Free concert showcases Filipino indigenous traditions, music

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Capital Modern Museum is hosting “UNI: Rhythms of the Philippines,” a free concert celebrating Filipino indigenous music, dance and storytelling, to wrap up Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.

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Happening today from 1-3:30 p.m., the event serves as the grand finale of House of Gongs’ week-long music camp and community engagements led by master artists from Mindanao in southern Philippines.

Alex Punzalan from the House of Gongs and Datu Waway Saway, a master artist from the Philippines, joined us on HNN Sunrise to talk about the cultural celebration, showcase traditional instruments and perform a song that translates to “In the Past.”

“It’s a time where we can connect them to the roots with music,” Saway said. “What we are doing now is part of a cultural tradition so the people from the diaspora would understand what the culture of the Philippines people is all about.”

House of Gongs is a grassroots organization dedicated to building a Filipino diasporic community through music, dance, and the arts.

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Drawing on more than 20 years of fieldwork in the Philippines, organizers say the group honors traditional cultural practices while encouraging creativity and innovation.

Saturday’s concert features work by emerging Filipino-American artists from across the United States, Canada, and Australia, reflecting a global connection grounded in ancestral knowledge.

The event will bring together a diverse lineup of performers including:

There will also be food and drinks provided by NUI Kealoha and a marketplace curated by Art+Flea.

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For more information, visit houseofgongs.com