Philippines - Dancing on Lily Pads

Author: Xie Lingjie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: The guitar is a loyal medium between the confidant and the listener of music. Through it, the secrets of music are passed on to the listener, allowing them to feel joy, excitement, or lingering sorrow. This unique function of the instrument gives it an indescribable sense of mystery. Whether it is a folk guitar or a classical guitar, its ability to convey music is equally unparalleled among instruments. It seems to have always been a passionate partner to rock, unleashing its madness in the name of music. Hip-hop, explosive, melancholic, and tender—these have always been its style. It leaves the singer breathless and the listener lost in ecstasy. Tracing the history of the guitar, its predecessors are generally believed to be the Vihuela and the Lute. The golden age of the Lute should be in the late 16th century. Its elegant shape can be seen in Persian murals dating back to the 8th century BC. In the 16th century, the structure of the guitar made significant progress, and it began to flourish in Eastern countries like Arabia and India. As its unique sound gradually gained popularity worldwide, the guitar echoed in the Philippines naturally because of the arrival of the Spanish. If the guitar is the representative impression of the Philippines, then Cebu, known as the "Hometown of Guitars," is the city that best represents the guitar. When Magellan tragically planted the cross on the land of Cebu, he never imagined that the guitar used by missionaries to spread the gospel would forever remain here, even becoming so highly valued and preserved. Initially, missionaries often played the mysterious guitar to attract people to their gatherings. During festivals, they would often walk the streets with guitars, using them to convey the gospel. Beyond singing and playing, they also taught themselves and made guitars, spreading the craft of guitar-making throughout the Filipino people. Now, walking through the "Hometown of Guitars," Cebu, guitar-making factories can be seen almost everywhere. Especially on Mactan Island (Lapu-Lapu City), where Magellan lost his life, there are nearly 100 small and large guitar workshops, with 7 large factories, alling handcrafted production. The handcrafted mother-of-pearl guitars, four-stringed guitars, five-stringed guitars, and mandolins made here are renowned worldwide. From a certain perspective, the romance of Cebu lies not in its paradise-like vacation spots but in the intoxicating passion of street guitarists. Here, the guitar has become the primary tool for people to express their emotions. Love, hate, and sorrow, joy and happiness—all are conveyed through the guitar's excitement or melancholy. In the leisurely streets, coconut shadows sway under the twilight, and everywhere, one can see crowds of people playing guitars. Teenagers, young adults, old men, and women gather in groups of three or five, ten or eight, strumming and singing. Some stand, some sit, some play while walking, and some sing. The festivals here are often treated as celebrations, and during holidays, the streets are bustling with people in colorful, festive attire. Amidst the crowded, shoulder-to-shoulder throngs, which young man has a secret admirer in the heart of a maiden? Which passionate girl is cherished by a handsome youth? Then, pick up your guitar and pluck your heartstrings. In Cebu, it is rare to find someone who cannot play the guitar. The guitar has become a loyal messenger of sound, and compared to it, language is almost insignificant.