CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Carrying the distinct sounds and stories of Northern Mindanao to the capital, the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology’s Integrated Performing Arts Guild (MSU-IIT IPAG) took center stage at the historic Metropolitan Theater to formally accept its NCCA SUDI National Music Award held on July 28.
Representing Northern Mindanao's rich cultural heritage, the acclaimed guild captivated the audience with a rendition of “Eä: Para sa Pagbabago,” a powerful anthem composed by Meshaq Dangal. The performance served as a fitting curtain-raiser for the ensemble as it officially launched its 49th theater season.
During the landmark ceremony, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) formally conferred the SUDI National Music Award upon IPAG for its 2021 award cycle, recognizing the guild's decades-long leadership in preserving and elevating indigenous and contemporary Philippine performing arts.
Honoring Cultural Icons
Derived from the Ilokano word sudi—meaning celebrated or renowned—the national award honors exceptional contributions to the country's musical landscape. Held in conjunction with Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino, the event marked the first formal in-person conferment ceremony covering honorees selected from 2021 through 2023.
IPAG shared the prestigious national stage alongside an elite line-up of Filipino music icons across different award years. Honorees included mainstream pop powerhouses Ben&Ben and SB19, OPM legends Gary Valenciano and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, classical violinist Alfonso ‘Coke’ Bolipata, the New Cebu Arts Foundation, Inc., the University of Santo Tomas Singers, composer Vincent De Jesus, and scholars Dr. Marie Jocelyn Marfil and Maria Alexandra Chua.
The National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) Foundation was also honored during the ceremony with the SUDI Lifetime Achievement Award.
For IPAG, the national recognition in Manila reinforces MSU-IIT’s enduring role as a powerhouse of Southern Philippine culture, bringing Mindanawon stories, music, and traditions to the forefront of the national arts movement. (Dave Achondo, Editorial Associate)
