The Department of Musicology (DMusicology) of the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Music (CMu) hosted the concert of Datu Rodelio “Waway” Saway, UPD’s first culture bearer-in-residence, on Nov. 24 at the Parola: UP Fine Arts Gallery.

Performing alongside Saway in MUNAHU: Datu Waway Saway—The Lightkeeper of Talaandig Culture in a Special Thanksgiving Concert were various artists from the CMu, Joey Ayala, and Bayang Barrios, among others.

DMusicology Chair Ma. Patricia B. Silvestre said the word munahu means guest, and the concert was UPD’s way of giving thanks to Saway for the wealth of knowledge he shared with the University.

Saway is recognized as a master artist, musician, educator, and community leader. He is currently a councilor of the Talaandig community from Lantapan, Bukidnon. Silvestre said Saway is known nationally and internationally and comes from a distinguished clan.

In closing, Saway was presented with a certificate of recognition for his contribution in enriching UPD’s knowledge of Philippine culture. Presenting him the certificate were Silvestre and Dayang Magdalena Nirvana T. Yraola, PhD, an associate professor at the UPD Department of Theory and curator of the Parola: UP Fine Arts Gallery.

DMusicology became the pilot institution for UPD’s Culture Bearer-in-Residence Program when it invited Saway to the University to engage with CMu constituents in particular and the UPD community in general through activities like lectures and musical workshops.

In a correspondence with UPDate Online, Silvestre said, “Waway has assiduously worked towards keeping his community’s artistic traditions vibrant and dynamic.” She added that Saway has done this “through participation in art/music festivals all over the world, integrating new ideas in music-making to bridge tradition and modernity, sharing his skills and knowledge, and most importantly, ensuring the life of his people’s art and music through teaching at The School of Living Traditions in Bukidnon, which was established with primary support from his family.”

Saway was in UPD from Nov. 6 to 24.