The UP Diliman (UPD) community was treated to a musical performance that blended classical and contemporary works in the staging of Laya’t Kalinga: Mga Himig ng Bayan (Laya’t Kalinga).
Laya’t Kalinga is an offering of the UPD Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts and the UP Voice and Music Theater Guild in partnership with the College of Music (CMu), its Department of Voice, Music Theater, and Dance, and the Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, as part of the UPD Arts and Culture Festival 2026.
According to the organizers, Laya’t Kalinga “celebrates Filipino artistry” and “aims to highlight the expressive power of the voice and its ability to tell stories of love, identity, and community.”
It featured student performances of “Filipino art songs, kundiman, excerpts from Filipino sarswela and opera, and Verne dela Peña’s Si Suan, Si Suan.”
Laya’t Kalinga unfolded in three parts.
Part I comprised seven songs, including excerpts from the sarswela Paglipas ng Dilim, Hibik at Himagsik Nina Viktoria Laktaw, and Alamat ng Nayon.
From Paglipas ng Dilim, written by Precioso Palma and music by Leon Ignacio, came the songs Anong Tamis Nitong Ating Kabuhayang Puno ng Pag-ibig at Kaligayahan (performed by John Michael Mauricio) and Ang Dalaga’y Nalulungkot (performed by Althea Linelle Domngal and Vyktoria Bayle). These were followed by Lucio San Pedro’s kundiman Ang Dalaga ng Bayan Ko with lyrics by Antonio Sempio (performed by Sherlyn Illurimo), and Ernani J. Cuenco’s Pilipinas, Inang Bayan with lyrics by Levi Celerio (performed by Carlos Lawrence Alipalo).
Awit ni Chayong, an excerpt from the sarswela Hibik at Himagsik nina Viktoria Laktaw by Lucien Letaba with lyrics by Bienvenido Lumbera, followed suit.
Soon after, two art songs were performed: San Pedro’s Sa Mahal Kong Bayan with lyrics by Gui. Y. Santiago-Cuino, and Francisco Santiago’s Anak Dalita with lyrics by Deogracias A. Rosario, and lyrics in obligato by Levi Celerio and arranged for two voices by Redentor Romero. These were performed by Jayya Baldo, and Hannah Marie Osorio and Erin Gabriel Soriano, respectively.
Part I ended with Andrey Sto. Domingo’s performance of Pag-ihip Na ng Amihan Na Nahihinog Itong Palay, from the Leon Ignacio’s sarswela Alamat ng Nayon with libretto by Servando de los Angeles.
After a short intermission, Laya’t Kalinga resumed with Part II–a puppet performance of La Verne dela Peña’s Si Suan, Si Suan by puppeteer/soprano Jedidiah Retuta and Bettina Mae Hernandez.
The third and last part of Laya’t Kalinga opened with a performance of Paulino Cadsawan’s Kundiman ni Rizal by Laurenzo Ardan.
It was followed by songs from the opera Noli Me Tangere. First was Kay Tamis ng Buhay with music by Felipe M. de Leon Jr., followed by songs Ang Iwi kong Buhay with music by Felipe P. de Leon and libretto by Guillermo Tolentino; Mahal Kong Crisostomo; and Ikaw ba ang Anak?… Ako’y Sugat-sugatan with music by F. P. de Leon and libretto by Tolentino. These were performed by Krisleen Andra Bareng, Mark Nicholson Jaluag, Julian Emmanuel Santos, Chuck Lazaro Hipol, Yve Jasmine Juango, and Alipalo.
Laya’t Kalinga fittingly ended with the Bayan Ko Medley arranged by Nhick Ramiro Pacis. This featured the songs Bayan Ko by Jose Corazon de Jesus and Constancio de Guzman, Ako ay Pilipino by George Canseco, and Pilipinas Kong Mahal by Francisco Santiago.
The concert had three runs at the CMu Mini Hall—at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, and at 3 and 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 21.