<P> In 1997, she brought home the third prize trophy in the Metropop Young Singers' Competition (later renamed Metropop Star Search). Soon GMA's Infiniti Records offered Melanie, along with fellow Metropop Star Search winners Carmela Cunta and Jonard Yanzon, to wax a couple of songs for a compilation album, Kung Umiibig . She recorded two solo tracks: "I Wish You Love" and "Kung Magkikita Tayo Muli", which would later re-emerge as a Vina Morales signature hit, "Muli". </P> <P> Armed with "One More Try", composed by Raymund Ryan Santes, she again joined the Metropop Song Festival in 2000 . The song failed to make it in the Top 12m but did make it to EMI, whose manager, Francis Guevarra, signed her to a recording deal with EMI Philippines in April 2000 . She was given the stage name Kyla . </P> <P> Kyla made her big debut in 2000 with Way To Your Heart with its hit carrier single, "Bring It On ." The album brought out the realization that yes, the country's first honest - to - goodness R&B has arrived . Comparisons to R&B super stars Brandy and Aaliyah began to surface . </P> <P> However, it was her second single, the piano - driven ballad "Hanggang Ngayon" that turned out to be Kyla's breakthrough hit, topping a host of FM radio charts . The song's music video, which was directed by Lyle Sacris, further boosted the song's popularity . The video won for Kyla an award at the MTV Video Music Awards and two big honors trophies at the 2001 MTV Pilipinas Awards: Best New Artist and Video of the year . Her video even went on to win the MTV Southeast Asia Video Music Award . Along with Lea Salonga and Regine Velasquez, Kyla was listed as Best Female Singer in a survey held by popular teen magazine Meg in her first full year in the music business alone . Kyla has six Awit Awards, including Best New Female Artist . FM Radio station KF FM even hailed her as Breakthrough Artist of the Year . On 21 October 2001, she joined the Himig Handog Sa Makabagong Kabataan song contest as one of the interpreters for Jonathan Manalo's song "Tara Tena" with Kaya and V3 . The entry was eventually proclaimed the winner . </P>

Who wrote kyla's song on the voice