The FILSCAP Foundation, Inc. has announced the start of its songwriting competition. The contest aims to provide incentives to established composers, to discover new talents and provide the winning works national and international showcase through radio/TV, print and other media exposure.

FILSCAP trustee Vehnee Saturno, one of the country’s most prolific composers, sees this as an excellent way to give Filipino music a much needed boost. “I was very fortunate when I was starting out because Filipino music was getting a lot of support from the government and the record companies,” he said. Vehnee was himself a winner of various songwriting contests here and abroad.

Among his winning songs were “Isang Dakot” which copped the Grand Prize at the 6th Metro Manila Popular Music Festival and “Be My Lady,” a finalist at the 5th Metropop, which became a big hit for Martin Nievera.

“Filipino music now has to contend with competition not only from America and the UK but also from Korea,” added Vehnee. “There is also piracy and the economic situation. Konti na ang bumibili ng CD. So we thought we should do something to get composers writing hit songs again and FILSCAP is the best organization to initiate the effort.”

There are four categories in the competition: Pop, R&B, Rock and Novelty. Entries can be in any Filipino dialect or in English. Contestants can submit only one entry. Entries will be accepted until Feb. 15, 2010.

At stake for the winners are cash prizes in the amount of P200,000, Grand Prize; P50,000, First Prize; P30,000, Second Prize; and P20,000, Third Prize for every category; P10,000 for each of the 12 finalists; a commemorative album with top singing stars performing the 12 finalists; and a trip to Australia for the Grand Prize winner to be part of the Song Summit 2010 Conference in Sydney on June 19-21, 2010, which will feature internationally acclaimed artists and songwriters and panel discussions on topical issues regarding the music industry at large.

The contest is open to Filipino composers and lyricists of all ages except members of the board of the Filscap Foundation, of the Filscap Board of Trustees, of the competition steering committee, employees of Filscap and Grand Prize winners of past songwriting competitions. “We thought it best to disqualify previous winners,” says Vehnee to give others a chance.

Entries can be sent via MP3 through the FILSCAP songwriting website, songwritingcompetition@Filscap.com.ph or sent to the FILSCAP  office at 140 Scout Rallos St. Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City.

The FILSCAP Foundation is the music nurturing arm of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. It was established to preserve and make known the music legacy of the Filipinos; to provide incentives for composers and authors to continue making hits; and to discover and nurture the talents of young composers and authors who will provide the hits of tomorrow.