Rondalla Rocks promotes Pinoy Heritage

Fil-Ams from suburban Bedford, 24 kilometers away from Boston, are making waves with how they help immerse Pinoy children ages three to 19, with their Filipino heritage while enjoying themselves. Rondalla of Iskwelahang Pilipino under the joint tutelage of master Ethno-Musicologist Christi-Anne Castro, with the help of classical/folk guitarist Michael Dadap for eight years, is riding high. The ensemble since its founding in 1986 has completed three international tours. The most recent, that we watched at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila, and billed Rondalla Rocks was jaw-dropping.

Prior to the performance, we arranged chats with some key people through Girlie Rodis who was in charge of media, and whose sister Bebs Rodis-Sipin is current director of Rondalla IP. We found ourselves in front of an elderly lady, dressed to the nines in Pilipino finery. She introduced herself as Cristina Castro and has been involved in the school from 1976 and the Rondalla since 1986. She has now retired from the school, but swore to us, she will never leave the Rondalla IP. That’s how much she loves music and what it has accomplished for the youth.

She then introduced to us her husband Mabini Castro, senior citizen, and longtime bass player with the Rondalla; and daughter Christi-Anne who is now music director of the Rondalla, and also director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies based at the University of Michigan. What a talented bunch, we thought to ourselves, finding out later there was still another Castro, Paul with a PhD in Computer Science from UCLA, working at the IBM Research Department.

We decided to meet some of the youngsters in the Rondalla ensemble. Sierra Jamir, 17, who speaks Nihongo and Tagalog, filled us in on the various instruments used by the Rondalla IP. The bandurria that comes in 1, 2, 3 has a pear-shaped wooden body, short neck and flat back; the Octavina is tuned exactly the same as the Bandurria but one octave lower; and the huge bass guitar, favorite of Mabini. Sierra’s favorite song is Felipe Padilla de Leon’s Magandang Juaning which she said   is not as popular as his Payapang Daigdig or Mutya ng Lahi but she likes its FoxTrot tempo, very good to exercise with.  

We then met Nolen Dube, 16, with a dad from New Hampshire and a mom from Manila. The Fil-Am started playing Bandurria 1 at age eight, and confessed he has now started making songs on his computer. He is aware of the inroads Filipino singers and musicians are making worldwide although he doesn’t sing and speaks very little Tagalog.

A tour of the Philippines in 1990 included a command performance before then Pres. Corazon Aquino at Malacañang Palace. It was, therefore, imperative for this new batch of Rondalla IP members to greet her son, now Pres. Nonoy with a performance. On the day of their arrival in Manila, they sang at Malacañang Isang Dugo Isang Lahi, Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, Pobreng Alindahaw (Poor Butterfly), among others at Malacañang Palace.

This year’s visit last July 4 at the Resorts World Manila was also marked by special appearances from Ryan Cayabyab, Jon Joven, Celeste Legaspi, Jim Paredes and Rachel Alejandro.

The ensemble is likewise slated to perform with the world-famous Loboc Children’s Choir and Dimiao Children’s Rondalla of Bohol. Their itinerary includes fund-raising concerts in Sorsogon, Batangas City and UP Los Baños. The youthful ensemble  is eager to jam with the Aetas of Bayan-Bayanan, and students of Lewis College Sorsogon and Precious Gem Academy in Fairview, Quezon City. The visiting rondalla group will also perform with the children with special needs of Paaralang Pagibig at Pagasa and of the National Orthopedic Hospital.  

IP Rondalla director Christi-Anne  will lead workshops on Philippine music at University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Philippine Women’s University.

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