Pinoy’s entry disqualified from Singapore songwriting contest

Despite rave reviews from netizens, a Filipino-penned song was disqualified from a songwriting competition in Singapore commemorating the country's 50th founding anniversary.

A report on Channel News Asia said Singaporean media company MediaCrop disqualified Jude Gitamondoc's "As One" because the contest was open only to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents.

The song was not selected as a finalist despite an admission from MediaCorp deputy CEO Chang Long Jong that the song was well-liked by the judges.

Lawrence Wong, Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Ministry of Communications and Information, expressed puzzlement over the song's rejection in a post last March 9.

 
While he acknowledged MediaCorp's qualifying criteria, he said that no one should be barred from contributing art for Singapore's 50th anniversary.

"Let's have an inclusive celebration, and embrace all who share our values and ideals, and want to join us in making our Golden Jubilee a truly special one!" Wong said on the People's Action Party social media account.

In a post on his Facebook page, Gitamondoc said he was flattered that one of the songs he wrote "caused quite a stir online" despite its disqualification.

Singaporean company Sophie's World Productions commissioned the songwriter in 2014 to write two songs for the Gift of Song competition.

Gitamondoc credited Jad Bantug of 1032 Recording Studio for the instrument arrangements, Ralph Juntilla Mallapre for vocals on their demo, and Isaias Herrera Zantua for creating their music video.

He also thanked executive producers Elaine Rachel Tang and Tracy Nicollete Tang and Dwight Handro Buot for giving him the project. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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