Chalulua Hall, San Diego State University
Mission: The group’s main purpose is to accurately represent and educate its audiences on the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) cultures of the Maguindanaon, Maranao, Tausug, Sama, and Yakan ethno-linguistic groups. It is important to note that music and dances from this region are NOT “Muslim music or dances.” These indigenous Philippine cultural arts forms originating from the Muslim Filipinos in Mindanao and Sulu are a part of the Philippines’ Southeast Asian heritage.
The Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble of the Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts & Education Center performs gong-chime music and dances from the southern Philippines. Formed in 2003 by UCLA alumnists, Peter Paul De Guzman, Bernard Ellorin, Mary T. Lacanlale, Eleanor Lipat- Chesler, and Nickki Martin-Lustre, Pakaraguian has been performing at various festivals, lectures, venues and universities around southern California.
PKE membership includes ethnomusicologists who have conducted anthropological field research in Mindanao, Philippines and have actively participated in archiving contributions to UCLA, and some members have been formally trained by kulintang master musicians, such as Danongan Kalanduyan. Kalanduyan is recognized as the expert in kulintang music and was awarded the prestigious National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1995.
Band Members
San Diego
Eric Abutin
Mitchell Almoite
Raynard Abalos
Melody Batuyong (Morocco)
Michelle Camaya (New York City)
Stephanie Castillo
Christopher Datiles
Bernard Ellorin(Hawaii)
Rob Esler (Tempe, AZ)
Lisa Tolentino (Tempe, AZ)
Angeline Fasano
Jordan Fasano
Mary Grace Nievera(San Francisco)
Jhoselle Padilla
Christine Quidim
Joseph Ramirez
Szilvia Soproni
Sev Reyes
Chris Feraro
Los Angeles
Peter Paul De Guzman
Eleanor Lipat (Thailand)
Richard Pastor
Nickki Martin
Mary Talusan Lacanlale (Boston)
Mitchell Yangson
For more information, please go to www.myspace.com/pakaraguian or become a member of our group on facebook.
