SULU, Philippines - Given the opportunity, the Tausug can always emerge triumphant. Who would think Tausug maggabbang and magbibiyula would have turned the renowned music festival of France very meaningful and memorable.
Crossing boundaries of distance and time, of experiences and cultural differences, the Tausug gabbang and biyula players wowed French audience in a very rare performance of a lifetime, the first time that took place in the history of the France music festival held October 05, 2008 in Paris.
Standing ovation was given to the group, especially after playing the Christmas song “Jingle Bells” in gabbang and biyula.
Tantung Isbarani, Mama Banni, Almasud Jalaidi and Tilma Jalaidi recently brought fame and glory not just to Sulu province, but for the Philippines as well, when they performed at the music festival on invitation from Le Baroque Nomade under the direction of Jeane Christopphe Frisch.
The invitation was made possible thru the help of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts that invited the performers at a music festival in 2005 in Manila where David Irving, a musicologist and friend of Frisch, performed with players from Sulu. The invitation was through the Tourism Office of the Provincial Government of Sulu.
Gov Abdusakur M. Tan was elated with the representation made by the local performers, who went to see him before they left for their Paris trip.
“There are many Tausugs who excel in many talents, from music to arts, and we are so proud of them because this only shows that Tausugs are not only peace-loving people, but very talented as well,” Tan said.
One of renowned Tausug artists is Abdul Mari Asia Imao, whose pieces of art works are famous around the world. Sulu has several of his works, including a 1984 painting of an inscription of Allah's name and a set of stained glass mural at the Provincial Capitol. Imao is one of the country's national artists.
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