MUSIC OF PALAWAN (VOCAL MUSIC)

Brief Historical Background

One thousand years ago, Chinese traders named the island Pa Lao Yu, or land of
beautiful safe harbor because of
its many safe places to land their ships. This is where the relics of earliest
settlers were found and have been
unearthed and dated 22,000 years ago while its human habitation evidently proved
about 50,000 years old.
Some of the tribes known to inhabit the islands such as Batak, Palawan and
Tagbanuas may be descendants of the
early settlers, who came via ice-age land bridges and of later migrants who came on
boats. They were followed in
the 13th century by the Indonesians of Madjapahit Empire.During the arrival of the
Spanish, Palawan was ruled by
Borneo from Jolo. The Spanish first took over the northern part of the island and
worked south from Cuyo and
Taytay. The Spanish invaded Palawan in 18th century forcing the Sultan of Borneo to
give up its full autonomy.
From Taytay, the capital was moved to Puerto Princesa.Nowadays, Palawan is an
island of mixed tribes, who have
been pushed to the interior, and of Muslim, Visayan and Tagalog settlers along the
borders.

Tribal Groups in Palawan and their Music:

1. Tagbanua (Central Part of Palawan) – Their Musical Instrument are usually used
during gatherings and rituals.
2. Batak (smallest group in Palawan near Puerto Prinsesa)- They use music for
their rituals done by male Babaylan.
3. Cuyunon (group living in the island of Busuanga)
4. Aetas (found in the forest between Puerto Prinsesa and Roxas)

Terminology:
 Laplap Bagit – musical scale used to depict the sound of nature
 Sandaw – a lullaby song that uses pentatonic or diatonic scale
 Composo – a ballad song about misery and sadness
 Gozos – a song for the saint which is sung at the end of a novena
 Kulial / kulilal –musical scale used for the songs that expresses love for
someone
 Cancion – song about nature ; popular song used for serenading
 Pa Hesus – song for the dead
 Erekay – planting song

ACTIVITY 1 Learnig 3 Cuyonons Traditional Folk Song

Cuyunon refers to an ethnic group and their language
Tarinting is a kind of bird that is usually found in the seashore during low tides

KINGKING
King king anay wa wa
Sulan ta kaw langka
Langkang ara unod
Kapayas nga mangod
TARINTING
Tarinting paglayog don
Ay ikaw tataeban den
Pagsu’t sa liyang liyang
Sa batong malinang linang
Layang Pasyak
Ako mi laying pasyak
Panamban – tamban
Mi pamalanak
Porabil ako mapilak
Kung naga urong- sulong ang dagat

TRASLATION IN ENGLISH
KINGKING
Sayaw muna, ibon
Bigyan kita ng langka
langka na walang laman

TARINTING
Tarinting fly away now
For the high tide will soon to come
Enter the eaves
among the smooth stone

Layang Pasyak
I have a fishnet with shells as the weight
I used it for catching “tamban” and “banak”
Before I throw the net
I wait for the tide to come in

Musical Instruments
Name of Instrument Material used Description Classification
1.Pa’gang Made of bamboo Polychordal bamboo zither Chordophone
2.Tubuldu Made from bamboo Bamboo zither Chordophone
3. Kudlong Made of bamboo Boatlike flute Chordophone
4. Kudyapi Made of wood Wooden guitar Chordophone
5.Babarak Made of bamboo Small ring flute Aerophone
6. Suling Made of bamboo Banded flute Aerophone
7.Aruding Made of metal Jaws harp Aerophone
8. Beberek Made from bamboo Nose flute Aerophone
9.Tipanu Made from bamboo Mouth flute Aerophone
10.Lantoy Made from bamboo Nose flute Aerophone
11. Gimbal Made of animal skin (Lizard) Long and narrowed drum Membranophone
12. Agung Made of bronze /metal Big gong Idiophone
13.Babandil Made of bronze /metal Small narrowed gong Idiophone
14. Tiring Made from bamboo Bamboo xylophone Idiophone
15. Sabanang Made from bamboo Bamboo tube Idiophone
16. Lamping Made from wood Small wooden stick Idiophone