Banda Kawayan Pilipinas

Banda Kawayan Pilipinas is an orchestra based in the Philippines that uses musical instruments made from bamboo and other indigenous materials.

It was established as a bamboo orchestra of the Philippine College of Commerce High School (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines Laboratory High School) in 1973 by former PCCHS principal Gloria R. Talastas and faculty member Prof. Siegfredo B. Calabig.

It was known as PUP Banda Kawayan and was under the Polytechnic University of the Philippines University Center for Culture and the Arts until it separated itself from the university in 2014.

Currently, Banda Kawayan Pilipinas is composed of its alumni members and young music enthusiasts from different schools.

Founder
Professor Siegfredo Baldemor Calabig or “Ka Fred” as we call him in the band, comes from a musically inclined family based in the town of Paete, Laguna.

He was taught to read notes, play the trumpet, and French horn at a young age and eventually joined his father's brass band.

With his background in music and degree in secondary education, he was hired as a music teacher at the HS department of the Philippine College of Commerce and was requested by the principal to start an orchestra.

His initial idea of setting up a drum and bugle corps proved to be too expensive so the principal suggested that he form a bamboo orchestra. With no experience in making instruments, he tried to build bamboo instruments combined with indigenous materials.

Fast forward to the present, he continues to be innovative in creating new bamboo instruments, and shares his passion by collaborating with other organizations by providing instruments and training them to start their own performing groups.

1973-1977 PCC Banda Kawayan
The group traces its roots from a school-based group established in 1973 by then Philippine College of Commerce Laboratory High School Principal Gloria R. Talastas and faculty member Professor Siegfredo B. Calabig.

1978-2013 PUP Banda Kawayan
The PCC was eventually renamed Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and the group has since been known as PUP Banda Kawayan until 2013.

2014-Present Banda Kawayan Pilipinas
In its desire to expand membership and ultimately pursue its revitalized mission and vision, the group registered as a private, non-stock, non-profit cultural organization and became known as the Banda Kawayan Pilipinas

Marimba
The marimba provides the melody. Made from bamboo and Philippine hardwood, it follows the musical scale and style of the typical xylophone and a marimba in an orchestra. Mallets made out of rattan and rubber are used to play the instrument. Similar to a piano, there's a higher, middle and lower scale.

Angklung
Angklung is a traditional Asian instrument, variations of which can be found in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The angklung provides counterpoints to the melody. Each angklung represents a note and is played by shaking the lower part with one hand while holding the upper end steady.

Panpipes
Panpipes are small pieces of bamboo put together by a string and is similar in sound and stylings of the wind instruments found in Northern Philippines and in South America. Each piece of bamboo represents a note and is blown to produce the sound. The fan pipes provide counterpoints to the basic melody.

Siegfredo Baldemor Calabig Musical Instrument Series
Sourec:

Kalagong
Kalagong is a wind instrument which also provides bass and sometimes the melody for select musical pieces. Bamboo poles each representing a note are held together by a wooden frame and are played when two paddles made of rubber slippers are struck on each of the hollow bamboo tubes. The name of the instrument comes from the first two syllables of the conductor's name “kala” and the “gong” for the gong-like sound that it produces when struck by the paddle.

Kalatok
Kalatok is a percussion instrument, with pieces of bamboo with varying tones strung together. The instrument's name was derived from the first two syllables of the conductor's surname “Kala” and the“tok” sound that it produces when struck by a rubber mallet.

Kalamor
Kalamor is a percussion instrument made from bamboo tubes and struck using a soft mallet to provide the melody. The name “Kalamor” was derived from the surname of our founder, which is “Calabig,” and his middle name, “Baldemor.”

Kalabong
Kalabong is a percussion instrument invented by Siegfredo B. Calabig in the early 90's and was revived in 2023. The name "Kalabong" was derived from the surname Calabig and Bong from "labong" which is a young bamboo.

It is played by using a soft mallet and struck in the middle part of the bamboo. It can be used as an instrument for melody or as a supplement to the horn section.

Bumbong
Bumbong are hollow pieces of bamboo put together and serve as the orchestra's wind section — divided into “bass” (lower) and “horn” (higher) sections. The smaller the bamboo, the higher the note. Each piece of bamboo represents one note and is blown through a mouthpiece to produce the sound.

Kiskis
Kiskis is a bamboo piece with ridges and serves as a percussion instrument. “Kiskis” is a Filipino word for “to scratch” or “to rub against something”. It is played by “rubbing” a rattan stick on its ridges.

Notable Performances
Since its international debut at the World Exposition in Brisbane, Australia in 1988, the group has since entertained appreciative audiences across Europe, North America, Middle East, and all over Asia, providing time and again that music is a universal language that knows no geographic bounderies.

Through the auspices of the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT), the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), and other public and private entities, patrons, and supporters, Banda Kawayan Pilipinas has served as ambassadors of goodwill to various music and arts festivals, international exhibitions, concert tours, and other live engagements around the world.