102-year-old musician in Mt. Province still teach to keep traditional music alive

A 102-year-old woman from Mountain Province is still teaching traditional music to keep the culture of Mt. Province alive – her means, she says, to show her love for the culture and tradition she was born into.

The old lady is working on making sure millennials and generation Z learn the traditional music she has been practicing.

Irene Enyaka or Apo Bolo from the Kankanaey tribe in Tadian, Mountain Province spends most of her time with her grandchildren and great-grandkids teaching them Igorot music.

Rafaela Enyaka Pilpilen, Apo Bolo’s granddaughter told GMA News that the centenarian trains the young generation in playing ‘tongatong’ every time they come visit her.

Tongatong is usually being played as part of a ritual. Among Apo Bolo’s favorite musical instrument to play is the one made of bamboo. She likes producing the sound used in driving away birds that eat rice. The said music is also one of his late son’s favorite.

The traditional Igorot music plays a huge role in the centenarian’s life. It was said that in those times she couldn’t sleep, she plays kuliteng.

The 102-year-old grandma said her life was long and colorful due to her love for and practice of her own music culture.

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