Thanks to ‘rondalla’ tradition, Filipino folk music lives on

red line

red line

Tradicion Rondalla marks two decades of performances in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Tradicion Rondalla marks two decades of performances in the San Francisco Bay Area.

By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D.

Music is a lot of things to a lot of people. But to Filipino Americans it is a well-cherished tradition over time.

And to pioneers of lovers of string instruments, their music is their universal language that has won many hearts worldwide.

Tradicion Rondalla was born in 1995 in the City by the Bay. It began as a project of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Berkeley Chapter. Owing to several changes on the alumni group’s board, the musical band became a 501-C-3 non-profit organization now known under the name Philippine Native Strings Society. Not a single member receives any remuneration. They are all volunteers for a cause to promote the Filipino musical spirit.

Most of the musical group’s original members are UP alumni. Enthusiasm for upholding the Philippine tradition caught fire through music expressed by folk songs, haranas, kundimans, marchas, valses, balitaw, contemporary ballads and dance pieces.

International repertoire has joined their performances that include popular Broadway tunes and current hits. Multi-cultural melodies have found their audience as the music pieces, “Besame Mucho,” “Autumn Leaves,” Spanish Eyes,” are just some of their memorable pieces.

The members have sought the guidance of Palawan State University’s Dr. Ric Ricon, Celestino “Bayani” Tan and his wife, Melissa Aranda-Tan, a signature singer, both associated at one time with the International Bayanihan Dance Company, that has achieved worldwide recognition known as the Haranistas de Manila.

All professionals and members of the rondalla have a common denominator: their devotion to their group’s purpose for being.

Genie Maristela, a top nutritionist-dietician serving as the group’s president, is regarded as the strength and the force behind the two-decades’ old ensemble. The membership has Jay Castro, a Certified Public Accountant; a business graduate is Bob Galanida, computer engineer; Norma “Mai” Villarente, a U.P. alumna who retired from Bechtel California; Myrna Pascual, whose participation was inspired by her close ties with the late Josie Castro, recognized as the spirit behind the group; Caridad Arguelles, a graduate of the Philippine Normal Teachers’ University who is a piano instructor; and Imelda Santos, a choral master.

Contributing to the rich background as they maintain their group’s intents and purposes as musicians are Simply FlorCruz, a veterinary medicine graduate trained in pharmacology and physiology in New Zealand; Aviation Artist Rhu Bigay, military nurse at Brooks Army Medical Center Institute of Surgical Research who has also worked with the Blue Angels; and daughter, Rhani Bigay, a graduate of Mills College with a 15-year experience as a folk dancer; George “Budit” FlorCruz, an alumnus of U.P. Los Banos; Felix Antero, a newly-based U.S. lawyer; Shay de la Cruz, a teenager; Edgar Quibote, a vocalist, who, as his business indicates is a supplier of kitchen needs of gourmet restaurants; Eleasha de la Cruz, youngest member who plays guitar, is likewise a member of Encinal High School’s Jazz Band; Manny FlorCruz and Cota Deles-Yabut, art educator who earned her bachelor of arts from the U.P. College of Fine Arts.

Interestingly Antero, a U.S.-based lawyer, joins the group when needed although his legal practice is likewise in Dubai.

Yabut, author of “Once upon a Hometown,” drew her inspiration from her rich musical heritage. Her mother is an accomplished pianist who saw to the musical education of her three daughters against the backdrop of Davao City. She was encouraged by the support of their patriarch, a medical doctor, also a UP graduate, class 1917.

As Tradicion Rondalla members whose background and training must have appeared differently, based on their educational preferences illustrated by their college degrees, one would not hesitate to inquire how they all continue to perform as volunteers.

Their response when asked what drew them together: love, commitment and passion for their very own Filipino folk tunes and their cherished wish to leave a legacy for the younger generations although far from their native land.

Front row from left: Cota Yabut, Rhani Bigay, Rhu Bigay, Myrna Pascual, Genie Maristela and Bob Galanida. Back row: George ‘Budit’ FlorCruz, Manny FlorCruz, Simply FlorCruz and Master Rondalla Teacher Dr. Ric Ricon. Photos: Tradicion Rondalla

Front row from left: Cota Yabut, Rhani Bigay, Rhu Bigay, Myrna Pascual, Genie Maristela and Bob Galanida. Back row: George ‘Budit’ FlorCruz, Manny FlorCruz, Simply FlorCruz and Master Rondalla Teacher Dr. Ric Ricon. Photos: Tradicion Rondalla

red line



Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: