‘Wag Paglaruan’ wins Philpop Himig Handog

Their winning entry, “Wag Paglaruan,”captivated the jury with its enduring songwriting appeal and contemporary artistry, standing out among the twelve finalists from the top Philippine songwriting competition. Tiara Shaye composed the award-winning piece, with both herself and Fana delivering a soulful take that further elevated the song’s crossover potential.

The competition also recognized other outstanding compositions. The Cebuano-penned track “Buhi,” composed by Keith John Quito and interpreted by Ferdinand Aragon, secured the first runner-up position, while the emotional ballad “Papahiram,” won second runner-up. Written by Rinz Ruiz and performed by acclaimed singer-songwriters Moira and Johnoy Danao, the song resonated deeply with both judges and audiences.

Other notable winners include “Kurba,” composed by Sunkiss Lola’s Alvin Serito and interpreted by chart-topping pop icon Maki. The song received Smart People’s Choice Award and MYX Choice Award for Best Music Video. With nearly eight million streams on Spotify, it emerged as the most-streamed track in the competition.

PhilPop board member and National Artist Ryan Cayabyab echoed this sentiment, praising the winners for embracing the modern sound of Filipino music and identifying with the younger fans. “We think these PhilPop Himig Handog songs standout not just because of excellent songwriting and composition, but also because of their ability to relate to the stories of the Filipino audience.”