Modesto Domingo Juan – Awardee 2009
Modesto was born in Barangay Marikit, Solsona, Ilocos Norte on February 12, 1937. He graduated from Solsona Gabaldon Elementary School and learned to farm at an early age. He moved to Sarrat and later married Ludivina Bueno. They have two children, Modesto and Angelita.
Modesto, learned to play the drums when he was only seven years old. His father, known in the community as a drummer was trained by generations of “tamboreros” taught young Modesto how to play the drums. The drum, made of hallowed wood covered with carabao leather, produces a resonant sound when struck with a drumstick. The drums Modesto uses today are the same drums used by his forefathers. These drums were made to last for years. Modesto joined bands that played at different occasions – baptisms, weddings, fiestas, parades, funerals and during Holy Week. He later joined the Sarrat Association of Tamboreros. Because of his exceptional skill as a drummer, he was requested to teach students to play the drums at the INNHS (Ilocos Norte National High School) on Saturdays.
On February 4, 2007, Modesto and his band of tamboreros and flute players, were given a Certificate of Recognition by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for their contribution to the preservation and enrichment of Ilocano culture.
Like a Diana rousing Ilocanos to attention, Modesto’s drumbeat is like a bugle call awakening Ilocanos to remember the rich music and tradition of the Tamboreros.
TAMBOR, gagangay nga instrumento nga naaramid manipud iti kayo ken tabla ken nakaluban iti napagango a lalat ti baka. Agpataud daytoy ti aweng wenno ayug babaen ti laing nga agpatit a mangpadaeg kadagiti pasken ni Ilocano.
Asmangan met daytoy ti panagaramat iti pito. Ti panagtambor maysa kadagiti sirib nga ingingunguten dagiti agnaed iti ili nga Sarrat, rebbengna a salimetmetan ken maiyallatiw kadagiti agtutubo iti sumarsaruno a pannawen; daytoy ti tarigagay ni Modesto Domingo Juan.
Ti tambor nga us-usaren ken ikikutan ni Modesto Juan isu pay laeng a tambor ti impatawid dagidi immun-una nga appo ni Tatangna, maysa nga nabigbigbig nga nalaing a tamborero iti provincia ti Ilocos Norte. Nasursuruna ti agaramat ken agtokar iti tambor iti tawenna nga pito, agingga nga simmursurot kadagidi panglakayen a nakipagtoktokar kadagiti pasken, kas iti buniag, kasar, fiesta ti ili ken simbaan, pakairamanan ti pamunpon, agingana nga nakikappen iti gunglo dagiti agtamtambor ti Sarrat.
Naipasngay ni Modesto idi February 12, 1937 iti Brgy. Marikit Solsona, Ilocos Norte. Nagbasa ket dimmakel sadiay Solsona Gabaldon School, nga ditoy metten ti nakaigogoranna iti panagtalon. Iti saan nga nagbayag, napan nagnaed sadiay Sarrat a ditoy metten ti nagsarakanda iti kapisi ti puso na a ni Ludivina Bueno. Naparaburanda iti dua nga annak, da Modesto, Jr. ken ni Angelita.
Ni Modesto ti pannakamaestro dagiti tamboreros. Babaen ti umdas a sirib, naawis ti grupona a mangisuro kadagiti agad-adal iti Ilocos Norte National Highschool ti intunggal Sabado. Naawat ti grupoda ti pammadayaw manipud iti NCCA nga mangbigbig iti sirib tapno itultuloyda ti gaed a mangsalaknib ken mangpabaknang ti kultura ni Ilocano.