Twelve new praise songs were on spotlight last November 7 as the A Song of Praise Music Festival (ASOP) capped off a successful fifth season with an evening of heavenly music.

Top-notch and emerging OPM acts, including Sitti, Bugoy Drilon, Jovit Baldivino and Tim Pavino, interpreted the top song entries that made it through the grand finals after a series of weekly and monthly elimination rounds.

The event’s panel of judges included Superstar Nora Aunor, ASOP’s resident judge Mon Del Rosario, OPM balladeer Jed Madela, esteemed songwriter Trina Belamide, record label executive Jonathan Manalo and entertainment editor Isah Red.

Apart from celebrating the new set of worship anthems, the one-of-a-kind music revelry also paid tribute to previous ASOP finalists with two spectacular production numbers.

X Factor UK finalist 4th Impact showed off world-class harmonies with their medley of ASOP grand prize winners, “Purihin Mo Ang Dios, Oh Pilipinas” (Year 1), “Ikaw” (Year 2), “May Awa and Dios” (Year 3) and “Kung Pag-ibig Mo’y Ulan” (Year 4). Meanwhile, Jason Dy, Michael Pangilinan, Liezel Garcia and Leah Patricio teamed up for a stunning medley of ASOP Year 4’s top 12 song entries.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMgm2S1A99M/

The culminating night also made noise online as its official hashtag, #ASOPYear5GrandFinals, made it to the local Twitter trends list, peaking at the fourth spot.

Below is the full list of A Song of Praise Music Festival Year 4 winners:

Song of the Year: “Kumapit Ka Lang”
Composer: Noemi Ocio
Interpreter: Mela
Cash Prize: Php 500,000

1st Runner-up: “God Will Always Make a Way”
Composers: Glenn Bawa and Ronald Calpis
Interpreter: Bugoy Drilon
Cash Prize: Php 250,000

2nd Runner-up: “Araw at Ulan”
Composer: Joselito Caleon
Interpreter: Sitti
Cash Prize: Php 150,000

3rd Runners-up: “You Stood By Me”; “Mula Sa Aking Puso”
Composers: Vincent Labating; Joseph Ponce
Interpreters:Jason Fernandez; Carlo David
Cash prize: Php 100,000 each

Best Interpreters: Bugoy Drilon; Jason Fernandez
Cash prize: Php 50,000 each

People’s Choice: Ikaw Lamang
Composer: Jonathan Sta. Rita
Interpreter: Tim Pavino
Cash prize: Php 50,000

Non-winning entries each received Php 20,000.

According to Mr. Daniel Razon, Chairman and CEO of Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International, the show is planning to go global for its Year 6. BMPI is the producer of ASOP, the first and only praise songwriting competition in the country.

As part of BMPI and Wish 107.5’s partnership to promote Original Pilipino Praise Music (OPPM), ASOP songs are being regularly played on the station. “ASOP on Wishful Sunday,” which airs from 5 to 7 in the morning, plays song entries that previously competed in the music festival.

To hear all the 12 song entries of ASOP year 5, subscribe to the program’s official YouTube channel.

(Images courtesy of Photoville International)