‘When bamboo sings of freedom’
Freedom took on the warm, resonant sound of bamboo as the FEU Bamboo Band presented "MALAYA: Songs of Freedom" last Sept. 26 at the FEU Manila Auditorium. Beginning at 7:26 p.m., the annual concert brought student musicians and guest artists together for an hour of music celebrating Filipino resilience and the hope of a more peaceful world.
Presented by the University through the FEU Center for the Arts (FCA), "MALAYA” linked its celebration of freedom with Fortitude, Excellence, and Uprightness, encouraging young artists to carry cultural pride and integrity into their work.
Starting with "Born Free," the ensemble used its ten-piece repertoire to explore freedom alongside peace and the desire for change. "Kapayapaan" and "Wind of Change" helped develop those themes, while the choice of bamboo instruments kept the concert grounded in the Band's own musical identity.
The guest collaborations gave those ideas voices to match the instruments. Joining the band for "Bayan Ko," the FEU Chorale added its voices to a song of love for the homeland. Later, Heleina Kirstensen Li (Institute of Arts and Sciences '27) of the FEU Theater Guild performed "Imagine" with the ensemble, widening the program's perspective toward peace across borders. Together, the two performances linked affection for one's country with the hope of a world where people can live freely alongside one another.
That spirit of coming together also found expression in the audience. Community members, alumni, and FCA student-artists gathered with guests from outside the University. The presence of sister ensembles Banda Kawayan Pilipinas and Paete Bamboo Band connected the occasion with a wider community of bamboo musicians.
The concert also depended on the people working behind the scenes to support both the audience and the performers. The FEU Guides assisted attendees from registration to the auditorium, while the Media Center and Sophia Janelle San Diego (IAS '30) of the FEU Theater Guild provided lighting and technical support for the performance.
Originally scheduled for April 25, the concert was moved for various reasons to July 18 and then to August 22 before finally taking place in September. For a program honoring resilience, that persistence gave its message a personal dimension.
The FCA Senior Director, Martin Emile Z. Lopez, and the FEU Bamboo Band Artistic Director, Norberto Cads, Jr., acknowledged that journey in their remarks. Alongside reflections on music and art, they recognized the Band's work in bringing the concert to life.
The band’s work also drew praise from reviewer Kian Arthur Angcos, who highlighted the thoughtful programming behind the concert. He commended its coherent theme, varied repertoire, and guest collaborations, noting how the ensemble explored different musical traditions while retaining its own identity.
“For a one-hour program from a university ensemble, it was a thoughtful and worthwhile concert, and one that suggests the FEU Bamboo Band’s best work comes when it is given a thesis to argue. I would gladly hear more programs built this way,” Angcos said.
The closing number, "Isang Mundo, Isang Awit," offered a fitting return to the idea of togetherness. After months of waiting, the concert finally belonged to the stage and to the community that had gathered to hear it. Jaymar P. Delos Santos
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