My Awemazing experience during ASEAN-Korea Flute Festival in Pampanga and Malolos

    November 30, 2017

The participating flutists from Thailand, Myanmar and Laos PDR during the first day of the ASEAN-Korea Flute Festival pocket shows tour in Angeles City, Pampanga and Malolos, Bulacan respectively last November 28, 2017

In accordance with the celebration of the 50th years of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), all the 10 member countries:  Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam have merged and all agreed to come up with "ASEAN-Korea Flute Festival," with a theme, Celebrating ASEAN traditions across cultures, which aims to provide an opportunity for flutists in Southeast Asia and Korea to interact and create integrated renditions of contemporary and traditional songs targeted to be appreciated by the general public, most especially the youth, while also incorporating classic and modern approaches in music-making.

I was one of the fortunate ones to be invited and had the privilege to be part of this momentous and spectacular international event. The participating musicians from different Asian countries have been touring various nations only to share and educate the people about their respective traditional music and instruments.

Last November 28, Tuesday, the first leg of the two pocket shows and cultural tours took place in the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan. We were divided into four groups, and our group's first destination was in Angeles City, Pampanga, wherein we have received a very warm welcome by the faculty members, staff and students of Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School.

Students of Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School clad in their very colorful costumes while dancing and welcoming the ASEAN delegates.

Everyone were so amazed and surprised, including myself because of the very festive mood that the whole school had prepared and performed for the ASEAN delegates most especially. They've even took time and effort to be all made up for the special occasion as if welcoming special guests to their home. That's the Filipino culture and spirit that we should all continue to imbibe and apply, our being so hospitable, warm, friendly and always wearing a ready smile for everyone! 

The ASEAN delegates: Indonesia (far left), Vietnam, Miss Tracey Santiago of NCCA (National Commission for Culture and Arts) and Thailand delegates

Before the whole ceremony or the lecture and performance of the flute artists from Thailand, we were asked to stand to honor the ASEAN theme song. 

The only performing group at the FG Nepomuceno Memorial High School was the Thai musicians

The Thai delegates was headed by their main flutist Mr. Surasak Kingsai



He graduated high school and earned a High Vocational Certificate from the College of Dramatic Arts in Bangkok. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Rajamangala University of Technology Bangkok. He is the recipient of an award fund from the Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong’s foundation. He is proficient in all types of Thai pipes and flutes. He began his career at the Office of the Performing Arts, the Arts Department, Ministry of Culture in August 1999 as the Thai traditional pipe musician. He had the honor of perform Thai traditional drums in front of King Rama IX and King Rama X in various royal occasions. He has also represented Thailand on many occasions at national and international events. He has been invited by teachers in many agencies and institutions. He has also been invited to many ceremonies paying homage to Thai traditional music teachers. He is a well-know resource person Thai traditional flute and pipe performing. He has been invited to judge the Thai traditional music competition for wind instruments. He has performed in Khon Mask dances in various venues, such as Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre, Ramkhamhaeng University Khon Performance, Joe Louis Puppet Theatre, and Thai traditional orchestra performances of the Office of the Performing Arts. He has been part of recordings with famous Thai country bands and singers. He is a member of both the Sound of Siam band and the Thai Smile band.


Their performance was a very interactive one, they had encouraged the audience to participate and join them. I guess, that really helped a lot considering the long trip we all had, coming from Manila, their musical exercises were very helpful in drawing the attention to them and in conditioning everyone's mind and spirit. They had a long lecture of their traditional music in Thailand and saw a lot of variations from the slides that they presented. They really came well-prepared and organized. Their performance was magnetizing and interesting. I guess this group's performance is one that we should also look forward to this coming culminating night on December 1 at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater in RCBC Plaza, Makati City and on December  3, at the Open Air Auditorium in Luneta Park, Manila, admission is free, if you want to be witness the different traditional music of our fellow ASEAN members, you can come with your families and friends.


He was born on April 27, 1983. He attended the Sate School of Fine Arts from 1996 to 2002, specializing in Myanmar’s traditional flute, the oboe, and the violin. He was assigned as the professional artist at the Fine Arts Division (Mandalay) under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture in 2003. He has been working as the professional traditional musician at the Department of Fine Arts for 14 years now. 
                     He studied how to play the flute at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.


After the program, we headed towards our shuttle service, and on my way out, I've chanced upon one of the Vietnam delegates, very eager and enthusiastic in having #groufie shots with the students! He was so overwhelmed! 

Straight from Angeles City, Pampanga, we headed towards Malolos, Bulacan to watch the performances of two ASEAN group of delegates namely, Myanmar and Laos PDR. We were welcomed by the sound of the marching band, and then we proceeded to the school's faculty area for lunch. There were specific food for every country with names on their respective food packs. 

This time, we were joined by other delegates. Aside from Myanmar and Laos PDR, Brunei delegates were present as well as guests or observer along with Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. 


Myanmar flutists

The Myanmar musicians had also prepared some background infos about their music and how it was differently oriented in their homeland. They had also showed different types of flutes that was so surprising, you wanna know why? It's because, the third type, sounded like a chirping bird, it was so distinct! The people back there at the Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School were so amazed. 

The Myanmar musicians was led by main flutist, Than Zaw

Than Zaw from Myanmar


After several performances, an ice-breaker via a game with prizes was initiated to make the audience more lively and attentive.  

A student was given her prize for telling the correct answer! It was a lot of fun, actually. 

The second and last group of delegates to perform was Laos PDR

Laos PDR delegates

The flutists of Laos PDR, were a bit shy but they still managed to give some background and details which I also found out that all these three different nations have similar or some resemblance to each other's flutes. There are only some variations but the other musical instruments that they've had presented were almost one and the same like the Ranat Thum which was discussed by Thailand and then later on was used by Myanmar. To give you an idea here it is: 

Ranat Thum

The Laos PDR musicians was headed by their main flutist

Soulinh Sengkham


Our trip was about to end, but before leaving the Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School, of course group photo opp would always be there. It's a forever memory of the past that we'll all cherish and can never be repeated or replaced. Do you agree with me?! 

The ASEAN delegates with some of the faculty members and staff of the Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School in Malolos, Bulacan


Happiness! Congrats to all the people behind the "ASEAN-Korea Flute Festival!" Most especially the NCCA team and the Seoul Music Group. 

It was a very awesome and at the same time amazing experience (awemazing!) that I could never forget. A whole day trip was worth it and I didn't feel exhausted actually, in fact, I really enjoyed the whole cultural tour! It was very informative, interactive, nourishing and you get to meet different people and appreciate traditional music even from other countries. Hope for more momentous and well-crafted events like this!

For the video performances of the ASEAN delegates, 
you can visit my Youtube channel and please don't forget to subscribe: 



Thank you amazing peeps! 




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