Music & Heritage
The historic 19th-century bamboo organ surprised visitors by expanding its repertoire to include modern Filipino pop songs, creating unique acoustic versions of contemporary hits.
Carlos Mendoza (staff writer)
Las Piñas City —
Las Piñas Bamboo Organ Starts Performing Contemporary Pop Music
The world-famous Las Piñas Bamboo Organ caused a sensation in the classical music community by debuting acoustic arrangements of contemporary Filipino pop songs, starting with a haunting bamboo rendition of “Tadhana” that went viral on social media.
Historic Instrument Embraces Modern Music
Church organist and musical arranger Professor Maria Santos explained the repertoire expansion during a performance that seamlessly transitioned from Gregorian chant to Moira dela Torre. “The bamboo organ was revolutionary when it was built in 1816. We’re maintaining that innovative spirit by proving this historic instrument can interpret any musical era.”
The organ’s unique acoustic properties create surprisingly beautiful versions of modern songs, with the bamboo pipes adding ethereal harmonics to contemporary melodies. Recent performances have included Eraserheads classics, Ben&Ben ballads, and even carefully arranged Blackpink songs.
Cultural Bridge Building
Musicologist Dr. Carmen Reyes noted the cultural significance: “This project demonstrates that Philippine heritage instruments can engage with contemporary culture rather than being relegated to historical museum status. The bamboo organ is becoming a living, evolving musical instrument again.”
Tourist response has been overwhelmingly positive, with visitor Jennifer Cruz commenting: “Hearing ‘Kilometro’ played on a 200-year-old bamboo organ was emotionally overwhelming. It connected Filipino musical history with contemporary culture in a way I never expected.”
The church now offers “Contemporary Filipino Music on Historic Bamboo” concerts twice weekly, with plans to record an album featuring classic OPM hits arranged specifically for the bamboo organ’s unique tonal characteristics.
Music streaming services have expressed interest in exclusive recordings, potentially making the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ the first 19th-century instrument to achieve modern commercial music success.