The partnership elevates Hymns of HIMS into a national talent platform, with the 2026 champion earning a coveted KWC Star and a chance to compete at the KWC Philippines Season 3 Grand Finals in April 2027
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The stage is set for a powerful new chapter in the partnership between The New Channel (TNC) Media Corp., Karaoke World Championships (KWC) Philippines, and the Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP)—one that brings together healthcare, entertainment, media and Filipino talent in an exciting national search.
At the heart of this collaboration is Hymns of HIMS (HOH), HIMAP’s signature singing competition created to celebrate the extraordinary vocal talents of professionals within the Healthcare Information Management Services (HIMS) community.
Now entering its next chapter, Hymns of HIMS is being elevated through its partnership with KWC Philippines, giving the competition’s eventual champion more than a trophy and recognition.
The 2026 Hymns of HIMS champion will receive a KWC Star, earning the opportunity to qualify for the KWC Philippines Season 3 National/Grand Finals.
This creates a unique bridge from the HIMS community to the country’s premier karaoke championship platform—and potentially to the international KWC stage.
Elevating Hymns of HIMS
Hymns of HIMS was created to showcase a different side of the country’s healthcare information management professionals: their creativity, passion and love for music.
HIMAP describes the initiative as more than a competition—one that seeks to unite healthcare professionals through music, celebrate Filipino excellence and establish a lasting tradition for the HIMS community.
The partnership with TNC and KWC Philippines takes that vision to another level.
Through KWC’s established national competition platform, Hymns of HIMS becomes part of a larger talent discovery journey, giving the winner a pathway beyond the HIMAP community and onto one of the country’s growing karaoke stage.
The collaboration also reinforces HIMAP’s position as an organization that celebrates not only professional excellence but the whole person behind the professional.
A KWC Star Opens the Door to the National Stage
The biggest development for this year’s competition is the introduction of the KWC HIMAP Star.
Following the Hymns of HIMS national search, the eventual champion will be awarded a KWC Star that serves as the champion’s qualification pathway to the KWC Philippines Season 3 National/Grand Finals scheduled in April 2027.
From there, the winner will have the opportunity to compete alongside the other regional winners who emerge from KWC Philippines’ nationwide search.
This makes the HOH journey particularly significant.
One competition. One champion. One KWC Star. One opportunity to take the HIMS community to the national stage.
It also opens the possibility of discovering a world-class Filipino singer from an industry better known for healthcare, technology, data and business services.
Three Organizations. One Shared Vision.
For HIMAP, the partnership provides an expanded platform to celebrate the talents within the HIMS industry.
For KWC Philippines, it creates another avenue for talent discovery—reaching singers who may not otherwise enter a conventional national singing competition.
And for The New Channel (TNC), the partnership represents its continuing commitment to build platforms that connect communities, stories and opportunities through media and entertainment.
Together, the three organizations are creating a model where an industry association’s own talent program can become a gateway to a national competition.
It is a partnership built around a simple belief:
Great talent can come from anywhere—and every voice deserves a stage.
Apple Esplana-Manansala: “This is more than a partnership—it is a new pathway for talent.”
According to Apple Esplana-Manansala, TNC’s prime mover and Country Director of KWC Philippines, the collaboration marks an exciting milestone for KWC and demonstrates how partnerships can create new opportunities for Filipino singers.
“This is an exciting milestone for KWC Philippines because we are not simply bringing another singing competition into our national search—we are creating a pathway for talent that may come from an entirely different industry. Through Hymns of HIMS, we get to discover the incredible voices within the healthcare information management community and give them a bigger platform through KWC.”
She added:
“The KWC Star is more than an award. It represents an opportunity. The winner of Hymns of HIMS will carry that star into the KWC Philippines National/Grand Finals, where they will have the chance to compete with champions from the other regions. We are very excited to see how far the voice of the HIMS community can go.”
From the HIMS Community to the National Spotlight
The significance of this partnership goes beyond singing.
The HIMS sector is an important part of the Philippines’ global healthcare IT-BPM ecosystem, with HIMAP representing and promoting the country’s healthcare information management services sector.
By bringing music and talent into the conversation, Hymns of HIMS provides a human and creative dimension to an industry powered by professionals who often work behind the scenes.
The 2025 inaugural Hymns of HIMS already demonstrated the depth of talent within the community, with Reginald Ivan Tayko of VISAYA becoming the first champion during the HIMSCON Fellowship Night. Where Esplana-Manansala was also one of notable judges.
Now, the 2026 edition takes the competition a step further.
October 9: The Search for the Next HIMAP STAR
The next chapter unfolds on October 9, 2026, during the HIMSCON 2026 Fellowship Night at Shangri-La The Fort, BGC. HIMAP’s official event information identifies Hymns of HIMS as part of the Fellowship Night program.
It will be more than a night of performances.
It will be a night of discovery.
A night where the HIMS community comes together to celebrate its people.
And for one exceptional singer, it could be the beginning of a much bigger journey.
From Hymns of HIMS… to a KWC Star… to the KWC Philippines Season 3 Grand Finale.
The search for the next champion has never been more exciting.