Kapampangans who think Atin Ku Pung Singsing is the only Kapampangan folk song are in for a surprise when they see the musical anthology that the Center is putting together. Staffers have been combing the villages in the Pampanga countryside to discover, record and annotate little-known folk songs like arana (serenades), kantang ukbu (Huk protest songs), tumaila (lullabies), pantatanam (planting songs), gosu, basultu, polosa and others.

“One 80-year-old farmer in Porac sang for us 50 songs in one drinking session,” Center Director Robby Tantingco said. “He could remember every word even if the last time he sang them was 20 years ago. The bad news is, he wasn’t able to pass them on to his children and grandchildren. So when he dies, the songs die with him.”