The Philippines Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Sludoy | Togo The tube zither is a whole node of bamboo with six strings cut free from the body itself. Strings are lifted up with two small bamboo pegs for each string. In the region of Mindanao, it is known as sludoy among the T’boli people and togo among the Teduray people. It is … Read more
The Bandurria is a stringed musical instrument of the lute family that is pear-shaped with a rounded back, rounded sound hole with a short fretted neck. The principal instrument of the Philippine Rondalla Ensemble. You may want to read: Maligay Sludoy/Togo Kubing
Dabakan is a conical drum among the Maguindanaon and the Maranao. The Dabakan is a single-headed goblet-shaped drum with animal hide stretched on the top. Its skin may come from a goat, lizard, or snake. It is struck with two thin bamboo sticks that produce high-pitched sounds. Used by the Maranao and Maguindanao in their … Read more
Gabbang is popular among the Samal people and has reached the farthest islands of Sulu. A miniature xylophone also called gabbang of the Yakan people of Basilan, has only 5 keys. The Tausug gabbang is an important instrument that accompanies secular songs for the entertainment of guests in weddings and anniversaries. The gabbang’s resonator is … Read more
Sama Dilaut Fishing Traps Fishing is the primary livelihood of the Sama Dilaut or the sea gypsies of the southern Philippines. Aside from their knowledge of ethnoastronomy, they also design different fishing tools such as traps, nets, and spears, indicating the depth of their understanding of marine animal behavior. Today, the National Museum of the … Read more