DFA-Office of Financial Management Services
Angklung Ensemble

The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) celebrated musical heritage and regional harmony in the 16th edition of its Cultural Wednesdays series titled “Bamboo & Ballads: Angklung Rhythms, Filipino Classics.” Held at Function Hall 1A-C of the DFA, DD Tower in Pasay City, the program featured a heartfelt performance by the DFA-OFMS Angklung Ensemble, comprised of talented public servants from the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Financial Management Services (OFMS).

Under the musical direction of Mr. Noel Reyes, the ensemble brought a unique Southeast Asian flavor to a repertoire of Filipino kundiman, folk songs, pop tunes, and international ballads, all reinterpreted through the resonant tones of the angklung, a traditional Indonesian bamboo instrument.

Each member of the ensemble is assigned an angklung tuned to a single note. Through precise coordination and unified timing, they perform full melodies that blend traditional Filipino sentiment with a distinctly Southeast Asian sound. This collaborative style not only reflects the precision of their musicianship but also the collective harmony that has defined their nearly four decades of performance.

The program featured a carefully curated repertoire that explored themes of love, longing, and national pride, such as Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal, Usahay, Pamulinawen, Ang Pipit, Moon River, and My Way.

This edition of Cultural Wednesdays showcased how cross-cultural instruments can tell stories rooted in local tradition while embracing Southeast Asian heritage. The OFMS Angklung Ensemble reaffirmed that public servants can also be ambassadors of art and culture.