MANILA, Philippines—Singer-songwriter Gary Granada is crying foul over what he says is GMA Kapuso Foundation’s taking advantage of his work.

In an e-mail titled “Kung Paano Sinamantala ng GMA Kapuso Foundation ang Aking Komposisyon” which he sent to friends, colleagues, and the media, Granada attached a 14-minute audio tape where he explained his complaint in detail.

On the tape, Granada narrates that the foundation commissioned his services for the music of a commercial jingle.

He says the final version of the “study tape” he submitted was disapproved, and the job went to another songwriter.

GMA 7 aired a finished product of the finished commercial before the Christmas season. Granada claims the music bears a striking resemblance to the one he submitted.

On the audio tape, Granada plays the two versions side by side and points out what he believes are similarities in the basic structure.

In a phone interview on Friday, Granada told the Inquirer that the foundation offered him a “study fee” which, he said, he did not collect.

“That’s not the point of the complaint,” the composer insisted. “What I’m saying is that nobody could have come up with the music of that commercial without having used parts of my composition.”

Good relationship

The irony, Granada said, is that he’s a talent of GMA Records, music label of GMA Network, which produced and released an album of his two years ago.

He added that he’s had a good working relationship so far with GMA 7, having composed a jingle for one of its public service TV programs, “Kay Susan Tayo.”

Granada said he has brought his complaint to the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Filscap), where he’s a board member.

Asked for the foundation’s side, also on Friday, Noni dela Fuente, executive director, said he hadn’t seen the e-mail.

But lawyer Dick Perez, network vice president for legal affairs, said in a statement to Inquirer: “GMA Kapuso Foundation had nothing to do with the hiring of the composer [for the project in question].”

Filscap chair Nonoy Tan said the matter is up for discussion in a forthcoming special board meeting. With Marinel Cruz