Philippine alternative rock legend and songwriting ace Rico Blanco recently assigned some his best-known songs to Viva Music Publishing. His hit songs including “Liwanag sa Dilim,” “Your Universe,” “Wag Mong Aminin,” and “Antukin,” to name a few are now under the music publishing company’s care.
Rico Blanco is acknowledged in the record industry as one of the biggest songwriters of his generation. His songs have been some of the most played and most-covered during his active days with Rivermaya.
Until today the tunes that he wrote in the mid to late ‘90s and early aughts are still being re-discovered by a new generation. For instance, “241” – a song he wrote when he was still with Rivermaya – was one of the major driving songs for the hit movie 100 Tula Para Kay Stella when it was re-recorded by Janine Tenoso and was used in the film’s official soundtrack.
Blanco’s “Ulan” and “Balisong,” on the other hand, have found its way into recently released films as accompanying theme songs.
Viva Music Publishing, Inc. will, in effect, be the music manager of Blanco’s catalog for the next several years. Alex Camurungan, Publishing and Digital Music Manager for VMPi said: “We are excited at the many possibilities that having Rico Blanco’s songs give us. We’ll make sure that each song is taken care of and used in creative ways.”
As one of Vic Del Rosario’s companies, Viva Music Publishing, Inc. gets first dibs in suggesting songs to every movie that Viva Films produces and distributes. VMPi assured that Rico Blanco’s considerable song catalog will definitely find its way into the movies. More likely re-recorded by Boss Vic’s roster of talented singers and bands.
