Semantics and Soul in Pinoy Music Presentation – 3rd International Music Conference

December 1, 2010

This would be another photo-narrative that would detail our actual presentation last November 26, 2010 in Brisbane (University of Queensland). As an academic, I thought that the Narrative Inquiry in Music Education (Narrative Soundings) conference would be the perfect venue to share our research with Mr. Noel Cabangon primarily because (1) we conducted a narrative analysis of the lyric-text of his music and (2) we have done a narrative life history interview that looked into his developmental trajectories as an artist and his motivations and engagements as he creates his music.

I have personally been listening to Noel’s music for the past ten years, thus one can safely claim that I have had “musical immersion” for the longest time – and doing this research makes perfect sense, since I am not really an outsider looking in so to speak. I still remember quite vividly those smoky, smog-filled, tightly-packed Wednesday evenings in 70s bistro. Thus, I was witness to Noel’s pathways as an artist and am aware firsthand of how meaningfully he connected with his audience.

Preparing for our presentation.. it's show time.

A collaborative analysis with Noel of his music shows that his songs reveal themes such as (1) valuing of human rights (2) raising awareness of environmental issues and concerns (3) diaspora of Filipino talents (4) day to day experiences and struggles encountered by the ordinary Filipino citizen and (5) solidarity and sense of community and (6) an agentic call for social change and a cry of empowerment to bring about the nation’s progress.

It has also been exciting to document his motivation in creating the music that he does, his “flow” experiences as he engages with his art form and his personal philosophy as a musician and a singer-songwriter. We are also excited to put forward a different kind of talent development model that may be more attuned with the sociocultural realities of artists who are coming from a developing country.

Our Musician's Hands that Paint Music in Red, Blue and Yellow

As academic collaborators of Noel in this wonderful project, we hope that we were able to capture his experiences in its multibodied form and that we were able to represent his voice fully in our narratives. Noel’s unassuming, self-effacing, and grounded nature is a testament to his creation of music that radiates from somewhere true, genuine and not contrived in the least. It was such a privilege and simply a joy to have worked with Noel. I am truly looking forward to our academic/musical collaboration in Berlin for the 6th International Arts Conference in May 2011. I know that May will be here before I know it. In the meantime, here are more pictures from our presentation.

Prof. Tuting Hernandez' part on the semantic narrative of Noel's lyric-text

Before I went "on-stage" for my part on creativity, flow, and talent development

Noel's first song was Kayod Kabayo, Kayod Barya (Work Like a Horse, Work for Coins) - for the narrative theme "Daily Struggles of Ordinary Filipino Citizens"

Second song was "Tungo sa Pagbabago" (Towards Change) for the narrative theme Agentic Call for Social Change

Another song was Ilocano Reggae (Panawenen) for the narrative theme Solidarity (that song came before this one here on the photo)

Final Song is "Oyayi sa Mundo" - Lullaby to the World for the narrative theme Awareness of Environmental Issues and Concerns

We are truly privileged to have one of the most easygoing (and highly talented) artists to work with in the Philippines. Brings us so much pride. Here is a short video clip of his song “Tungo sa Pagbabago.” I apologize though for not stabilizing the camera (my hands were shaking) and there were occasions when Noel was not really in the center of the frame – must really stick to reading and writing and not video-recording. Hahaa. At any rate, enjoy Noel’s music. Lyrics to Tungo sa Pagbabago (Towards Change) Lumingon sa ‘yong paligid Look around you Buksan ang mata’t isip open your eyes and your mind At iyong makikita and you will see Kay daming batang lansangan street children abound Bahay na nagsisiksikan Slum dwellings filled with people Di tiyak ang kinabukasan The future is uncertain Bakit mayayaman lang Why is it that only the rich Ang lalong yumayaman becomes richer At ang karamihan and everybody else Labis ang kahirapan is poverty-stricken? Dapat na tayong lumaya sa kawalan We should be free from this abyss Iwaksi ang katiwalian fight injustice Tuloy pa rin ang laban our struggle continues Tayo’y kumilos na! It is time to take action Tungo sa pagbabago Towards change Para sa pagbabago for change Ngayon na, ngayon na! Now is the time! Tungo sa pagbabago Towards change Para sa pagbabago for change Bayan ko, ngayon na! My country, now is the time! Ang pagbabagong nais mo sa ‘ting bayan the changes you wish for our country Sa sarili ay dapat nang simulan should start from within you Dapat ipakita na kaya nating mabuhay we should show that we can live Ng marangal, matapat, mapagmahal at mahusay with honor, truth, excellence and love for others Kaya’t kumilos na! Now is the time to move Ang bawat bata’y dapat nasa eskwela Every child should be in school Nang kinabukasan ay mayrong pag-asa to ensure our future Trabaho at bahay sa bawat Pilipino employment and shelter for every Filipino Nang paglikas ay unti-unting mahinto to lessen migration to other countries Yaman ng bayan ay dapat pakinabangan everybody and not just a few should Ng buong bayan at di lang na iilan benefit from our nature’s resources Dagat, bundok, gubat, ilog at kapatagan take care of the seas, mountains, Gawing ligtas at dapat pangalagaan forests, rivers and plains and preserve their bounty Ang hustisya ay dapat mamayani justice should apply equally Mayaman ka man o mahirap na uri to the rich and the poor Utang ng bayan na baya’y di nakinabang foreign debt that was stolen and not used for the country’s benefit Dapat nang putulin at hwag nang bayaran should be repudiated Karapatan ay dapat nating igalang we should respect human rights Karahasan ay hwag pahintulutan violence should never be allowed Digmaan ay dapat nang malunasan and conflicts should be resolved Kaunlaran, kapayapaan, pagkakaisa for progress, peace, solidarity At wastong pamamahala ng pamahalaan and good governance Tayo’y kumilos na! It is time to make a change! Tungo sa pagbabago Towards change Para sa pagbabago for change Ngayon na, ngayon na! Now is the time! Share this: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Like this: Like Loading...