The Enduring Partnership of Dr. Raul Sunico and Rowena Arrieta

I am deeply grateful to Musika Pilipinas for presenting two exceptional musical offerings: R & R: duo (2024) featuring Dr. Raul Sunico and Rowena Arrieta, and Dr. Sunico’s magnificent concerto performance with the Manila Symphony Orchestra (2025). These events were not just celebrations of individual brilliance—they were affirmations of the richness of our national identity, embodied through music. The beauty of the Filipino soul was made audible through every note, especially in Raul Sunico’s heartfelt interpretations and masterful arrangements of works by Filipino composers. In those moments, I was reminded of the power of music not just to move an audience—but to uplift a nation.

When Friendship Struck the First Chord

“I remember asking for his autograph. He asked me how much I practice- I told him I can clock 10 hours a day sometimes.” - Rowena Arrieta 

The first meeting between Rowena Arrieta and Raul Sunico may seem like a simple moment in time—a young pianist asking for an autograph. But what began at the Philippine High School for the Arts in Makiling in the late 1970s would blossom into one of the most enduring and heartfelt musical partnerships in Philippine classical music.

Raul had just returned from his studies in the United States when Rowena met him as a third-year high school student. He struck her as a simple, humble man—unassuming despite his impressive credentials. “He asked me how much I practiced,” Rowena recalls. “I told him I could clock 10 hours a day.” At the time, Raul hadn’t yet produced the many recordings that would come to define his legacy, but the respect she felt for him as a musician—and as a human being—was immediate and lasting.

First Notes of a Lifelong Duo

“Raul and I get along musically because we do not compete with each other - rather we help and support each other.” - Rowena Arrieta

Their first performance together took place at the historic Metropolitan Theater, alongside pianists Rene Dalandan and Corazon Kabayao. That concert sparked the beginning of what would become the “R & R” duo—Raul and Rowena—two of the country’s finest artists, brought together not by commercial ambition, but by shared purpose and deep musical kinship.

Their performances graced iconic venues across the world: Lincoln Center, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Merkin Hall, and the French Institute in New York, among others. Yet no matter where they performed, they carried with them the spirit of their heritage. Aside from classical music their repertoire often highlighted works by Filipino composers—transcending mere performance and becoming a form of cultural ambassadorship.

“We never competed,” Rowena says. “We helped and supported each other.” This absence of ego, grounded in mutual respect, allowed their music to speak with one voice, whether they were interpreting Liszt, Rachmaninoff, or a kundiman reborn under Raul’s skilled hand.

A unique hallmark of their duo is that both artists perform entirely from memory—an exceedingly rare feat among duo pianists. This decision speaks volumes not only of their skill and discipline, but of their philosophy: to live fully inside the music, to carry it not just in their hands, but in their hearts.

Beyond Rehearsals: A Friendship Rooted in Laughter

“I was seven months pregnant, my leg was cramping, and Raul was ready to carry me onstage” —Rowena Arrieta

As meaningful as their musical bond is, what has endured most is their deep and sincere friendship. “When Raul was still living in New York, we would talk on the phone almost every day,” Rowena recalls. They shopped for furniture, shared meals, and talked about life—finding joy in ordinary things, and laughter even in backstage chaos.

One unforgettable moment occurred when Rowena, seven months pregnant, suffered a leg cramp before walking on stage. Raul immediately stepped in to massage her leg and was prepared to carry her to the piano if needed. In another concert at the CCP, Raul unknowingly played the entire first half with his zipper down, with audience members in the front row trying to signal him discreetly. “We still laugh about it to this day,” Rowena smiles.

Their rehearsals, far from being solemn affairs, are filled with teasing and endless jokes. “Maybe not everyone knows this,” she adds, “but Raul is a first-class comedian.”

Championing Filipino Music and Culture

“Raul’ greatest contribution to Philippines music are his recordings and arrangements of Philippine music, his concerts featuring works of Philippine composers” - Rowena Arrieta

Beyond his work as a performer, Raul Sunico’s contributions to Philippine music are profound. Through his recordings, arrangements, and concerts dedicated to the works of Filipino composers, he has safeguarded and elevated the legacy of our nation’s musical heritage.

One of his most impactful artistic endeavors has been the transcription and performance of Filipino folk songs, kundimans, and nationalist compositions for solo piano and orchestra. His recent concert featuring three concertos by Filipino composers was not only a feat of endurance—it was a declaration of national pride.

“His greatest contribution is that he has made Filipino music concert-worthy,” Rowena explains. “He has taken what is inherently ours and presented it with the same dignity and brilliance that Western classical works are given onstage.”

The Personal Side of Artistry

“Music is not all about competition or unhealthy comparisons. It is a gift from God” - Rowena Arrieta

For Rowena, performing with Raul has not only been a musical collaboration but a personal refuge—especially during her years of raising a family. “The main concerts I agreed to were our duo piano concerts,” she admits, “because they were fun and less lonely than solo recitals. Our friendship made it worthwhile.”

When asked what advice she would give young musicians today, she returns to the spirit of humility and collaboration. “Music is not all about competition or unhealthy comparisons. It is a gift from God—to be enjoyed, shared, and used to honor our Creator. If there is more camaraderie and less jealousy among artists, we will all be better stewards of the talents entrusted to us.”

A Musical Journey of a Lifetime

“We are not done—our journey continues.” - Rowena Arrieta

If their journey had a soundtrack, Rowena would call it simply:
“R and R – A Musical Journey of a Lifetime.”

It’s a fitting title for a story that began in the mountains of Makiling and echoed across some of the world’s grandest concert halls—always with a piece of the Philippines carried in every note.

And as Rowena Arrieta puts it best, “We are not done—our journey continues.”

R & R is not merely a duo. It is a celebration of artistry without ego, of friendship without condition, and of music as a bridge—connecting the Filipino spirit to the world, and to each other.

https://youtu.be/4MD4PE4lNN4?si=ok_5BBK1pIi3SIpA