Philpop 2013:Finalist Marion Aunor drops out of the race, Kennard Faraon In

Philpop 2013:Finalist Marion Aunor drops out of the race, Kennard Faraon In

THE main message of “Your theme, your genre, your song” of Philippine Popular Music Festival 2013 encouraged Filipinos from all over the world to write songs limited only by their creativity. The response to the call generated a record breaking 3,383 submissions.

Majority of the entries came from the Greater Manila Area. Most entries from GMA came from Quezon City, Makati, and Manila. Entries from outside the country came from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Germany, China, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Australia, Canada, Norway, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Ireland, UK, Thailand, and Macau. Most overseas entries came from the United States.

Sixty-seven percent of the entries were written in Tagalog while 37% were in English. There was also 1 entry which was in Chabacano.

Out of 3,383 entries, 12 were chosen to be the top contenders for PhilPop 2013. These are Paul Armesin with his song “Segundo,” Marlon Barnuevo with “Araw, Ulap, Langit,” Jungee Marcelo with “Pansamantagal,” Johnoy Danao with his song “Kung ’di Man,” Raffy Calicdan with “Space,” Gani Brown with “Askal,” Myrus Apacible with “Sana Pinatay Mo Nalang Ako,” Adrienne Sarmiento-Buenaventura with “Sometimes That Happens,” Marion Aunor with her entry “Do, Do, Do,” the duo Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana with “Dati,” Lara Maigue with “Sa ’Yo Nalang Ako,” and Joey Ayala with his song “Papel”.

The million-peso champion of the first ever PhilPop is former Akafellas member Karl Villuga with his song “Bawat Hakbang”. The composition, which was about overcoming a personal crisis, was interpreted by Villuga along with his former groupmates and balladeer Mark Bautista.

Unfortunately three days after the announcement of the twelve finalist Marion Aunor, Nora Aunor's niece backed out of the race reportedly for personal reasons, although no detail was given in the advisory. The move was her talent management’s decision. With Aunor out, this brings up to the Final 12 roster Kennard Faraon with his song “Time Machine.” The lyrics speak of a longing to be reunited with a former lover via the time machine.

Twenty-something returning finalist Faraon is a skateboarder and a master of homebrewed acoustic and electro pop music.