JIMMY Borja, a Boholano and native of Loay town, is one of the Philippines’ most admired songwriters.
He has written songs for more than a hundred Filipino artists such as Sarah Geronimo, Lani Misalucha, Ariel Rivera, Regine Velasquez, Kyla, Jaya, Sharon Cuneta, Jed Madela, Martin Nievera, Chad Borja, Dingdong Avanzado, Ogie Alcasid, Juris, Jessa Zaragosa, Lea Salonga, Christian Bautista, Mark Bautista, Erik Santos, Ella May Saison, Agot Isidro, Pops Fernandez, Rachelle Ann Go, Janno Gibbs, Maine Mendoza, Jude Michael, Louie Heredia, Erik Santos, Roselle Nava, Jolina Magdangal, Nikki Valdez and Rica Peralejo.
Also included in his songwriting acumen are Sunshine Cruz, Piolo Pascual, Carol Banawa, Andrew E., Zsazsa Padilla, Yeng Constantino, Rockstar 2, Tootsie Guevara, MYMP, The Voice Kids grand champion Vanjoss Bayaban, Bohol’s Roland Amila, Hanna Gene Villame (daughter of Yoyoy Villame), Bernadette Surban (daughter of Max Surban), Alden Richards, Nina, Darren Espanto, Sam Concepcion and GMA’s The Clash 2024 grand champion. His songs have also been performed in concerts and shows by Morissette Amon, Gary Valenciano, Moira Dela Torre, Charice, Gigi de Lana, Ice Seguerra, the Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, UST Singers, Ateneo Glee Club and others.
As a songwriter, Borja is known for his hits such as “Sana Ngayong Pasko,” “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin,” “If The Feeling Is Gone,” “Dahil Minahal Mo Ako,” the AWIT Award Best Ballad Song of the Year “Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw,” to mention a few. And in recent years, three of his new songs were featured on mainstream TV shows in the United States like the “SEAL Team,” “The Stranger” and the #1 Daytime TV drama series in America
“The Young and the Restless.” Borja is widely considered a songwriter’s songwriter, he writes songs on piano and guitar and produces his own demo arrangements using Pro Tools and Logic Pro. Jimmy is known for his highly-innovative chord progressions, catchy and memorable melodies and heart-felt and insightful lyrics. His first break as a composer came by winning the grand prize of the 1st Bohol Pop Music Festival in 1989.
He also won the grand prize of the Cebu Pop Music Festival for two consecutive years in 1991 and 1992 and capped it off by winning the grand prize of the Best of Cebu Pop Music Festival Special Edition in 1993 which was exclusive only to previous winners of the said competition.
Prior to his career in music, Borja studied Accounting at the Divine Word College of Tagbilaran and passed the CPA Board Examination with a rating of 85.13%.
He also passed the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Entrance Examination with a perfect score but instead chose to pursue composing songs full-time.
Borja has taught songwriting workshops (live) in Los Angeles, Nashville, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco and has over 100 online songwriting students from Canada, New Zealand, Japan, KSA, the UK, Singapore, Qatar, UAE, Germany and from all over the United States. (rvo/PR)
