DAUG

IT was a night of celebrating and honoring Mindanaoan music.

Hundreds of homegrown artists here and from neighboring Mindanao

regions took part in the 1^st Muzika del Sur’ Music Awards held Sunday (August 19) at Damosa Gateway.

The controversial Myxtreme became the event’s biggest winner, taking home two major trophies. Strings On The Shed is the other double winner.

Myxtreme won the Best Video for the song Windblow. They also grabbed the surprise People Choice’s Award.

“Keep on supporting Mindanaoan music,” Myxtreme vocalist and leader Sherwin Acac told the crowd.

Dax Cañedo of the organizing Alchemy of Vision & Light (AVL) said Myxtreme got most numbers of text votes.

“They have more than 2,000 votes,” Cañedo told TIMES.

Days prior to the awarding ceremony, Myxtreme got into controversy after an awards staff admitted that some votes intended for the other competing band were added to Myxtreme’s votes.

Cañedo said they were able to trace the number of text votes intended for the other band. Yet, Myxtreme, a band originating in Davao which already made waves in

Manila, still got the highest text votes.

“We are confident to win…despite the controversy,” Acac said as he acknowledged their supporters for the support. “Our supporters are not only from Mindanao,” he admitted. Myxtreme, the back-up band of R&B singer Jay-R, is set to release its debut album last this year.

Strings On The Shed got the Best R&B/Pop Song and Best Single for Naghihintay.

The band, which just changed its name to Césta a day after they submitted their entry in the awarding event, is the group of Coke-GMA’s Ride To Fame

Davao representative Francesca Mauren “Cheska” Lagura. Curiously, in the

Davao event also co-sponsored by Coke, Cheska’s group bested fellow Ride To Fame

Davao representative Alexander Uy who was also nominated in the Best R&B/Pop Song category.

Ayala Jose Honer Iñigo Ayala, or Joey Ayala, got the Mindanao’s Pride Award “for bridging the gap between contemporary music and the Mindanaoan sound.”

“His work has inspired numerous musicians to fuse elements from two different worlds and make them sound at home with each other. Moreoever, his name and efforts have been carried beyond the Southern shores bringing pride to his native land,” the awarding statement said. Joey’s sister, Cynthia Alexander received the award.

Popong Landero once again proved that he’s the reggae lord in Davao

as he earned the Best Regga. Popong went to the awards with three nominations, the most among the nominees. But his protégée Maan Chua of Popong Landero Org and Mebuyan Peace Project bested him in the Best Solo Category.

Chua said she’s hoping that the event would challenge more local musicians to create good music.

Cagayan de Oro’s band Nuncyspungen won the Best Rock Artist Award.

Dugong Bansalenyo from Bansalan won the Mindanaoan Award besting Zacharias and General Santos’ Kuerdas.

Awit awardee Thavawenyoz won the Best Hip-Hop Award.

“We hope the event will become an inspiration,” said Thavawenyoz’s Mista Silenza.

Thavawenyoz performed their hits Hubag and Roger.

The show also saw the performances of Reggs Theory, G-String, Popong Landero and his PLO, Runaway, Kuerdas, Crème, Go Larry Go and current favorite 1017.

Presenters include city councilor-radio jock Leo Avila, Polyfusion’s Ernie Ortonio and daughter Elaine, and GMA Records composer Rebel Magdagasang

The event that was witnessed by close to a thousand of Mindanaoan artists and supporters.