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Harana by Benito Bautista

A Documentary Film Directed by Benito Bautista

There was once a golden age of Filipino music, when men wrote songs for the sole purpose of singing under the window at night to fearlessly declare their love for a woman. This practice and its music is called Harana. It had a strict sense of protocol, etiquette and a specific style of music. A once-important part of the Philippine social fabric, this custom along with its music - has long been forgotten.

The Harana documentary film explores this custom and its music through the eyes of classical guitarist Florante Aguilar. Born and raised in the Philippines, as a young boy in the province of Cavite, Florante heard music and mythical stories spoken by his elders. Now living in the US and championing Filipino music - Florante travels back to the home country to search for and rediscover the last surviving practitioners of a long lost art - before its complete demise.

Led by award winning director Benito Bautista, the film contains a treasure trove of beautiful Filipino music awaiting to be rediscovered. Intent on preserving vanishing customs, the film rekindles a connection with the past before it is irrevocably lost, and portrays a side of the Philippines rarely seen.

VIEW THE TRAILER

Bautista’s documentary, a homage to the forgotten tradition of Harana, looks and sounds lovely. Romantic in nature, the music was not only art but a form of courtship. As a tradition largely performed at night, perhaps below a woman’s window, who can deny the inherent romance?

I wish I could say more, as all I’ve said so far I’ve gained from the movie’s website, but this particular music of the Philippines, influenced by the Spanish, is completely new to me, perhaps speaking for Bautista’s desire to preserve and educate. The only Filipino songs I can recall from my Filipino upbringing (in the United States) is limited to Otso Otso and Mr. Suave both via The Filipino Channel my parents, aunts, uncles, would watch. And while those songs were silly, fun, or cute, it had not made me anymore interested in Filipino music; in fact, I couldn’t imagine it being anymore. I don’t mean to discredit the artists or belittle their success, because as a kid it seemed to be everywhere and I enjoyed it. Now coming upon Harana, however, has revealed there is more, and more is what I’d like to hear.

Hypen Magazine (where I learned about Bautista’s Harana), notes of a San Francisco event today for the film, from which a portion of the profits will go to its completion.