CeBu CeBoom CeBlog

The Spanish introduced us this stringed instrument during the colonial period. But the Spaniards were not the inventors of the instrument although they were the first Europeans to get hold of the stringed instrument when Moors brought it into the Iberian peninsula after the 10th century A.D.

The word guitar itself is not considered of Spanish origin but of Arabic. In Arabic language, qitara (not gitara) is a name used for various members of lute family that preceded the Western guitar that we know today.

Though guitars were already manufactured in Cebu during the Spanish period, guitar-making has become a serious industry only after the WWII when the government helped promote the industry, maybe a part of economic reconstruction.

Cebuanos’ affinity for guitar is a natural logical inference with their love of music. Cebuanos are musical people. The introduction of guitar into the local culture has somewhat enhanced their penchant for music and the evolution of Cebuano people’s cultural development.

Today, the guitar-making is still a cottage industry and is centered in Maribago district in Lapu-Lapu City, although there are also other areas in the city where guitar-making is a common source of livelihood. Lilang’s guitar is probably the most popular brand among the well-established names in the industry, being one of the pioneers in commercial production. Lilang is just one of the three Malingin sisters who became institutions in the industry. Lilang’s has become synonymous with high-quality guitars and therefore, more sought after by the discriminating clients from various parts of the country and the world.

The Cebuano luthiers, the ones who make stringed instruments, are skillful enough to handcraft the best quality of guitars that is unrivalled anywhere else in the country. Thus, Cebu-made guitar is one of the cultural icons that every tourist must take with them back home from their visit to Cebu.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 30th, 2005 at 3:41 pm and is filed under General Interest, Leisure, Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.