07/03/2026
Charisse Alexa Jimenez
De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde
TUNOG LAHI
In contemporary educational and cultural spaces, traditional Filipino musical instruments, such as the kulintang, kubing, kudyapi, bamboo flute, gangsa, bungkaka, and gabbang, are often treated as static artifacts rather than living practices. Opportunities for hands-on interaction are rare, resulting in a gradual loss of embodied musical knowledge and a weakening connection between younger generations and indigenous sound traditions. Contemporary classrooms, prioritizing efficiency, standardization, and digital learning, further distance students from the sensory, communal, and experiential nature of these musical practices.
Tunog Lahi responds to this challenge by reimagining the classroom as an immersive, participatory soundscape. Learning unfolds through listening, making, and collective experience rather than observation alone. By integrating musical principles into the spatial and material design, the project transforms the interior into a living instrument where users explore rhythm, resonance, and vibration intuitively.
The design emphasizes experiential engagement, intergenerational interaction, and inclusivity. Spatial sequences mirror the process of making music, listening, experimenting, creating, and performing, while flexible zones accommodate both individual reflection and collective participation. Materials such as bamboo, wood, and woven textiles reinforce cultural connections, provide acoustic benefits, and embed heritage narratives into the space.
Tunog Lahi deliberately avoids screen-based interactivity, prioritizing physical engagement, bodily awareness, and sensory learning. By making sound tactile, social, and participatory, it positions Filipino musical heritage as a living, evolving practice, ensuring its relevance for future generations. The project invites users to listen, play, and belong, allowing the sounds of the past to meaningfully shape the future.
