...the songwriter

Song by British-Filipina popular in WYD contest

by Patrick Camara Ropeta

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

05/28/2011

LONDON, U.K. - A song written by a British Filipino artist is among the top entries in an online song contest for World Youth Day (WYD) in Madrid this August.

"Faith in You" by Manila-born Cherrie Anderson is currently the 4th most popular song in the competition, gathering nearly 46,000 votes ahead of hundreds of entries from around the world.

British-Filipina Cherrie Anderson wrote the song "Faith in You" for the World Youth Day 2011 song contest.

“It’s an amazing song, wonderful message,” wrote one fan on the site. Another one said: “I should be sharing this to my friends, relatives and family. Great song!”

The first song to be entered from the UK, it has attracted press coverage from international media including Rome Reports, The Filipino Channel, and The Catholic Herald.

“The song is about what it means to trust God and to put your faith in God,” said Anderson, who wrote and recorded the song at the beginning of this year. “It’s about how to be planted and built in Christ and being firm in the faith.”

Anderson, a practicing Catholic, believes that the song will be a “perfect choice” for the global event.

“It would capture the theme of WYD 2011. It’s reflective but at the same time uses modern instruments,” she explained. “It’s nerve-wrecking, but I hope people like it enough to vote for it, and hopefully we can get it heard on World Youth Day.”

The song is up against stiff international competition, particularly from Latin entries, including the top 3 favorites: "No Estas Solo" by Lado A from Colombia; "Siguele" by Orden y Mandata de San Miguel Arcangel from Spain; and "Firmes en la Fe" by Grupo Musical Juan Pablo II from Spain.

"Unshakeable", Anderson’s second entry, is also popular at 6th place with 30,000 votes.

The public can visit www.madridmeencanta.org to listen and vote for their favorite song. Competition ends on May 31. The winning entry will be among the official songs of World Youth Day 2011, which takes place in Madrid, Spain on August 16-21.

Based in London, Anderson is the lead vocalist of Ooberfuse, an East-meets-West fusion band best known for their song "Heart’s Cry", the official youth anthem of Pope Benedict XVI’s 2010 state visit in the UK. The band is currently preparing for an intimate gig at Leicester Square Theatre on June 9.