SAN FRANCISCO, California—A workshop to help young Filipinos in the Bay experience deeper understanding of Sama Badjao and Tausug culture through music and dance was held at the Bayanihan Center in San Francisco on April 19th.
Led by Kularts, the workshop was conducted by ethnomusicology PhD candidate, Bernard Ellorin from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, while dances were taught by artist and educator Joseph Ruanto-Ramirez.
The workshop gave an overview of the different musical and dance practices in Southern Philippines, followed by hands-on practice for the participants.
The training explained the dances and the significance hand movements and how they were perceived during courtship.
Ellorin has a master’s degree and graduated cum laude in ethnomusicology. His research focused on indigenous ensemble music from Northern and Southern Philippines.
He has been playing Filipino instruments since he was 12 and has conducted extensive fieldwork with native practitioners diverse musical genres.
Ellorin’s experience in performing and teaching music from the Islamized Southern Philippines subsequently led to the formation of two ensembles that he co-directs with friends and colleagues focused on conserving gong traditions of maritime Southeast Asia: the Pakaraguian Ensemble in San Diego, California, and the Mahalohalo Ensemble originating from Honolulu, Hawaii.
“I’ve always been interested in all forms of Philippine music as a child being a part of the Philippine Dance company and I took it a step further to pursue a degree in ethnomusicology after performing and seeing other cultural performances and different music ensembles ,” he explained
“Being involved with Samahan and forming my own kulintang ensemble in San Diego,I made it a point to really represent culture from the Southern Philippines with integrity and respect based on what my informants taught me in the field and from Danungan Kalanduyan,” Ellorin added.
Ruanto-Ramirez led the dancing with a focus on “Igal” Sama-Badjao and “Paunjalay” Tau Sug.
“I met Bernard when I was in college and we had this discussion about what it means for me to be Iranunand my identity and him knowing the kulintang music,” he recalled.
“We’ve been exchanging dialogues on what I knew and what he knew artistically as well as what I knew historically then we both tried to bridge that so we started doing workshops in middle school, high school and college level communities,” explained Ramirez.
Both artists are based in San Diego.
To know more information about both artists you may follow them on their social media pages:
Bernard Ellorin – https://www.facebook.com/BoomX2onKulintang?fref=ts
Joseph Ruanto-Ramirez – https://www.facebook.com/ja.ruantoramirez?fref=ts