Book on virtuoso Kabayao / Filipino Woman art show

The elegant coffeetable book “Artist for the Filipino People GILOPEZ KABAYAO, Philippines’ Violin Virtuoso and Musical Crusader” written by the subject’s pianist-wife Corazon Pineda Kabayao, had a grand launch at the CCP lobby recently.

Having been requested by the Kabayao couple to write the book’s foreword, I am herewith reproducing it.

“The ‘genes theory’ undeniably applies to violin virtuoso Gilopez Kabayao. His grandfather Don Gil Lopez, from whom he derived his name, and father Dr. Doroteo Kabayao were assiduous violinists; his mother Marcela was an accomplished pianist.

“Gilopez’s forbears explain not only his inborn talent but also that of his sisters Punay, Nita and Marcelita, all violinists and pianists. With their mother, they must have made up the first Kabayao Family Quintet.

“After cultivating his gifts in the New York College of Music, Gilopez gave his debut at Carnegie Hall in 1950 when he was only 19, garnering superlatives from the New York Times and Herald-Tribune critics.

“For what the tremendous promise of Gilopez’s auspicious start abroad held, he could well have succumbed to the lure of fame and glory in North America, Europe and Asia. But foremost in his mind and heart was the service he could render his country. Consequently, he returned home in 1952 — interrupting his stay with periodic concert on foreign shores — while assuming the various roles of concert violinist, conductor, pedagogue, composer, music-missionary — and excelling in each role.

“Sought-after as pedagogue, Gilopez selflessly and unconditionally shares his extensive knowledge, background and amazing skill with his students, some of whom are now established artists.

“With creative imagination and originality, he composes, transcribes and arranges native airs. As though these diverse activities were not enough, he proselytes, indefatigably bringing the classics to sundry folk.

“His passion for music evangelization turned into an obsession when he married Corazon Pineda, an outstanding pianist in her own right. Through almost five decades, Gilopez and Corazon have been lecturing and performing in schools and in the most unlikely venues: market places, dilapidated theater houses, gymnasiums, sports arenas and yes, even cockpits! Presumably, the duo lays greater value on the unsolicited appreciation — whether written or spoken — of grassroots listeners from the remotest barrios than on the thunderous applause of the cognoscenti in concert halls.

“The Kabayaos’ passion for music has inevitably been imbibed by their violinist children Sicilienne, Farida and Gilberto who, with their parents, form the unique Kabayao Quintet. It frequently performs here and abroad, for which reason it may inadvertently change the adage of Rosary Priest Patrick Peyton to ‘The family that plays together stays together’.

“I must stress that the countless enviable honors and testimonials Gilopez has received attest to his supreme dedication to the cause of music, a dedication that has enriched vast numbers of our people.

“This book, Gilopez’s written legacy, complements his musical legacy of compositions and recordings. Both will doubtless continue to enlighten, inspire and edify this and future generations.”

The launch was preceded by a mini-concert. Jesse Peñacerrado and the 18-year-old blind soprano Katchry Jewel Golbin each impressively rendered a kundiman; the duo then sang Abelardo’s Ikaw Rin. Gilopez’s protégés, 18-year old Jimmy Tagala Jr. and 10-year old Jascha Obieta dazzled the audience with pyrotechnics.

The Kabayao Quintet — violinists Gilopez, his children with pianist-wife Corazon as assisting artist, regaled listeners with the fourth movement of Mendelssohn’s “Trio in D Major” and Saint-Saens’ “The Swan”. Finally, with still-undiminished virtuosity, Gilopez played Wieniawski’s Scherzo Tarantelle.

The musicale gave eloquent and persuasive credence to Gilopez’s incredible career as encapsulated by the book that was launched.

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Atty. Nelly Reyes, a director of the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, invites art lovers to the foundation-sponsored exhibit “Celebrating the Modern Filipino Woman” at the Bonifacio Art Center, Bonifacio Global City, from March 20 to 27. Atty. Diana Franco will head guests at the event, one of many marking Women’s Month.