The Philippine Boat Lute, commonly referred to as Kudyapi, Hegalung, or Fuglung, among other
names, is a two-stringed traditional musical instrument used mainly by the Indigenous peoples in
Southern Mindanao Region and Palawan. The names and designs are typical for specific ethnic
groups and serve as cultural identifiers of the groups it belongs to. Carved from a solid log of wood
with two strings, the instrument's intricate wood carving, size, and decoration are inspired by the
Indigenous Peoples' varied history and culture. Carvings represent animals like crocodiles, birds,
or lizards found in the insignias or the ecosystem of the tribes they originate from. Depending on
the size, steel wire for fishing, guitar strings, local vines, abaka, rattan, or other plant fibers are used
as strings for the traditionally two-stringed, wherein one is for melody and the other for rhythmic
accents.
Most of what is documented about the stringed musical instrument come from European
ethnomusicologist Hans Brandeis who has visited the different tribes in the Philippines to document
and study music traditions and instruments indigenous to the Philippines. He described the boat
lute as "the most sophisticated musical instrument in the Philippines."
The instrument is believed to have been first used during the Spanish colonial times. However,
there is a big gap in knowledge and understanding of the instrument – origin, make, proportion, and
even a standard way of making the instrument. As noted by Hans:
Boat lute traditions are threatened to disappear within the next coming years, due to the passing of
the cultural masters and the unavailability of skilled craftsmen who still have the knowledge to
make these instruments, coupled with the dwindling of raw materials needed to make new lutes.
But, at least, there is still hope. – Hans Brandeis, German ethnomusicologist (The Documentation
of Boat Lute Music in the Philippines)
A Unique Opportunity: The Project Boat Lute
Currently, 23 known types of boat lutes are used among 37 indigenous peoples. Any information,
know-how, and data are passed down only within the tribes that still play and use the instrument
during rituals and ceremonies. Production of the boat lute depends on the few craftsmen left, the
artists that play the instrument, and, more importantly, the locally sourced materials within the tribes.
Project Boat Lute, "The Project," aims to make the instrument more accessible to the people and
introduce it to a broader local and global audience. The Project aims to boost the instrument's
relevance and contribution to Filipino education, arts, and music. We would also apply for the
inclusion of the instrument in the Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) Curriculum Framework and
conduct workshops around the country to promote it in the local music scene.
Reimagining Filipino Heritage: The Project Boat Lute
The Project hopes to become one representation of Filipino Cultural Heritage to the world. One way
to do this is to launch the instrument to the global audience during the National Association of Music
Merchants (NAMM) Show held in the United States every first quarter of each year. The NAMM
Show is one of the most anticipated events in the music industry.
With this, Project Boat Lute is looking for partners who can help us achieve all these through
financial assistance in developing, building, and launching the Philippine Boat Lute.
Our Commitment: Our Team
The Project Boat Lute team wishes to build relationships with the tribes to understand better and
possibly design a more authentic and distinctly Filipino Boat Lute. The team plans to visit locations
and meet with the locals and artisans of some of the tribes of Mindanao and Palawan known to use
and craft the instruments to this day. The team would like to respectfully request, witness, and work
with the Indigenous people in this worthwhile Project. Traveling and witnessing the whole process
of building the boat lute and learning how to play the instrument will help the team expand and
share the knowledge of Boat Lute making.
Jonathan Dela Cruz
Project Boat Lute Head and Maker
Jon, the proprietor and Chief of Vision of Elegee has been
making guitars since the 1990s. He is a luthier who has helped
bring Filipino craftsmanship to the global stage through his
Elegee brand. The company's whole ethos is to promote
Filipino artistry and culture here and abroad. He has
successfully launched and is gaining more global traction for
Philippine-made guitars in other parts of the world, like Japan
and the United States of America. He has been a consistent
exhibitor/participant in the NAMM Show since 2017.
He will head the technical aspect of the design and build of the
Boat Lute.
Joey Ayala
Project Boat Lute Artist
One of the most prominent and highly accomplished
champions of the instrument is the renowned singer,
songwriter, and former chairman of the National Commission
for Culture and the Arts music committee. Joey is known for
promoting Philippine ethnic instruments and sounds to
contemporary music. He will be the master Project Boat Lute
artist/musician.
Justin Sagun
Elegee Assistant/Sound Engineer
Head Builder/Sound Engineer of Kalikot Audio. An engineer by
profession, he has designed and built guitar effects since the
early 2000s and has been the go-to sound engineer/builder of
Elegee ever since. Through his partnership with Elegee, he
has participated in and built effects for the NAMM Show.
He is responsible for understanding the mechanics of sound
for this Project.
LJ Francisco
Project Manager/ Operations
Manager of Elegee
LJ has been the Operations Manager of Elegee since 2016.
She runs the company's day-to-day operations and has helped
build its reputation and product line in its roster.
Overall responsible for running the whole Project from
planning up to the launch.
Rheena Evasco
Head Writer / Researcher
Previously part of the Academe as an English and Research
teacher, Rheena is in charge of research and documentation,
write-ups, and official communication for the Project.
Arvin Magsajo
Research Assistant
Helps collect data and write about the Project. Arvin will assist
in the development of written material.
Videographer/Photographer Responsible for visual and sound documentation of the
Project.
Table 1. Project Boat Lute Team
We are 100% committed to the success of this Project.
Producing an additional body of knowledge about the Philippine Boat Lute
A more repeatable and scalable building process of the instrument
Sharing of guitar-building best practices between our team and the Indigenous Peoples
Retained expertise and experience in playing the instrument
Project Boat Lute Timeline
We propose the following project schedule for your reference. We have considered the timelines
and milestones the team would like to achieve in the given timeframe. The estimated duration of
the Project is six months. The project schedule assumes the Project Boat Lute will be finalized and
launched by January 25, 2024, at NAMM in Anaheim, California. The project team will work
collaboratively to achieve the milestones, documentation, and deliverables in timeframe provided
in by utilizing proposed travels to the indigenous tribes. Any changes to these dates will impact the
critical path of the Project and January 25, 2024, global launch date. If there are any changes to
the timeline (listed in Table 2), we propose to re-plan and re-baseline the project schedule to
achieve essential milestones of the Project.
Milestones Description Timeline Level of Effort
Phase 1 – Strategic Planning
Identification and orientation of
project plan with the team.
Alignment and coordination with
the different stakeholders of the
Project. Project mobilization will
happen at this time.
Month 1 (June) 15 Days
Phase 2 – Fieldwork The team will travel to Palawan,
Bukidnon, South Cotabato, and
Maguindanao for fieldwork. The
team will collect data and
information through dialogues with
the local boat lute players and
makers.
Month 2 (June-July) 30 days
Phase 3 – Boat Lute
Design and Build Stage
Start of production of the boat lute.
The cycle includes designing,
building, testing, and refining the
boat lute product.
Month 3 (August -
October)
90 days
Phase 4 – Soft Launch
in the Philippines
Introducing the Boat Lute through
a soft launch.
Month 4 (November) 30 days
Phase 5 – Preparation
for the exhibit
Preparation for the Boat Lute
launch at the NAMM Show.
Month 5 (December) 30 days
Phase 6 – Global
Launch
Grand Launch at the Elegee booth
at the NAMM Show in Anaheim,
California.
Month 6 (January) 15 days
Locations
The map, taken from The Boat Lutes of The Philippines, Hans Brandeis, December 2022, lists
places in the Philippines that are known to use and produce boat lutes (Figure 1). The team has
identified Bukidnon, Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Palawan as places for fieldwork. The selected
locations will allow the team to interact directly with lute makers and players and provide a more
immersive environment in understanding the instrument better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-7s163Ckfk
