Performers Carol Bello of Pinikpikan with Kaduma (left) and UP Musikats (right) during their performances at the jamming session at OUgnayan anniversary.
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) celebrated the first anniversary of OUgnayan Wednesdays with a series of activities, including a jamming session featuring performances from UPOU faculty, students, and community artists, where culture and arts were expressed through music.
Performers from UP Musikats and Carol Bello of Pinikpikan with Kaduma showcased a diverse repertoire of contemporary and cultural music, highlighting the role of the arts in fostering connection and creativity within the UPOU community.
Representing UP Musikats were students from the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) and Bachelor of Education Studies (BES) programs. The group performed songs such as Que Sera Sera, Sway by Michael Bublé, Sway by Bic Runga, Panalangin by Apo Hiking Society, Ang Pag-ibig ay Kanibalismo II by Fiterkarma, Burnout by Sugarfree, and Intro (End of the World) by Ariana Grande.
The cultural segment of the program featured Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) Assistant Professor Maria Carolina Liway-Bello together with her bandmates from Kaduma and Pinikpikan. The group performed traditional and culturally inspired songs, including Kulipan, Bakunawa, and Una Kaya.
Performers share insights about their respective bands during the Brown Bag Session.
Following both performances, a brown bag session was held with selected participants from UP Musikats, as well as representatives from Carol Bello of Pinikpikan and Kaduma. The session provided a space for reflection and exchange, where participants shared insights on their musical journeys and artistic development. The performers also spoke about how their musical journey began with openness to positive influences and experiences. They highlighted the importance of finding one’s community, continuously developing artistic skills, and growing together as a group.
During the brown bag session following their performance, members of UP Musikats shared the story behind the group’s formation. Established in 2024, the organization faced the challenge of building a music community within an open and distance e-learning environment. Communication was often inconsistent, and coordinating activities online presented unique difficulties. Despite these challenges, members remained committed to communicating regularly, gathering ideas from one another, and continuously working toward their shared goals.
They said that being part of an open and distance learning institution does not limit students’ opportunities to pursue music and artistic expression. Through persistence and collaboration, the group gradually transformed their vision into reality.
Meanwhile, members of Carol Bello of Pinikpikan with Kaduma reflected on their own musical journeys, noting that while acknowledging the challenges encountered by independent artists and cultural groups, the members shared that they had never truly given up on their music.
Instead, they described periods of rest and reflection as opportunities to recharge. They emphasized the importance of continuing their artistic work while creating their own space within the broader music landscape.
The group also shared the meaning behind Kulipan, a traditional Cordilleran chant. Described as the flight of an eagle and, in some interpretations, a representation of ancestors, the song serves as a prayer and reflection.
“Our God in the highest, look upon us, the people You created, and may peace continue to prevail in the world,” the performers explained, highlighting the song’s message of hope, spirituality, and harmony.
Asst. Prof. Roda Tajon delivers the closing remarks on behalf of Asst. Prof. Shari Eunice San Pablo, Program Development Associate for Culture and Arts.
The program concluded with closing remarks delivered by Asst. Professor Roda Tajon on behalf of Asst. Prof Shari Eunice San Pablo, Program Development Associate for Culture and Arts.
She expressed gratitude to all participants, performers, merchants, organizers, and members of the UPOU community who contributed to the success of the celebration. Reflecting on the performances, she noted that the messages conveyed through music and art remind people to continue moving forward despite life’s many challenges. She emphasized the importance of remaining united as a community and recognizing the beauty and value that the arts bring to everyday life.
This initiative aims to encourage more sign-ups for the UPOU Talent Pool and Chorale, while also helping to build and sustain a creative and artistic community within the university. Through activities such as the jamming session and related engagements, UPOU continues to provide spaces where students, faculty, and community artists can share their talents and connect through the arts.
Interested participants may sign up for the UPOU Talent Pool and Chorale through the official registration links provided by the university. Sign-ups are open to faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Written by Marinela Hernandez | Edited by Sydney Rovin Macahiya and Primo Garcia | Photos by Dianne Cosinas
