Indigenous tradition
The indigenous traditions are practiced by about 10% of the population. Eight percent of this minority comprise some 50 language groups of people who live in the mountains of northern Luzon and the islands of Mindanao Sulu, Palawan , and Mindoro in southern and western Philippines. The remaining 2% of these minority groups are the Muslims from Mindanao and Sula.
While there is on written information about the music in the Philippines before the arrival of Magellan in 1521, subsequent reports made by friars, civil servants and travelers include description of instrumental and vocal music – sometimes mentioned in passing, other times in greater detail. From these documents various kinds of instruments made of bronze, bamboo, or wood are cited. These include gongs of various sizes and shapes, drums , flutes of different types, zithers, lutes, clappers , and buzzers. Vocal genres include epics relating genealogies and exploits of heroes and gods; work songs evil spirits or to celebrate festive occasions particularly marriage, birth, victory at war, or the settling of tribal disputes; mourning songs for the dead; courting songs; or children’s game songs. It is this type of music that is still practiced today by the indigenous tribes.