Mabuhay singers and the future of Philippine Music.

I've heard from a few people that we have reached/will reach the next peak of OPM. All with these new fancy music from Ben and Ben, and whoever else. Though, it's all kinda western-y mixed in with whatever Moira Dela Torre took to make her voice sound that way when she's singing. This kind of music sometimes gets me going too, but what about something more traditional?

I, as a musician, am not fond of choral music, especially the ones with pretentious sounding harmonies. It's not my thing, even though, I still have some choral sweethearts. One of my favorites being the Mabuhay singers.

I don't know with you, but I am a massive advocate of Philippine Culture. I know it's kind of in fashion to hate the Philippines. Although I still hate it when we get dunked on or insulted by other cultures claiming theirs is superior.

One of the many pictures of the Mabuhay Singers

Most people probably know the Mabuhay singers from their Christmas songs which I admit, that's how I was also introduced to the Mabuhay singers but there were more than just their holiday tunes. After that, I discovered that they also made albums where they sing folk songs. As in legit, folk songs. That made me interested, for the most part, I saw them performing the music traditionally. Well...as traditional as you can get for "Filipino". Featuring recordings where people would sing together along with what sounds like a Rondalla. Definitely, ear-catching and brings anyone joy.

Now, this is where I start to apologize because I couldn't get much information online. I tried to track down the various information relating to the Mabuhay singers but not much luck in print media. I only knew them by name. A few years back, only then did I try to look up who they are and definitely is was quite fewer than what I originally expected. I thought they were going to be as many as 20 or 30 people, but to imagine the sounds that I am hearing made by about 6 people depending on when amazes me. So I listened further to their discography.

Back when Youtube Music wasn't a thing, I tried to look them up on Spotify and just left them on shuffle, as you do, because I couldn't be bothered to get a Premium account. (I couldn't pay for one either.) Then, I saw translated folk songs. Because, some of the albums they made were released internationally, so they translated some of the Philippine Folk songs and it isn't as campy as you think. Imagine, Leron Leron Sinta in English. Nobody my age then knew what Leron is. (That's a name, by the way. Leron James.)

I've heard folk songs that I've never heard before. I knew "No te vayas de Zamboanga" is a folk song but I never heard the song before. I just know the lyrics. They featured music that my uncultured body and ears have never heard before and that excited me. I know no human who knows the song "Antipolo" but I continuously hum this to myself. This is why I argue that the Mabuhay singers work is very important. They introduced culture not only to people outside the Philippines but also to idiots like me who wasn't as immersed as other people in the culture. Did you even know that there are lyrics to popular tunes like "Cariñosa" and "Tinikling". (Disclaimer: I am not sure if they wrote the lyrics or something since I couldn't source anything about the lyrics.)

Did you know that Philippine Traditional Music is amazing? I have no one else to thank (or blame) than the Mabuhay Singers. Not only did they cover these kinds of folk songs but they also sang Kundimans. Standing along with the other greats of Kundiman. This is why they're dubbed as the "Last legends of Kundiman", and you can see deservedly so. They released albums with other Kundiman greats like Sylvia La Torre and Pilita Corrales. (Now if only I could find a way to perform with them, I would be above heaven.) They performed hits like "Buhat", "Dahil Sa'iyo", "Ikaw ang Ligaya ko".

One highlight I would like to bring up is their album "Bakasyon" which I think it their greatest collection of music. Like, I listen to some of their other music but in songs. I consume Bakasyon as an album. It's distinctly Filipino without being cliche or overplayed. I never knew that there was a song about a sabongero (cockfighter), tsuper ng taxi (taxi driver), Balut (fertilized duck egg). Just give their first song(s) [Listen to the whole album]. Actually, I'll make you listen to Kalesa, which is their 2nd song, because this hooked me in. (I heard this first)

They definitely left an impact on Philippine culture, though I feel like it's not as obvious today. But that's the challenge I am going to transition to. With practically no representation of traditional Filipino cultures in popular culture. (For crying out loud, we haven't yet normalized the idea of having Cebuano and other languages' popular songs in Manila Radio Airwaves ) I want to give a spotlight to those who have been doing their part to promote Filipino culture.

The album cover of Awit at Laro (Link)

Because, as the future of the Philippines, we must be the vanguards of our shared heritage and culture. We should be the people actively developing and promoting it. Bambi Mañosa and Gary Valenciano were on the right track when they started their passion project "Awit at Laro". I can say definitely, there are some songs there that are not my cup of tea but I like a handful, but that's beside the point. Another I would like to point out is a friend of mine, Govinda Sanglay, who posts explainers and tutorials on traditional Filipino Instruments. Check out her channel, don't let her reserved appearance fool you, she knows what she's talking about. From my alma mater, we also have the Gongs of PWU or Indayog Gongs which promotes the Kulintang Music from Mindanao by playing traditional as well as pop music.

The Gongs of PWU/Indayog Gongs

The purpose of these things is not for personal glory (I assume) but rather so we as a Filipino community do not forget our past as Filipinos (unlike some revisionists). We'll use our past to come together as a unified Filipino community and move forward. How can expect to develop as a nation if we do not know what or for whom were striving for except for ourselves, our family, or amore?

Support the tradition and future of Filipino Music.

The future of Philippine Music is bright, let's continue to strive forward under the Philippine Flag, not for self-interests but for current and future generations of the Filipino.