That I Have You.

To a Trina Belamide as an accomplished singer-composer and one of the coaches during the Philpop Bootcamp 2019, songwriting involves a lot of creativity and technical aspects where concept should come first. These, according to her, are a few of what they’ve been sharing to the participants – the younger generation of music.

Yumi Lacsamana

Yumi Lacsamana, 31, had been in the music industry for quite some time, having had a corporate job during the day and pursuing her passion for music by night. Winning PhilPop Music Festival twice with the songs she wrote with Thyro Alfaro, namely “Dati,” interpreted by Sam Concepcion and Tippy Dos Santos in 2013 and “Triangulo” they magnificently interpreted themselves with Jeric Medina in 2015 became her career breakthrough in the music industry.

She too selflessly shared with the fellows (Boot Camp participants) the lights and shadows of collaborating with fellow musicians, thus stressing out how it has made her confident with the songs she had been writing. To Yumi, OPM is not dead – it’s everywhere.

While there are only a few women like her in the industry, she’d like to think that there’s a variety of hobbies that these women may be interested in. “Kanya-kanyang trip yan.”, (We all have our own interests.) she’d say. However, if there are more women singer-composers out there, she encourages them to step up for their songs to be heard, and their skills will be shared.

Dinah Remolacio

Of course, the success of the said event wouldn’t have been made possible without the hard work of another wonder Pinay in the group – the Executive Director for the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit/Philippine Popular MusicFest Foundation, Incorporated for more than six years now – Ms. Dinah Remolacio.

She made sure that everyone is well-taken cared of and that every single minute is enjoyed not just by the coaches and mentors but the fellows in particular. It’s never a piece of cake to make sure a Bootcamp is a success with a great bunch of 26 fellows in attendance! Kudos to Ms. Dinah Remolacio and such a competitive team!

The Philpop Bootcamp is certainly one great preparation for the biggest songwriting contest in 2020 – another big event that every single music lover will look forward to. According to The Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, events as such can bring out the best in every rising singer-songwriter. It was a surprise he adds that in this batch, he was able to hear a fellow do a ballad, a few ladies write and sing songs about abuse and bullying.

PhilPop Bootcamp 2019 Fellows

Emerged victorious during the selection of the Top 10 “fellows” out of 26 after the song-critiquing done on the 3rd day were Charms Jacinto (Maybe Someday), Pauline Lauron (Make U Mine), Ian Dumaplin (Pagtila ng Ulan), Steph Lavoie (Far Away), Kenneth Reodica (Abakada), Randy Pusing (Tala), Hazel Dela Cruz (Anyo), Pauline Castro (Seenzoned), Gabrielle Singzon (Girl) and Lance Salazar (Bulag). These top 10 fellows (with six wonder Pinays to note!) were able to perform and wowed everyone during the Bootcamp Socials Night, where an Open Jam with the coaches also stirred everyone’s spirits up.

There’s so much more to the Philippine music industry than only dwell in heartaches- there’s more to every songwriter than meets the eye. Philpop Bootcamp has by far become a great avenue for every hopeful musician to explore their crafts and make the best out of them through the guidance of mentors and coaches including the renowned musicians – Jim Paredes, Noel Cabangon, Garry Granada, Paulo and Miguel Guico (Ben & Ben), Jungee Marcelo, Davey Langit, Marlon Barnuevo, and Thyro Alfaro.

Its final leg will be in the Visayas on November 18-21, 2019 where every single singer-songwriter in the regions is encouraged to join and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the best Bootcamp masters in the country.
We can only hope that there’d be more and more Wonder Pinays who’d take courage to express their love through music.

To the women behind the silhouette of the Philippine Pop Music Festival and the rest of the coaches and mentors with the humble guidance of Mr. Ryan Cayabyab – kudos to all of you!

With such a flood of talents (especially our music traveling around the globe), I can always say, wherever I am in the world – I’m proud to be Pinay!