Philippine Kulintang Art Piece Installed in Qatar’s Cultural Village as a Cultural Legacy

Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan (left), Filipino artist Frederick Epistola (center), and Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid Al Sulaiti (right) present the Kulintang art piece during the unveiling ceremony. (Photo credit: Katara)

The Philippine Embassy in Qatar, in cooperation with Qatar’s Cultural Village known locally as Katara, launched a Kulintang art piece in Katara on 26 June 2022, as a permanent outdoor art display of the Philippines.  The ceremony was held in front of Katara’s Amphitheatre before the members of the diplomatic corps, Katara officials, Embassy personnel, the Filipino community, the media, and public spectators.

The art piece is Filipino artist Frederick Epistola’s artistic interpretation of the indigenous musical instrument that is prevalent in the Southern Philippines. With a dimension of 72 x 30 x 16 inches, Mr. Epistola’s Kulintang is a unique deviation from the traditional Kulintang with brass or bronze gong kettles usually laid upon a wooden rack in the shape of a boat that functions as a resonator.

Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan (left most) and Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid Al Sulaiti (right) are seen beating the gongs during the “ceremonial striking” of Kulintang. (Photo credit: Katara)

Mr. Epistola’s artpiece has the gong kettles sit on strings that are fastened on a metal base in the shape of a cradle with Okir designs embellished all over the metal base, finished with glossy blood-red paint and adorned with golden leaves.

During the opening ceremony, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan expressed hoped for the artwork to “find a permanent home in Katara’s collection as a cultural legacy of the Philippines and as a symbol of the strengthening cultural ties and people-to-people linkages between the Philippines and Qatar.”

Embassy personnel plays the Kulintang before the audience. (Doha PE photo)

Mr. Espitola said that “having a Filipino corner in this living museum is a testament to what Katara represents, “a space to create a dialogue between communities and promote better social knowledge and understanding”. Mr. Epistola once mounted a solo exhibit in Katara in August 2019, showcasing his unique collage paintings and clay sculptures, two (2) of which he donated to Katara.

Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid Al Sulaiti (right most) welcomes and greets Filipino artist Frederick Epistola (second from left) as Ambassador Alan L. Timbayan (third from left) and daughter Dr. Mary Aisha G. Timbayan (left most) look on. (Doha PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.dohape.dfa.gov.ph,
https://www.facebook.com/PHinQatar/ or https://www.instagram.com/phinqatar/.

Balikbayan Media Center

Balikbayan Magazine's Media Center serves an audience in 60 countries and 101 cities throughout the World to ignite, drive, and fuel the economic development, progression, and modernisation of the Philippines. Our Media Center curates only the most critical, vital, useful, entertaining, and sometimes amusing information released from both the public and private sector. Our editorial team strongly believes that a well-rounded and well-informed society is a thriving society.

Spotlighting the growth, development, and progression of the Philippines since 2009. Balikbayan Magazine is a publication of the Asian Journal Media Group.

Copyright © 2009-2023 Asian Journal Media Group.
All Rights Reserved.