Alimodian National Comprehensive High School's rondalla group

By Wein P. Gadian

When you think of Filipino music, more often than not two forms spring to mind. The first is the popular ballad known as kundiman, and the second is the largely instrumental music played by an ensemble of plucked string instruments like the rondalla.

Although the rondalla is Spanish in origin, the 14-stringed banduria, piccolo (small banduria), octavina and laud are purely Filipino inventions.

Both forms, unfortunately, are associated with the kind of Amorsoloesque, sa-libis-ng-nayon, romantic pastoral idea of the Filipiniana. Ideally it has nothing to do with our country, and for all we know, never really existed except in the minds of our greatest artists and composers, and in old LVN and Sampaguita pictures.

When we want to get down and get funky, we don't do the tinikling. When we want to kick out the jams, we don't put on rondalla music. Such is the gulf between popular taste, and "culture."

In Iloilo, the Alimodian National Comprehensive High School's Rondalla Group continues to charm its audience since 1976 up to the present. Through the years, the group has joined regional competitions and the NAMSIA competitions. From the traditional rondalla it evolved to the integration of electronic, percussion and other instruments.

The ANCHS Rondalla group is open to all ANCHS students who are interested. It has been adapted by the school curriculum and like a school choir or dance group, the ANCHS Rondalla members are exempted from Physical Education classes. They also enjoy discounts in their enrollment fees.

The student has to undergo a screening that includes: a personal interview, the willingness of parents, a written test specifically in note reading.

After which, the qualified members are trained for six weeks. They are then taught how to use the instruments and reading of musical notes.

They are also given the opportunity to join with the old members in the cultural presentations and other school activities. These presentations are in various musical scores from the folk songs to the much modern pop and ballads.

ANCHS Rondalla group also performs in the cultural presentations of the town as well as its neighboring towns done by invitation. Recently they joined the Independence Day celebration performing the town's local song ‘Bulak sang Alimodian' written by Mayor Bernardo Ambut. They also played the background music for ‘Paranublion' last May 31. ‘Paranublion' is the culminating activity of the summer workshop of the school.

They can also perform in weddings, parties and other gatherings. For information contact the Alimodian National Comprehensive High School look for Ma.Phoebe A. Andiano, school principal or Mr. Ronnie Tacal, the Rondalla instructor.