LEGENDS OF LOCAL MUSIC

LOURDES GOMEYAC FANGKI

Legends of Local Music- by Grettalou Apolinar-Barceona

RAMBAK MAGAZINE, VOL. 1  MAY-JUNE 2009

HER YOUTH

Unknown to many, the versatile “Queen of Cordillera Songs” traces her parental roots to Sagada, Mountain Province, but she was actually born in the mining town of Acoje, Zambales. She spent her growing up years though, in Poblacion, Mankayan, Benguet, a place wherein the song legend namely Lourdes Gomeyac-Fangki began her singing career.

Singing for her began at an early age. During her elementary years, she would usually sing solo for the traditional Monday program. She even recalls frequently winning in local amateur singing contests. True to her heart, she continued to sing even through high school and was a very active member of the youth choir.

In the ’70s to the early ’80s, Lourdes pursued a degree in Mass Communications at the Baguio Colleges Foundation (BCF), now known as the University of the Cordilleras. While studying, Lourdes found time to be employed as a folksinger at the now defunct Country Tavern. Little did she know that what she thought of as a mere pastime then would open up the gates to a rewarding career that would catapult her to fame.

HER RISE

Lourdes embarked into a full-time singing career after graduating from college. For nearly four years, she sang at the Lone Star Steakhouse in Camp John Hay. It is only after giving birth to her third child that she let her music career take the backseat for her growing family.

But her passion for singing would not be contained, and soon, Lourdes was once again back in the musical scene. Her first song album in 1983 made such an impact on her fellow Cordillerans that it paved the way to her becoming a household name. Although it took another six years before she was able to record her next album, Lourdes was always fondly remembered for her versatility and talent. That is why when her IYAMAN album came out, the success was quite phenomenal. Her songs became such a hit that she went on to record four more albums: BALITOK, MOUNTAIN TRAIL, ILIW, and PROGRESO.

HER TRAVELS AND PERFORMANCES

By 1988, Lourdes became so in demand that she became busy performing in concerts in Baguio and nearby provinces. By 1989, she staged her first concert in Hong Kong. She performed there seven more times after that.

In 2001, Lourdes traveled to America to perform at various concerts sponsored by the different BIBAK organizations. Of all these, she recalls having one unforgettable experience, that of her being able to visit the place where the country music legends sing - the Grand Ole Opry!

HER LEGACY

Lourdes has never stopped singing. She has proven that “being a musician is also a profession.” She has sent all her four children to school with her music. To date, she can still be heard singing at the Cafe Desongbird, a place she lovingly dedicates her time to as the owner and manager.

Fame notwithstanding, Lourdes is still down-to-earth as she imparts this bit of wisdom: “Nurture your God-given talent, yet never forget to finish your studies. Stay humble!”

If music is the language of the soul, then our own music legend, Lourdes, possesses the most beautiful soul of all!

How the MUSIC started…

There is one question that always pops up - during ordinary conversations and interviews…When did you start singing? Lourdes usually jokingly gives them the "I started singing before I even learned to talk or walk" cliche but perhaps this will answer a lot of other questions regarding her music career. 

Her earliest memory about singing is way back in grade school while growing up in Mankayan, Benguet. In Grade 3, she started joining amateur singing contests which were a regular part of the town's annual fiesta activities. She would sing songs taught by her teachers, most memorable of which was one song from the movie "The singing Nun" entitled "IT'S A MIRACLE." This was her first winning piece. She only placed second though because she mistakenly sang the third stanza ahead of the second stanza and realizing this, she paused for a fraction of a second, then went back to the second stanza and finished the song as if nothing happened. She remembers clutching the envelope which contained her cash prize (How much was it? She can't remember anymore) and the euphoria that went with her successful initial attempt to sing on stage to a large audience. She also clearly remembers running up to where her grandpa Claro (Daddy Lucien's father) was seated and excitedly giving him the envelope. The old man beamed with pride and told her to keep it or use it to buy something for herself.

Lourdes became a regular participant in these singing contests after that memorable event, earning more prizes as she got more comfortable with the microphone, with the stage, and with the audience. In school, as expected, she earned the reputation as "a good singer", a description then used for persons who had remarkable singing voices. She became the school's regular soloist and school programs wouldn't be complete without her vocal solo part. She also represented her school in out-of-town singing contests, either on her own or teaming up with other equally-talented classmates.

She also made some money out of her singing at an early age. In the family-owned restaurant, she would be asked by regular patrons to render songs and she would entertain them with her repertoire of western, pop and children's ditties. The delighted customers would give her money for her efforts. Her dad's American bosses who ran the Lepanto Mines then were her biggest fans and most generous tippers.

In high school, Lourdes' monicker changed to "The Golden Voice". Perhaps this was due to the similarity of her vocal quality with Nora Aunor who was at the peak of her popularity then. Both had alto voices. She continued singing in school programs and affairs but this time the emcee would say, "now let us listen to the golden voice of Lourdes." It was also in high school that she started getting interested in folk songs, influenced by the great music of John Denver, Elton John, Neil Young, and pop greats like the Carpenters, Maureen McGovern, Michael Jackson, and many more. John Denver's songs also inspired her to learn playing the guitar.

Then to the big city for college… for the first time she saw and heard live folksingers sing and pick their guitars on stage - and she thought… "I can do that, too."

She bought her first guitar, a Yamaha nylon-stringed classic guitar, with her scholarship allowance. She had to learn the chords on her own, with the aid of chordbooks. there were no local music schools then. Some guitar-picking friends, like Vicky,  were helpful, too, but she still considers herself as "self-taught."  

Next : How a hobby and pastime became a profession and a full-time job.

All rights reserved : RIVERJORDAN,

Lourdes Authorized Biographer

"Tales behind the songs"

Ok, ok…  I shall be posting the lyrics of my recorded songs and - as a bonus - give you some "tales behind the songs", how the songs came about, what inspired me to write a particular song, the "spirit" behind the song, etc. etc. - anything of human interest. I know that we get to appreciate and understand a piece of music better when we are given a deeper look into it, get to see the scenes behind the scene. Agree? Stay tuned then…

Well, what better way to start this than with one of the most loved, most popular Igorot love songs : LAYAD NAN LIKATAN.  This is also one of the most talked-about songs in the internet! 

Anyway, it was back in grade school when my dad bought a 45RPM vinyl record copy of this Bontoc love song. Listening to the raspy but melancholy voice of the late PEDRO CHINALPAN, I never dreamed that this same song would be instrumental in jump-starting my enduring musical love affair with Cordillera music. Looking for an Igorot song to spice up my very first recording (it was a condition given by my producer), I chose "Layad Nan Likatan" for lack of other choices. Now I wonder, was it providential? It was one of the best moves I ever did in my singing career. It became so identified with me and it became a major signature song notwithstanding the fact that I wasn't the first one to record it and neither did I write it. 

WELCOME!

WELCOME TO MY PERSONAL BLOG!!! Hey, don't get impatient. I'll be posting more and more as I get used to this. If you have anything to say, ask or confide - I'm listening. Email me, ok? But no very personal ones, huh?

Igorot Pride

"The past decades have unfolded before our countryside folk music lovers in the region an era marked with an unprecedented growth and development of Cordillera countryside songs and music. Within this period, we have seen the dramatic and spectacular shift in the fondness and passion for folk music - from the Western "cowboy songs", melodies and ditties to what is distinctly Cordilleran in melody, air and strain.

           It would not be amiss to aver the fact that among all the contemporary Cordillera music artists artists today, LOURDES has given the most of her God-given talents towards the propagation and wide acceptance of Igorot music even outside the Cordillera Region…"

DR. MARCELINO T. DELSON,  ExecutiveDirector, Cordillera Executive Board (1990)

My TRIBUTE to YOU

IYAMAN

Iyaman, o iyaman ko, ken dakayo ay gagayyem ko, tan gapu sin layad yo, na'y madnge nan nemnem ko.   

Idkasin insapatak, ken da amak ken inak  Ameyak ta man-adalak, pangala-ak sin diplomak

Ngem kaman ayos din danum, din gasat yan dumanon, baken tako sin mamanggen, si Apo Dios met laeng.