MUSIC 7

Learner’s Module
SECOND QUARTER

Prepared by:
Rodolfo M. Fabian Jr.
Catherine D. Fabian
 MODULE
2
Music of Cordillera, Mindoro,
Palawan and the Visayas

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY:

 The learner describes the musical characteristics of representative selections of
Cordillera, Mindoro, Palawan and of the Visayas after listening; MU7LV-IIa-f1
 The learner explains the distinguishing characteristics of representative music
from Cordillera, Mindoro, Palawan, and the Visayas in relation to its culture
and geography. MU7LV-IIb-f3
 The learner identifies the musical instruments and other sound sources from
Cordillera, Mindoro, Palawan and of the Visayas. MU7LV-IIa-f2
MUSIC OF
PALAWAN
 INTRODUCTION:
Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines, a home to several indigenous
ethnolinguistic groups. The only oil-producing province in the country. It is also the most
visited places by tourists in the Philippines. It is the home of beautiful beaches, marvelous
stone formations, the underground river and the Tabon man whose bones where discovered
in the Tabon cave of Palawan.
The music of Palawan is a brief survey of the music from different indigenous groups
from Palawan such as the Batak, Tagbanua, and Palawan. The analysis of the music is done
by relating the music to concepts of soundscape, music suggesting / representing elements
of nature, spiritual, and human emotional expressions through the language.
Sounds of nature is important to the people of Palawan such as chirping of birds,
sounds of insects, sounds of the wind and rain. Their music imitates the sounds of animals.
They also makes use of different musical forms like repetitions and syncopations.
Their music is usually for music rituals, music for work, music for entertainment and
music for expressing contrasting emotions.

PEOPLE OF PALAWAN
1. BATAK is a group of indigenous Filipino people that resides in the northeast portion
of Palawan. They are called mountain people in Cuyunon. They believe in nature
spirits, with whom they communicate through a babaylan or medium.
2. TAGBANWA are considered “the people of the world” living in Central and
Northern Palawan. They practice shifting cultivation of upland rice, which is
considered a divine gift, and are known for their rice wine ritual called pagdiwata.
3. PALA’WAN is the unique indigenous peoples of Palawan. They are part of the large
Manobo-based linguistic groups of Southern Philippines. They traditionally hunt using
soars and bamboo blowguns.
Musical Forms
A. VOCAL MUSIC

3. KULIAL is a lyrical poem expressing love. His/Her vocal

music is accompanied by kusyapi (two-stringed lute) and played
by man and pagang (bamboo zither) played by woman.

2. TULTUL (Epic chant) is a chanted vocal music about

epic heroes and usually chanted at night, ending at daybreak. It
is forbidden to sing when the sun shines and during the day.

1. ULIT (Shamatic chant) is a chanted vocal music for

the dead. The chant is precisely the ordeals that the soul of the
shaman overcomes in the course of his voyage.

BAGIT is an instrumental music played on the kudyapi, showing

rhythm movements and sound of natures like rustling of leaves,
running water, chirping of birds, monkey, snakes, and others.

BASAL is a gong ensemble consists of set of one or two big gongs,

agung and a pair of small ringed gongs, sanang, and drum called
gimbal.
 B. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
ARUDING (Jew’s harp)
A lamellophone instrument, consisting of a
flexible metal tongue or reed attached to a
frame.
PAGANG (Bamboo Zither)
An instrument made of one whole node of
bamboo which is partly slit. The slit serves
as a resonator when the strings are
plucked. The strings are lifted out of the
bamboo skin.
BABARAK (Ring Flute)
KUSYAPIK
A two-stringed fretted boat-luteo of the
Palaweno.
SULING (Banded Flute)
An instrument made of “tamiang bamboo”
a long tube bamboo which has very thin
surface. The head, near the small hole, is
circled with a thin-band made of rattan to
produce air vibration.
AGUNG
It consists of two suspended gongs with
boss.
ACTIVITY CARD
Now you’re ready to do some activities.
Here’s what you’re going to do!

ACTIVITY NO. Direction: Imagine yourself on the shore from the “Underground River” in
1: Palawan. Answer the following questions below.
SOUNDSCAPE

WHAT SOUNDS DO YOU HEAR FROM THIS ENVIRONMENT?

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

IF YOU WERE TO IMITATE THESE SOUNDS, HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?

WILL YOU USE YOUR VOICE? WILL YOU USE INSTRUMENTS?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITY NO. Direction: Fill in the blanks. Write your answers on the space provided for
2: each number.
FILL ME!

1. “Bagit” is Palawan’s instrumental music played on the kudyapi, showing rhythm movements and
sounds of nature like ___________________________, ____________________________,
_______________________.

2. Palawan’s lyrical poem expressing love is called ___________________.

3. “Tultul” is a chanted vocal music about ______________ and usually chanted at night ending at
daybreak.

4. A gong ensemble of the people of Palawan that consists of two big gongs, agung and a pair of
ringed gongs is called _______________.

5. The three groups of Indigenous people im Palawan are _________________, ________________,

______________________.

6. Vocal and instrumental music of Palawan is usually for _________________, _______________,

_________________________.

ACTIVITY NO. Direction: Classify the musical instruments of Palawan whether

3: IDIOPHONES, MEMBRANOPHONES, CHORDOPHONES or
IMCA? AEROPHONES.

1. ___________________ 2. _____________________ 3. _____________________

ANSWER CARD