Meranao and other groups in Southern Mindanao call it the Kubing, while

the Tagalogs call it Barmbaw. It’s the Kuláing for the Kapampangans, and

Kinaban for the Hanunoo Mangyans. The Ibaloi and Kalinga calls it

Koding, while it’s known as the Aroding in Palawan. This instrument is

known to be used as a way for our ancestors to communicate through

song, especially during courtship. The Kubing is played by placing the

instrument between the lips and the end is plucked to create different notes

and sound, depending on the tempo and rhythm of the plucking.

• Kulintang

Another well-known Filipino instrument, the natives of Meranao, Tausug,

and Maguindanao take a lot of pride and joy with these. The Kulintang is

a set of 5 to 9 pieces of gongs that vary in size and sound. They’re aligned

horizontally next to each other, usually on a rack, and are arranged in

order of their pitch. The gong with the lowest pitch is placed on the players

left side and two wooden sticks are used to hit the gongs to make sounds.

They were traditionally made with bronze, but since the Second World

War, most of the gongs are made with brass. The frame or rack that the

gongs are placed in are often made with wood or bamboo and are

decorated with intricate designs and rich color. The Kulintang is usually

played for entertainment during festivals, weddings, and healing

ceremonies.

• Kudyapi

Also known as the Kutiyapi, this is a stringed wooden lute that’s about 4-

6 ft long. The lumads of Meranao, Maguindanao, T’boli, and Manobo

often play this instrument, but versions of it is seen throughout the

Philippines. Traditionally, the instrument is played by men, mainly when

singing love songs. A female equivalent of the Kutiyapi is called a

Korlong, which is a zither-like instrument made with bamboo and is

played with both hands like a harp. The strings are traditionally made with

abaca fibers or horse hair, but modern versions of the Kutiyapi use wires

like a guitar.