Filipino composer, musician, arranger, and music producer. He writes and produces music in a wide variety of style and broad selection of use – advocacy songs and jingles, radio, film, theater, and commercial music.
He has been involved in music production since 2002 and producing full songs and arrangements since 2009.
He has also involved himself in helping other musicians, institutions, and advocacy groups produce songs and music albums.
He has since shared his skills through workshops on songwriting and song production.
AWARDS AND CITATIONS
He received two nominations in the 33rd PMPC Star Awards 2017: as Indie Best Musical Scorer for his work in Arlyn Dela Cruz’ film TIBAK and Indie Best Original Song for Panata (written by Ali Ariesgado, arranged and popularized by his band Pordalab). Panata won the award for this category making it the 2017 Indie Best Original Movie Theme song at the 33rd PMPC.
Also in 2017 he won Best Musical Score for his work in another Arlyn Dela Cruz film titled Bubog featuring his musical score and composition Wag Mong Isipin in the 65th FAMAS.
Together with the production team, they received nomination in the 36th PMPC Star Awards 2021 for song Walang Katulad, theme of the movie Immaculada.
In 2010, he won the grand prize in Net-25’s songwriting competition for his song Convergence. In the same year, he was selected as one of the 60 participants in the first ever Elements National Songwriting Camp by Ryan Cayabyab’s 7101 Music Nation.
His song “Kalahati ng Mundo” was an official sound track of 2015 Gawad Urian awardee for Best Documentary “Walang Rape sa Bontok” and the 2020 version of the song with his band Pordalab is part of Oxfam Pilipinas’ campaign on women #WeMakeHerStory. Two other songs were also part of GMA News TV’s award-winning documentary series Reel Time. Song “Himig ay Pakinggan” was the official theme of high-rating ANC eco-travel show “Rubi on a Roadtrip”.
He wrote “Tuklasin ang Bago sa Mundo”, theme of Tuklas Innovation Labs and “Baybayin Buhayin”, theme of the nationwide organization of advocates of the native Filipino script called Baybayin. These he produced with his band Pordalab.
He produced and performed the theme for two radio programs in the Bicol Region – Abogado Juan and Pamana ng Lahi.
AFFILIATIONS
He is a founding member of Musika Publiko in 2017 and currently one of its coordinators. He became the Creative Director of CStudio, a multi-experience recording studio and events place and the weekly radio show Tanog Lokal Suporta Lokal in Bossing FM 104.7 Naga City.
He creates music for the wonderful productions of Dominus Digital Connect.
He became the Executive Director of the League of Authors of Public Interest Songs (LAPIS) from 2015-2017.
He also is a member of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) and the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (FILSCAP).
Aside from his solo acts, his current work in music revolves around his band Pordalab – an alternative pop-rock band that sings songs of love and nation. The repertoire is mostly originals written by him and currently available at different platforms. Pordalab’s Puso at Bayan album, Sa Pagtahak EP, and latest lockdown songs Paghilom, Bangon Pilipino, and Magkaugnay Nating Buhay are all available commercially at Spotify and iTunes.
CREATIVE WORKS
“Paghilom” official soundtrack of the film ECQ Diary directed by Arlyn Dela Cruz and featuring Elizabeth Oropesa and Daria Ramirez (2020)
“Pamana ng Lahi” a theme for the Bicol community radio program of the same title (2020)
“Kalahati ng Mundo”, a song about women and official musical score of the 2015 Gawad Urian Best Documentary “Walang Rape sa Bontok” and part of Oxfam Philippines’ 2020 campaign We Make Herstory. (2020, 2015)
“Baybayin Buhayin” theme of Baybayin Buhayin Summit 2.0 (2019)
“Tuklasin ang Bago sa Mundo” for Tuklas Innovation Labs (2019)
“Magtanong, Mag-usisa”, theme for Radyo Inquirer (2018) co-written with Arlyn Dela Cruz
Musical scorer of full length films TIBAK, Pusit, Bubog, Immaculada, and ECQ Diary by veteran journalist turned film director Arlyn Dela Cruz. Part of the repertoire are his original songs ‘Kung Ako Ay Iibig’, a rendition of ‘Panata’, ‘Wag Magsawang Magmahal’ and ‘Wag Mong Isipin’. (2016-2020)
“Bayani ng Kalikasan”, theme of Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan (2017)
“Byaheng Tinambac Tayo”, tourism campaign theme of the Local Government Unit of Tinambac (2017)
“Himig ay Pakinggan”, official musical score of ANC eco-travel show “Rubi on a Roadtrip” (2016)
“Dear Bonifacio”, song in the album Bonifacio @ 150 in celebration of the 150th birthday of Supremo Andres Bonifacio (2013)
“Pagbabago Para sa Karaniwang Tao” a radio single which was adopted as theme of Makabayan and Teddy Casino’s senatorial run in the 2013 elections. (2013)
“DOTS the Way” theme of the 2012 anti-tuberculosis campaign of the Department of Health. (2012)
“Free” (2011), theme for Software Freedom Day 2011, Philippines celebration spearheaded by the Computer Professionals Union (2011)
“Tumugon sa Hamon” a song commissioned by the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education Research for the Church People and Workers Solidarity conference in Cebu City (2011)
Original soundtracks of Center for Environmental Concerns’ “Higante’t Tutubi”, a short animated feature about the environment (2011)
Writer, Arranger and Performer – “Alagaan ang Kalikasan”, a song project commissioned by the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center for their segment in a weekly radio program in Radyo Veritas (2009)
MUSICALS AND THEATER
Arranger and Music Producer of “Atang” theme of Pista Nin Teatrong Bikolnon (2020), musical pieces of “Munting Sinag” a play by Sangre De Naga (2020), and Sining Banwa’s “Oktubre” musical (2018)
Sound Engineer –“Mabini” and “Maypag-asa” a musical by Letran Calamba’s Culture and Arts Division (2013, 2015 )
Musical Director and Arranger – UP Repertory’s The 2013 Lean Musical based on the 1997 Lean: A Filipino Musical by Gary Granada, September (2013)
Sound Engineer –“Regalo”, a Filipino Christmas album by Children’s Literature, Arts and Performances (CLAP) and Kalantog (2012) Musical Arranger – 8 song segments in the musical “Makata’y Mandrigima, Mandirigma’y Makata” a Filpino musical staged at the UP Diliman Theater. Written by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera and Palanca awardee Edward Perez. Directed by Rommel Linatoc. Musical direction by Rica Palis (2009)
Karl Ramirez 