The Kayumanggi Trails

text | Carla Ocampo

photography | Jaymar Carlos, Ruben Hamahiga Dela Cruz and Lester Valle

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I first heard the song “Ipakita Mo” during the 62nd birthday celebration of Banyuhay’s frontman, Heber Bartolome, the Philippines‘ ilong-pango pride originator.

The composer, Jhake Nebreja

It made my hair stand on end; Ka Heber and the best of his songwriting workshoppers were singing in tongues… tongues of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. At least thirteen Philippine languages were written into the rousing anthem, sung with feverish zeal by all voices involved.

Soon after, I learned that this massively nationalistic song was composed by seasoned folk rocker Jesus “Jhake” Nebreja of the progressive folk band NUKLUS (Jhake’s trio with Joven Aguilar and Babez Alejo).

Since then, we have become friends, along with our fellow workshoppers: the likes of Pol Camote, Wilson Meneses, Joey Tuzon, JR Prisno, Jakob Rodriguez, Lowie Bartolome and many other rising songwriters who have become members of M.U.S.I.K.A. (Malayang Ugnayan sa Industriya ng mga Kompositor ng Awit).

Ka Heber, visibly impressed by Jhake’s composition, has included the song— and its motley crew of performers!— in every M.U.S.I.K.A. gig around the metro. He also made a crude music video, out of the group’s performance at the NCCA TV show “Sining Gising”.

This video was intended to be shared to Mr. Bartolome’s online friends. But as a song with such aural and lyrical power, I felt “Ipakita Mo” could use a more polished treatment, for it to be flashed on bigger screens and in bigger venues.

Since then, I have sworn to bear on my shoulders— with Jhake’s blessing— the task of producing a music video worthy of the song’s scope and epic arrangement.

This post marks the beginning of Team KT’s most ambitious project to date.

We have resolved to gather footage of as many ethno-linguistic groups as we can— in the process creating a cultural map of the Philippines— and involving the sambayanang-Filipino as the main cast of this upcoming music video.

The production timeline could stretch up to a year, two years, maybe more. Or who knows, if we get lucky, maybe in four months or less.

Whatever it takes, this endeavor is, STILL, in line with Team KT’s push for culture-sensitive travel and interaction.

We have begun shooting in 24p HDV. More updates soon.

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© 2011 The Kayumanggi Trails and Visual Camp, Inc. | All Rights Reserved

Header photo used with parental consent.