The Kabayao Family Quintet
More than just a musical collaboration
The Kabayao family holds an unparalleled artistry that weaves distinction from among the musicians in the country and even abroad. A family respected for exceptional music they create, a rare genius who opened the eyes and ears of millions worldwide to a different genre of rhythm and melody; a lingering, incomparable classic masterpiece they proudly own.
I met the Kabayaos in 1995. Farida, the second of the three siblings, is a high school friend and classmate in Doane Baptist Academy. We were the pioneers then, a part of a burgeoning Christian family deeply rooted in educational and spiritual excellence. For the most part, I remember her being unpretentiously talented; it's hardly surprising that she often gets adored whether she's showing her expertise in violin or performing a lead role in a school play. But later, being one among those who are in awe of her skills, I realized she was only a glimpse of the quintessential whole.
Farida's parents, Gilopez and Corazon Kabayao, are internationally acclaimed Filipino Violinist and Pianist while she with siblings Sicilienne and Gilberto are equally gifted with talents. Together they have traveled across miles performing around the world as a Family Quintet, leaving adulated audiences captivated and overwhelmed by the power of classical music. Theirs is a gift that not only inspires but uplifts souls, as they, a united family, dedicate their music to the One above.
Gilopez and Corazon both showed their musical prowess even when they were still young. Gilopez actually came from the third generation scion of a musically gifted family, being a grandson of the well-known Philippine musician and composer Gil Lopez. He started playing the piano at the age of three and when he reached six years old he studied violin under his father. At the age of 20 he gained prominence when he gave a recital at the Carnegie Hall in New York in which international newspapers rhapsodized him as comparable among the finest of the young virtuosos in music and was celebrated by the country as the first Filipino violinist to debut in such a prominent concert hall in the United States. Since then he toured around the world playing professionally in recitals and joining musical competitions.
After decades in his music career, he was honored with numerous prestigious awards in recognition of his prominence and distinction as a musician. Among them the President Ramon Magsaysay Award for Outstanding Public Service, the Presidential Award of Merit in Music, Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines, Outstanding Filipino Overseas, Catholic Mass Media Award for Music (Folk Songs), Doctor of Humanities (honoris causa) from Central Philippine University and Doctor of Music From the University of the Philippines.
Corazon Pineda, a talented and beautiful pianist, used to accompany Gilopez in his performances abroad. Indeed, her marriage with Gilopez was a blessed union of love and passion for music.
Corazon has a Bachelor of Music degree in UST's Conservatory of Music, graduating magna cum laude. Distinguished throughout her college years as a university scholar and recipient of the University Rector's Medal, the highest award given for academic excellence. Forming a musical partnership with her husband Gilopez spanning 35 years, she lent her artistry and skills in various highly acclaimed performances from past to present. A woman of multiple greatness, she also works behind the limelight as business administrator in arranging family concerts, managing agricultural farms and family enterprise, making four-violin arrangements of the music for the family concert repertoire, over-all planner for the Spiritual, Educational, Medical and Cultural thrusts of the Gilopez Kabayao Foundation, Inc., and executive producer and wardrobe designer of major cultural productions and straight plays under the Arts Council of Iloilo Foundation. An affectionate mother and one of the Philippines' finest pianist, she started teaching her children piano at a young age of 2. Since then their children added more merit to their renowned name with their own achievements.
Sicielienne Kabayao, at three , has since participated in her family's musical concert tours in the United States and Canada. At ten, she won in Voice and Violin categories in the National Music Competition for Young Artist (NAMCYA), and was invited as the first featured violinist at the Young Winners Concert in Hong Kong in the same year. She is a Broadcast Communications graduate from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. She has performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra on the celebration of her father's 48th anniversary of his Carnegie Hall Debut.
Farida Kabayao, is a natural performer at heart. I had the privilege to work with her in My Fair Lady, a stage play produced under the Arts Council of Iloilo Foundation, where it was shown both here and in Manila. I for one, was a witness of her powerful characterizations and display of passion as a theater actress, essaying prominent roles such as Anne Frank in the Diary of Anne Frank, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Anne Sullivan in the Miracle Worker and a host of other roles. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, Major in History also from UP in the Visayas. At 12, she too, was a winner of the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in Violin Category.
Gilberto Kabayao, the youngest and only son of the Kabayao children took piano lessons at the age of three and started playing the violin at the age of four. He is a vision of talent as an active teenager, both in music and sports. He was captain of his high school basketball team and has won medals in PRISAA and YMCA chess tournaments, along with awards in swimming and track events in elementary and high school. At the age of six, he perfectly portrayed Manasseh in the Christian musical, “Joseph the Dreamer” with well-known local theater icons, Audie Gemora and Freddie Santos. Now he is a freshman at De la Salle-St. Benilde in Manila, pursuing a degree in Business Administration.
In Gilopez and Corazon's more than 35 years of musical collaborations, later with their children, they have proven to be the epitome of unreserved musical ingenuity, and incessant dedication and service to the people and to the glory of God. A family gifted not only with talent but with accommodating personalities that is as welcoming and warm as their own home. They are also as fun as any family could be.
Despite their prestige, what I found most admirable in them is that they continue to have humble hearts that touches and inspires people to strive more. Their music is not the only instrument to the enlightenment of the soul but their faith as well works beyond what they create.