KALUTANG: Marinduque’s Traditional Musical Instrument

Date: May 17, 2022

In celebration of National Heritage Month, the #NationalMuseumPH
invites you to a free webinar entitled “Kalutang: Marinduque’s Traditional Musical Instrument” on
17 May 2022 from 9 AM to 10:30 AM via Zoom Meeting.
The webinar aims to foster awareness and appreciation of the intangible cultural heritage of
Marinduque and encourage its safeguarding and transmission.
Kalutang is a musical instrument made of identical pair of wood from the kwatingan/twatingan
(Pterospermum obliqum) and bayog (Pterospermum diversifolum/P. acerifolium) trees. When
strike on particular points along their length, the wood produces notes of definite pitches and of
tonal quality that remotely resembles the sound of marimba and castanets. Kalutang is
classified as concussion idiophones composed of varying sizes. A band of 10 to 12 can create
music using this instrument.
Forester and Prof. Jovito L. Opeña of Marinduque State College (MSC) — School of Agriculture
will discuss the ecological status of kwatingan and bayog trees. Dr. Rex Emmanuel Asuncion,
also of MSC – School of Education will talk about the topic “Local Folk Music and Indigenous
Instruments of Marinduque.”
Participants can pre-register at this link: https://bit.ly/3HPqsVQ
Those who can’t join in Zoom can watch the webinar simultaneously at the National Museum
Marinduque-Romblon Facebook page. For inquiries, please call (042) 332-0507 or 0919-077-
9858 or email us at nm.mramso@gmail.com or marinduqueromblon@nationalmuseum.gov.ph
You may also visit the #NationalMuseumPH in Malusak, Boac. We are open from Tuesday to
Sunday, 9AM to 4PM.