MANILA, Philippines – PhilPOP Musicfest Foundation (PhilPOP) is bringing their songwriting boot camp all over the Philippines!

With Noel Cabangon and Ryan Cayabyab at the songwriting workshops’ helm as Boot Camp Masters, PhilPOP this year will be held at the following locations and dates:

• Antipoplo: May 11 to 14
• Baguio: July 13 to 16
• Cebu: September 14 to 17
• Davao: November 23 to 26

Each 3-day workshop will accept 20 fellows for an all-expense-paid trip where they will take part in activities with veteran songwriters, musicians, and former PhilPOP Songwriting Competition winners.

The fellows will also automatically become part of the Top 300 in the PhilPOP Songwriting Competition in 2018. Because of the boot camp schedule, there will be no songwriting competition held in 2017. 

The PhilPOP Songwriting Competition receives thousands of submissions each year. Past winners include Jazz Nicolas Wally Acolola, Paolo and Miguel Guico of Ben&Ben, and Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana, among many others. 

Rules and how to join

Aside from the 20 sponsored fellows, regular fellows can also join for a fee of P15,000, which covers food, accommodation, and a training kit.

Interested applicants can send in their applications through PhilPOP’s website from February 1 to March 31. Applicants will find out if they’re accepted on the following dates:

• Antipolo – April 15
• Baguio – June 15
• Cebu – August 15
• Davao – October 15

Before you sign up, take a look at the criteria for who can apply for the boot camp:

• Must be Filipino
• 16 years old and above
• Amateur or professional songwriter
• Has basic songwriting knowledge or experience
• Has written at least one song
• Has not been a PhilPOP SongWriting Festival finalist
• Resident of the area covered by the boot camp to be attended

– Rappler.com