Philippine Music Heritage

RAUL SUNICO AT ANG MSO: Gabi ng Piyano  Konsyertong Pilipino Opening Remarks by: Dean Sandy Iñigo Chua (February 6, 2025) “The rich and complex history of Filipino music is an integral part of our national identity, yet much of it remains unexplored, underperformed, or inaccessible to wider audiences. MusikaPilipinas, a research project supported by the National Research Council of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas, has taken on the vital mission of systematically retrieving, preserving, and disseminating our musical heritage. This initiative ensures that historically significant works, alongside contemporary compositions, are meticulously documented, performed, and studied. Beyond the stage, this effort encompasses rigorous archival research, the publication of critical editions, and sustained collaboration with artists, scholars, and institutions. Together, these endeavors aim to build a more comprehensive and accessible repository of Filipino music, one...

  Vatican II and Liturgical Music: Tradition, Participation, and a Call for Respectful Dialogue I. Understanding Vatican II as a Whole The  Second Vatican Council  (1962–1965), known as  Vatican II , was one of the most significant events in the modern Catholic Church. Convened by  Pope John XXIII  and concluded under  Pope Paul VI , its aim was to address how the Church could engage more deeply with the changing world, renew its internal life, and make the message of the Gospel more accessible and alive for the faithful. The Council produced  16 documents , including four major constitutions, that addressed doctrine, the nature of the Church, the role of the laity, religious freedom, and the renewal of liturgical worship. One of the most influential of these is the  Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy ,  Sacrosanctum Concilium —the document that guided the Church’s liturgical reform. II. Vatican II on Music in the Liturgy In  Sacros...

“ He  was offered a hotel, but he declined. Instead, he found an empty spot in the kitchen and slept there on the floor....  Just to be near the students. That’s Raul—no complaints, no airs. That simple gesture told us everything about his heart.” — Dr. Herminigildo Ranera More Than a Virtuoso: A Life Woven Into Music and Service In every era, there are artists who shine—and there are artists who shape the era itself. For Dr. Herminigildo “Hermie” Ranera, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra resident  conductor, composer, and professor at the UST Conservatory of Music, few names loom larger than Dr. Raul Sunico. But in their decades of friendship and collaboration, the Maestro was never just a figure of prestige. He was a constant, a compass, and in many ways, a quiet revolution. “He’s my boss in every chapter of my life,” Ranera begins with a chuckle. “At UST, at CCP, at St. Paul University. We always end up working together. Sometimes I ask, is he following me or am I ...

  RAUL SUNICO A Pianist for the Filipino Soul In every generation, there are artists whose impact goes beyond applause—who use their craft not merely for performance, but to  shape national identity and preserve cultural memory . For the Philippines,  Dr. Raul Sunico  is one of those rare individuals. Through decades of artistry, scholarship, and cultural leadership, he has become a powerful voice not only in concert halls, but in the very heart of the Filipino. A Mind for Precision, A Heart for Music Dr. Sunico’s journey is a testament to both brilliance and balance. He earned degrees in  Music ,  Mathematics , and  Statistics  from the  University of the Philippines , and later completed his  Master’s and Doctorate in Piano Performance  from the  Juilliard School  and  New York University —two of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Equally at home with logic and lyricism, his unique combination of academ...