The Filipino goes international through music

Our friend Adolfo Timuat had been frantically calling our number one day last September. When we asked him what it was that was so urgent, he said he wanted us to meet a Taiwanese, Vincent Li, who was in town for a short visit. We met them both at a hotel in Manila and it was here where Vince told us his story.

Twenty years ago, the Taiwanese conductor came to the Philippines and stayed only for a day. But there was something about the country, Vincent told us, that stuck in his mind that made him tell himself that he wanted to return another day. What it was, Vincent didn’t know. Perhaps, it was the smiles of the people.

Perhaps, it was in the songs playing everywhere from the car radio, in restaurants and stores, from the kitchen next door while the cook was preparing lunch.

It did seem Vincent was destined to return. Last February, Adolfo and Vincent met each other for the first time at the CCP during the concert for string instruments where both had performed under the sponsorship of the Bureau of Trade and Industry. After the concert, they exchanged niceties and found that they shared similar interests.

The Filipino Adolfo is a much esteemed guitar maker and performer known both in his country and abroad. Born in Okinawa and of Filipino-Japanese parentage, he moved with his family to the Philippines where he was introduced to the guitar by one of his brothers. The making of a guitar, he learned from simply observing how the “guitar masters” make their guitars.

While visiting our friend Richard Signey from Madrid, we requested that he accompany us to the home of a guitar maker and player who also lived in Madrid. Adolfo welcomed us to his home and played a few songs for us. That is how we met and became friends with Adolfo.

Back to the story of Vincent, when the Taiwanese conductor found out that Adolfo was a guitar-maker he asked him if they could work together and collaborate, showing him a Chinese traditional instrument popular in Taiwan and called a Ruan. Vincent then asked Adolfo if he could make him a Ruan. Adolfo must have delivered the goods since at present there are already 40 Ruans which Adolfo has made, already being used in Taiwan in orchestra concerts.

Vincent and his friends were surprised because Adolfo had improved on the instrument, making it better and louder sounding. Vincent’s goal apparently is to promote to the new generation their traditional instruments. “We can make modern and contemporary sounds using our traditional instruments,” he explained to us.

 “I want Adolfo to promote our Ruan because I love our traditional music. But there is something very wrong in Taiwan and China right now since the children only want Western music,” he continued.

Vincent said that they can combine Western with traditional music and has asked Adolfo to help him in this campaign, like making instruments that would attract children.

Adolfo is very happy with these developments and hopeful that things will go well. In Taiwan, they are already using the instruments he has made in their orchestra. “Imagine, traditional instruments made by a Filipino!” He feels the trend will continue, sharing that he has already finished an order for tribal instruments for Malaysia, commissioned by their Datu.

What are the future plans, we asked. “I am planning to do the same to promote the kudyapi, the original Filipino guitar,” said Adolfo.

Meantime, Vincent has drawn up plans for both Adolfo and himself. They have completed organizing a tour in Taiwan from Dec. 21 to 24; and in July of 2015, activities for the concert orchestra.

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