1.

KULINTANG MUSIC IS FILIPINO

It isn’t Muslim. It isn’t Islamic music. It’s Filipino. Pre-colonial Pilipino, for that
matter. While similar instruments can be found in different Southeast Asian countries,
the melodies of kulintang are based off of traditional chanting, vocal music and boat-
lute music that were eventually translated to the Kulintang ensemble. This used to be
how our ancestors communicated with each other. They are actual voices, and each of
the patterns in a piece are conjugations of each other, as if speaking a language.

2. KULINTANG MUSIC DOESN’T COME FROM JUST ONE

CULTURAL GROUP

We know that there are over 7000 islands in the Philippines. Yup, that’s how diverse
the country is. In the Southern Philippines alone, where kulintang is mostly heard, has
several Kulintang-playing ethnic tribes including Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausug,
Sama, T’boli, the Blaan, Manobo, and Bagobo, among others. Think of it as rock and
roll, where each band is composed of different instrumentalists. Some three-piece
bands choose not to have lead guitars, while others choose to have 13 band members
playing all kinds of different instruments. A kulintang ensemble can either have
three agongs or two; some include the gandingan while some don’t. Some pieces are
rhythmic, while most are very melodic.

3. KULINTANG MUSIC IS NOT PART OF ANY RELIGIOUS

PRACTICE

Just because you hear gong chimes through kulintang, that doesn’t mean it’s Islamic.
While it’s been heard pre-Spanish occupation, it has nothing to do with Islam. Its
association with Islam have become a tactic for the Spanish conquistadors to create a
divide as they found it hard to infiltrate the Mindanao region. Calling Kulintang
Islamic music is like calling Spanish guitar Philippine music. Know your own culture!

4. KULINTANG MUSIC IS A LEGACY OF OUR ANCESTORS

Every beat, pattern, rhythm are based off of chants about the earth, the environment
for healing, celebration, processions etc. This was a way of communication. A way to
relate to nature and a way of life. Each piece tells a story.
5. ALL GONG MUSIC ISN’T KULINTANG

Hitting gongs does not equate to kulintang music. Kulintang is an instrument and the
type of music it produces comes from many years of interpreting nature and our
peoples’ environment. It’s storytelling. It is healing. It is celebrating. The melodic
sounds of it tells stories of tribal peoples based on their experiences. Each pattern
interpret voices chanting over the years.

6. KULINTANG IS A LIFESTYLE

It’s not just intended for theater nor for stage presentations. It could be something you
do to heal yourself or others, play to entertain and celebrate. Just like our ancestors,
you can use it in any form as long as you are able to communicate your work and how
it relates to the origins of the kulintang culture. Immersing in kulintang music is
immersing into a whole plethora of pre-colonial culture, including dances and ancient
stories.

7. KULINTANG IS A WOMEN’S INSTRUMENT

Traditionally, kulintang ensembles are composed of mostly women by many groups -

among them Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausug, Sukul, Badjao, and many others. The
graceful, slow and relaxed movements of playing the kulintang was associated with
the splendor of females. In North America, kulintang is mostly seen being played by
men and is not strictly a woman’s instrument anymore, especially contemporary
kulintang players. If you are a woman and you are reading this, maybe it’s time to
grab a pair of beaters and start learning.

While these are basic insights into the music, there is still a lot to learn. Even
practitioners who have been immersed in kulintang music for many many years are
still discovering new things and continuously learning. We have a deep, rich and
colorful history - mostly untapped and never learned in school. Immersing yourself
with kulintang comes with a bigger responsibility - more than we know and more than
we think we know.