In the second iteration of Hamon ng Himig, the University of the Philippines’ free music tutoring program, participating students are introduced to Philippine indigenous music. The program was launched March 2 at the Executive House, UP Diliman.
Hamon ng Himig is a comprehensive training program that aims to provide musical education for undergraduate and graduate students of UP. The program offers free courses in music theory and practical rehearsals, and will be conducted in a hybrid format, both face-to-face and online.
Office of Student Development Services Director Tristan Nathaniel Ramos, in his opening remarks, introduced the program’s new offerings. From 2024’s Hamon ng Himig, which focused only on guitar and voice training, this year’s program will include sessions on ukulele, kalinga, and kulintang.
UPD College of Music Dean Patricia Silvestre focused on the importance of enriching one’s knowledge of Philippine music. Said Silvestre, “We need to include Philippine indigenous music into the mainstream of our offerings for a more vibrant and holistic musical experience for you all.
View scenes from the event below:
UP President Angelo Jimenez spoke of the university’s initiatives to bring music to the UP community. Among these are the establishment of the UP Symphony Orchestra in 2018 and the virtual performances held during the 2020 pandemic. Said Jimenez on the lessons from these experiences, “There will be a time when we feel so lost, and we will find our way back to the music.”
Award-winning musicians and CMu alumni will facilitate the sessions. UP Manila Chorale conductor John Steven Verrosa and UPLB Choral Ensemble conductor Roijin Suarez, together with Adrian John Pulido, were introduced as voice/choral instructors. Ricardo Juanito Balledos, Daniel Joseph Morabe, Marlee Janina Alexa Mendoza, and Micah John Sanchez will lead the guitar sessions. The latest additions to the roster of Hamon ng Himig facilitators are Assistant Professor Solaiman Jamisolamin for ukulele and Asian music lecturers Teresa Montes and Ma. Lourdes Cecilia Matute.
The expanded tutoring program consists of 96 guitar sessions, 12 ukulele sessions, 36 voice training sessions, and 24 kalinga and kulintang training sessions, to be distributed among the UP campuses.
Hamon ng Himig is an initiative of the UP Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs–Office of Student Development Services, in partnership with CMu and the Student Affairs units across the UP System. It started in 2024 with 150 completers.
