“Akong Bililhon” by John Cadeliña is one of the PhilPop Songwriting Festival 2020 finalists from Mindanao. The announcement was made through an online media presentation on August 24, 2020.

When Cadeliña was in third grade, he has accompanied his local parish through the children’s choir and playing the keyboard/organ. Since then, he has began to develop his talent and confidence in music.

Having no formal training in music, Cadeliña plays it by ear. Fast forward to college, his band decided to join a television talent show called “PGT2” and they made it to the Grand Finals.

The band was able to perform as a band for year before the members separated. Cadeliña then started joining local songwriting competitions before joining regional and national level contests.

Recently, Cadeliña started his solo project called The Marshland, inspired by Owl City, Five for Fighting and City and Colour, among others. Including his song “Akong Bililhon,” there are six PhilPop Songwriting Festival 2020 finalists from the Visayas-Mindanao cluster.

Visayas

• “Ayaw Na Lang” by Jerika Teodorico of Cebu City, Cebu
• “Hinungdan” by Michael Catarina of Cebu City, Cebu
• “Suyo” by Noah Alejandre and Reanne Borela of Ormoc City, Leyte

Mindanao

• “Akong Bililhon” by John Cadeliña of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
• “Kasadya” by Christian Chiu of Corandal City, South Cotabato
• “Pahuway” by Sherwin Fugoso of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte

PhilPop is currently wrapping up its adjudication process for the remaining clusters namely, North Luzon, South Luzon and Metro Manila. The finalists representing the remaining regions will be announced in September 2020.

PhilPop Songwriting Festival chair Ryan Cayabyab heads the selection committee. The committee included PhilPop executive director Dinah A. Remolacio, PhilPop Musicfest Foundation president Victorico P. Vargas, board member Noel Cabangon and lead adjudicators Jungee Marcelo and Trina Belamide, Warner Music Philippines managing director Ian Monsod, MinPop Musicfest director Jeremy Sarmiento and Kadasig founder Jude Gitamondoc.

According to PhilPop executive director Remolacio, the entries underwent multiple rounds of selection process until top three per clusters were handpicked. She said, “We wanted our process to be inclusive so the decision making involved local and international representatives from Warner Music, representatives from our regional partner for each cluster and representatives from PhilPop.”