Bro. Eli Soriano to Launch ASOP Music Festival - International

By Gauden Joe O. Sumayod

Quezon City, Philippines – The recently concluded ASOP Music Festival Year 2 was a huge success. Stunning performances were shown by each performer before tens of thousands at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The conceptualizers of this event, Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon expressed gratitude for its success and have announced their plan to launch an International ASOP Music Festival competition in the near future. This will open the door to people around the world to join this song-writing competition, regardless of language and races.

           

Overwhelmed ... blessed ... thankful. These are what the ASOP interpreters felt as they were singing their piece. The audience was moved by their performances. Loud cheers and applause filled the Big Dome on the night of September 09, 2013.

The chairman and CEO of Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (BMPI) Inc., Daniel Razon spearheaded the ASOP Music Festival Grand Finals night. Razon said that the main goal of ASOP Music Festival is to encourage everyone to come up with a composition intended in praising God:

“I don’t know how to fully express this, but I know, within your hearts, there’s a singer in you, there is a composer, but it would be great if the songs that we were going to compose and to sing is for the One that had given us the voice  and the reason of our existence.” expressed by  Razon in the vernacular.

ASOP Music Festival, according to Razon, was being held inside the Church of God International long before they started ASOP TV on UNTV through Bro. Eli Soriano’s idea, the main proponent of the program.

Bro. Eli Soriano, the Presiding Minister of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) as the advocate behind this peculiar program shared some important details about the history on how the ASOP Music Festival started. Bro. Eli said that although other religious groups forbid their songs to be sung by other denominations, it was not supposed to be that way. This paved the idea of having a program for original composition of songs of praises. At first it was only held inside the church and eventually in television via ASOP TV wherein everybody is welcome to join, both professional and amateur song writers regardless of their religious orientation. Bro.Eli believes that songs of praise are something worth sharing to the world.

In his speech, Bro. Eli also announced that ASOP Music Festival will be going international.

 “And this is truly an International organization (MCGI), that’s why Bro. Daniel and I thought of launching an International ‘A Song Of Praise Music Festival.’” Bro. Eli said about the church organization.

Although the place and date is indefinite as to when this much bigger project will start, absolutely it would be another history in Philippine television, for it will be the first song writing competition in the world that are mainly songs of praises to God, another milestone for the Members Church of God International.

“I am hoping that professional and amateur song writers would continue to join -- let us come together. Let us praise the Maker of our soul, and the Creator of our being. And to Him be the glory and the honor forever and ever.” Bro. Eli said as he encouraged composers to continue joining ASOP Music Festival.

During the final night, twelve entries had vied for the coveted place. The song “Ikaw” composed by Boy Christopher Ramon Jr. was awarded as the “Song of the Year,” received P500, 000.  And Jonalyn Viray, a well known and multi-awarded singer who interpreted the song “Ikaw” won as the “Best Interpreter” received P50, 000.

Here are the lists of runner ups:
First place: “I am Grateful” composed by RJ Jimenez, received P250, 000.
Second place: “Lagi Kang Nariyan” composed by Christian Obar, which received P150, 000.
Third place: “You’ll See Miracles” composed by Paul Hildawa, which received P100, 000.

Joey De Leon, TV host, and well known comedian was among the board of judges together with Raul Sunico, the President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines; Audie Gemora  a world renowned musical actor and director; and Anabelle Regalado-Borja, the CEO and Talent Manager of E-Talent Productions.

Kathleen Dy-Go, the General Manager of the Universal Records; Snaffu Rigor, a multi awarded composer and singer; and Dr. Mon Del Rosario, the President and Managing Director of Talent Asia Entertainment Studio, completing the board of judges.

In the near future, we will be singing and hearing new songs of praises in different languages composed by non-Filipino composers and singers.