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Music with a mission: Tingguian musician keeps indigenous melody alive

Tingguian identity is not only defined by the native tongue and indigenous weaves but is also embedded in the distinct melody of their ethnic hymns.

This musical treasure inherited from their ancestors is what Elmer Tadeo, a Tingguian musician and artist, is proactively promoting and preserving.

Known as the “bamboo musician” of Malibcong, Elmer wills to pass on this musical skill to the next generation by teaching them through free musical sessions.

Learning Tingguian Instruments at early age

Tadeo found his love for indigenous music when he was in the elementary. He said that his principal back then required them to come up with a bamboo ensemble.

“During my elementary days, adda ti principal mi nga in-require nakami nga agusar ti bamboo instruments as our exam, isu nga insuro dakami dagiti elders, idiay nak nga nagkainterest to learn all the instruments [During my elementary days, we had a principal who required us to play bamboo instruments for our exam, so our elders taught us to play them,  and I got interested to learn all the instruments],” he said.

Here: Elmer Tadeo plays an indigenous percussion instrument made out of Bamboo.(Photo by: Elmer Tadeo)

Distinctly Tingguian

Similar to the different dialects of indigenous peoples, Tingguian music in Malibcong also holds distinct melodic features which makes it distinguishable from the ethnic music of the neighboring province of Kalinga. Tadeo said that only those musically inclined IPs of Malibcong can perform and identify these melodies.

Maysa nga distinction na ket of course natawid from generations to generations and then diay melody ditoy Abra, adda pagsabalian na iti Kalinga ken Ifugao [One distinction, of course,  is it was inherited from generations to generations and our melody here in Abra, there’s a difference with the melody of Kalinga and Ifugao],” he explained.

“Music is a universal language ket ditoy Abra, nu mapukaw ti aweng tayo, nu mapukaw dagita nga kultura tayo, it is a losing of identity, [Music is a universal language and here in Abra, if we lose our melody, if we lose our culture, it is a losing of identity],” he added.

Bamboo Flutes are one of the wind instruments that Elmer Tadeo has been mastering since he was young.

Using bamboo for various Tingguian instruments

Tadeo explained that bamboo is used as material to create various Tingguian instruments such as percussions, stringed and wind instruments.

“The nose flute and mouth flute are  just some of the Tingguian wind instruments;  there are also percussions. Bamboo can offer a variety of instruments used in Tingguian gatherings,” he elaborated.

Aside from playing indigenous instruments, Elmer also composes his own songs inspired by traditional music and melodies. Today, his original song compositions were played in various gatherings in the Cordillera. His song entitled “Bolinayan” was featured during the ‘Am-Among Di Cordillera’, a Convergence for Cordillera Autonomy at the Agoncillo Hall of  the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City in 2018. He also performed these compositions during the Abrenian Heritage Film Festival, and the Cordillera Month celebrations.


Preserving Tingguian identity through music

Tadeo calls for the support of local government units (LGUs)  and  other partners in the preservation and promotion  of  indigenous music through funding initiatives. As a community volunteer at the moment, Tadeo is only mobilizing learning sessions on Tingguian Instruments through his own initiative.

“Ti sirmatak lang, adda kuma venue for all these talents nga agsasabat, ket nu dagitoy nga talents may-share, umad-adu pay tapno makita dagiti sumaruno nga generation nga adda kastoy nga kultura [My vision is that  there will be a venue for all these talents to unite, and if these  talents are shared, they are multiplied for the next generations to see that there’s a culture like this],” he expressed.

This year, Tadeo said that he will be opening his local music school in Malibcong where he can teach the young kids to learn and carry on the love for native music. (CAGT – PIA CAR, Abra)



About the Author

Christian Allister Tubadeza

CAR

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