Listening to the beautiful musical pieces and renditions of the artists and groups composed of Joey Ayala, Dipolog Community Rondalla, PNU Himig Kawayan, Pangkat Kawayan, Prof. Armando Solarza with the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ, Dr. Benicio Sokong, Dulag Karatong Festival Ensemble, Joseph Gara, Huni Ukulele and DOST-FPRDI Himig Agham Kawayan, one would be transported to a world absent of stresses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and damages brought by a series of typhoons.
There’s more: DOST top officials Science Sec. Fortunato T. de la Peña and Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara themselves played BMIs during the concert—kawagong for de la Peña and marimba for Guevara.
Kawagong, composed of bamboo tubes, was named by de la Peña himself from the words kawayan (bamboo) and gong.
Incidentally, Guevara, besides being an engineer, is also a pianist.
The beautiful musical performances indeed gave the listeners a sort of a “chicken soup for the soul.”
The concert, tagged “Musika ng Kawayan, Yaman ng Bayan” that used bamboo musical instruments (BMIs), was organized by the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) on November 27.
It was the first official concert held in the many years of celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), led by the DOST.
Besides the concert, the Himig Agham Kawayan of the DOST-FPRDI wowed the crowed—again in a virtual presentation—with their rendition of Filipino music during the NSTW opening on November 23.
It was the 20-member bamboo band’s inaugural performance using BMI prototypes the agency made.
Having no training in BMI playing, they were mentored by Ronnel Ramos and Dave Ramos, fifth generation descendants of the founders of Musikawayan.
Meanwhile, at the recent separate DOST-FPRDI webinar, “Pantugtog Kawayan ni Juan: Usapang Kultura at Kabuhayan,” Talaandig Datu Rodelio (Waway) Saway of Bukidnon in Mindanao played a courtship music with his kubing, a strip of bamboo played by the finger while on the artist’s lips.
In the same webinar, Prof. Siegfredo Calabig showed videos of members of his Banda Kawayan Pilipinas playing the Christmas music “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Silver Bells” with BMIs, some of which were invented by Calabig himself.
BMI research and development program
Don’t get me wrong. The DOST-FPRDI is not turning into a musical agency. The above mentioned activities highlighted the agency’s BMI Innovation, Research and Development Program to apply science in developing and improving BMIs.
“This is particularly important as some local bamboo musical instrument makers encounter issues in the processing, durability, aesthetics and sound quality of their instruments. With locally developed technologies, we hope to better the processing and hasten the production of BMIs,” said DOST-FPRDI Director Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan at the webinar.
The BMI Program will study the sources of raw material and the existing market of the instruments, Aggangan said.
The results are expected to help broaden the raw materials base for musical instruments and identify the potential market for BMIs.
“It is our fervent hope that with these pieces of information, many local entrepreneurs and start-up businesses will become interested in venturing into BMI production,” Aggangan added.
He lauded the Department of Education (DepEd) for including in the K-12 curriculum the study and playing of indigenous BMIs.
“We see this as an opportunity to deepen the knowledge and rouse the interest of Filipino youth on the beauty of our ethnic music,” Aggangan said.
DOST secretary’s idea
Secretary de la Peña gave the idea of holding the concert.
He said in a message to the media that “this is our way of showing to our people that science and technology has a role in preserving and enhancing our culture. The future generations should know about it, should have a chance to be part of it.”
De la Peña noted one of items in President Duterte’s 10 Point Agenda—Promoting Science, Technology and the Creative Arts—in enhancing innovations for inclusive development.
He said the DOST now has a program on science and the creative arts.
“I have a dream to make a new state-of-the-art bamboo organ which will not only put the Philippines in the international musical map but also create an industry that we can be proud of. This is still part of ‘Science for the People,'” he said.
Music in Filipinos’ life
DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said music has been a way of life for Filipinos to celebrate and record history, such as in celebrations and in religious activities.
“In every part of the country, regardless of ethnic group, music plays at the background and sometimes at the centerstage of our events. Rhythm and beats are made even livelily by our indigenous music instruments like bamboo materials,” Guevara said during the webinar.
This is the reason why the DOST recognizes the importance of preserving and promoting the country’s local indigenous music and local musical instrument made from bamboo, she said.
“We recognize the potential profitability of BMIs as we continue to support the establishment of a BMI processing facility,” she added.
Solving BMI problems
Forester Aralyn Quintos, leader of BMI Innovation, Research and Development Program, said in the same webinar that the initiative is under the DOST program on creative industries that includes music, design, film, art and visual arts, and furniture.
Quintos said among the identified the problems the program will attend to include the bamboo’s durability because it is prone to attack by insects that affect the sound quality.
Another is the BMI makers’ concern on the bamboo species suitable for a specific instrument and where they can be found.
There is also the changing of traditions, Quintos said, that causes the loss of some BMI, while others have improved.
One of the biggest problems, she said, is the poor timbre or tone quality and playability, and inaccurate tuning.
“We want to generate information and technology on indigenous and innovative processing of bamboo as musical instrument,” she said.
‘Bamboosical Innovation’
Calling it “Bamboosical Innovation, “ Quintos said the program components include:
1. Documenting the BMIs to identify the species of bamboo and where to find them. This also involves the documentation of the BMIs used and produced in the country, and establish and analyse the industry value chain—from raw materials to the production of BMI.
2. Coming up with protective technology for BMIs by using chemical and nonchemical treatment—from drying technology, thermal modification, protective remedial treatments and finishing techniques—to see their effect on the sound or acoustics of the BMI.
3. Developing prototype designs of musical instruments using select Philippine bamboo species and processing technologies to check the qualitative characteristics through digital processing techniques.
4. Construction of a processing facility for BMIs and other lignocellulosic materials.
“We are currently establishing the facility for upscale processing and improvement, technical and economic feasibility of processing different BMIs, training center for teachers and interested individuals and local BMI makers, she explained.
Beneficiaries and what it offers
Quintos said the beneficiaries of the program include the DepEd K-12 program, educators, and students.
Also among recipients are the creative industries, such as BMI makers and music enthusiasts.
The bamboo plantation owners and suppliers; the Philippine culture, in general, and the general public; and related researchers, will also benefit.
According to Quintos, the program’s outputs are the designing of teaching modules for K-12 program; developing a database/web site to serve as repository of BMI information, where the species can be found.
It will also come up with training and appropriate processing techniques and technologies for BMI transfer of technology; and construction of BMI processing facility, which will be open for commercialization.
The program partners are the UP DiIiman’s Center for Ethnomusicology, and Electronics and Electrical Engineering Institute, and the Philippine Normal University.
BMI maker
Calabig, founder of Banda Kawayan which he established in 1973, makes and invents BMIs, including kalagong, which name he got from his surname and the gong.
He said there is good business opportunity in BMI-making and sale because there is less competition.
“The raw materials [bamboo] is very cheap or could even be free because we have many species of bamboo,” he said, with transporting the raw materials as the only expense.
Calabig does all the work from looking and buying raw materials to making the instruments. He also does repairs.
He said the best seller BMI is angklung, costing from P1,800 to P2,500.
Calabig added that a BMI band can be organized in one month. He has organized several bands, including the Banda Kawayan Filipino Community (Hawaii USA), Banda Kawayan Paete in Laguna, Don Bosco School Sta.Mesa, Mary Help Catholic School Mabalacat, Pampanga, and Villa Hermosa Bamboo Band Silay, Negros Oriental.
He gives free training to interested BMI enthusiasts from 7 years old to 70 years old. About 75 percent of the members of his bands are graduates of his trainings.
When invited, Calabig said the standard fee his band asks is P50,000 an hour. His band plays Filipino folk songs, Christmas and Western songs.
‘Nature and culture are one’
Saway, the leader of Talaandig School of Living Tradition (SLT), said musical instruments are important to the Talaandig and to all indigenous peoples in the Philippines because “music has links to their culture.”
Talaandigs are basically farmers, but their music, dance and their language are not lost, he said in Filipino.
“The culture of Talaandigs is very much alive. Their beliefs and rituals that respect the land and the environment are not lost,” Saway said.
Saway said “musical instruments are lost if they have no economic value.” They need improvement in design and quality.
“We need science…. If the indigenous knowledge and modern science go together, we will surely have beautiful and quality BMI instruments,” Saway pointed out.
He expressed gratitude to the DOST for its RDI program for BMIs.
“I now see a future for BMI makers and farmers who plant bamboos,” he said.
“Bamboos are part of reforestation, as we love the environment and our culture. We need to plant bamboos because it is also important to our livelihood,” he explained in Filipino.
He said in taking care of the environment, they also protect the source of their culture.
“The sound of the musical instruments come from the environment. We are inspired by the sound of the hornbills, the frogs, the cicadas so we could make beautiful musical instruments,” he said. “Nature and culture are one.”
In order to preserve the Talaandig culture, Saway said the SLT teaches the youth about their culture—from traditional music, dance, rituals, language, story telling to chanting.
As an instrument maker, he said he does not teach inside the SLT building, but go outside and encourages other communities to make musical instruments to ensure their existence.
Influence of Western culture
Calabig said his band show that BMI could play any music.
“But we do not forget the Filipino music. It should always be present,” he said.
For Saway, he said school teachers should be creative and link with experts on how to take care of the youth’s awareness on local musical instruments.
“The cultural experts know how to help the teachers on how to create local musical instruments and how to deepen the awareness [of people]. Our problem is the awareness. We already have love, but the awareness is deeper than love for local musical instruments,” Saway explained.
Image credits: DOST -FPRDI