The Silent Brass of Kalibo: Why It’s Time to Bring Back the Golden Age of Our Marching Bands

By Guillermo Sumbiling

Kalibo -There was a time in Kalibo when the air didn’t just carry the scent of the sea and the rhythm of the bass drum—it carried the triumphant, metallic ring of brass and the crisp, synchronized snap of a snare drum.

During the 1960s and 70s, under the visionary leadership of Mayor Federico Icamina, Kalibo was home to a musical powerhouse. The “Explorer” drum and bugle corps wasn’t just a band; it was a regional phenomenon. Guided by the legendary musicality and discipline of the Militar family, these young boys became ambassadors of our town, proving that Kalibo’s talent wasn’t just for the streets of Ati-Atihan—it was a sensation in the region.

Today, those horns are silent. Our youth are more likely to hold a smartphone than a trumpet. While we celebrate modern genres, we have allowed a cornerstone of our cultural identity to gather dust.

Why Invest Locally Instead of Importing Talent?

In recent years, Kalibo has spent significantly to bring in big-name concert performers from Manila and beyond. While these events are entertaining, they are fleeting. The lights go down, the stage is dismantled, and the investment leaves town with the performers.

Developing our own marching band is an investment that stays. When we invest in a child’s musical education, we aren’t just buying a flute or a trombone; we are investing in:

* Discipline and Grit: A marching band is a “musical sport.” it requires the physical stamina of an athlete and the precision of a mathematician.

* Civic Pride: A home-grown ensemble gives Kalibo a “sonic signature” that belongs to us alone.

* A Lifelong Legacy: The Militar family proved that music creates a culture of excellence that passes from father to son, teacher to student.

The Blueprint for a Musical Renaissance

To revive this glory, we need more than nostalgia—we need a coordinated investment from both the public and private sectors.

The Talent: A New “Academy of Sound” –  We must move beyond casual school clubs. Kalibo needs a dedicated Music Mentorship Program that recruits professional instructors to train our youth. We have the raw rhythm of Ati-Atihan in our blood; we simply need to give our children the technical tools to translate that rhythm into a formal orchestral setting.

The Instrumentarium: Professional-Grade Gear –  To compete on a regional or even national stage, we must equip our youth with professional-grade instruments.

The Goal: A full fleet of high-tension marching snares, multi-tenors, polished trumpets, and the deep, resonant “growl” of marching tubas.

The Opportunity: Local businesses can “sponsor a section.” Imagine the name of the local company in the Brass Section or the name of a hotel in the Percussion Line. It is high-visibility philanthropy that resonates with every heartbeat of a parade.

The Organization: A Sustainable Harmony

The “Explorer” corps thrived because it had a home. We need a permanent organizational structure—a board of directors consisting of LGU representatives, private stakeholders, and the “old guard” of the original corps to ensure the band is funded, maintained, and managed with the highest standards.

A Call to Action for Kalibonhons

Music is universal, bridging the gap between the 1970s and 2026. The “new genre” our children listen to today can be rearranged for a 60-piece brass band, creating a fusion of the old and the new that is uniquely Kalibonhon. The yearly Battle of the Band of young talents during Ati-Atihan is a good start.

Let us stop merely being spectators of outside talent. Let us become the producers of our own. Let us give our children the chance to stand tall, dressed in the proud colors of Kalibo, and play a melody that echoes the greatness of our past while marching toward an even louder future.  It’s time to pick up the baton. Who’s ready to play?