A descendant of the Alcala and Aguilar-Abundo musical families has once again brought international honor to the Philippines and Catanduanes, with composer Nilo Belarmino Alcala II earning two Silver Medals for Outstanding Achievement at the Global Music Awards.
An international competition honoring excellence in independent music, the Global Music Awards gave the Hollywood-based composer the Silver Medal in the World Music Category for his composition “B’NAYU: Cordillera Work Chants,” performed by the Eastern Chamber Singers under the direction of Anna Abeleda-Piquero.
He also garnered a Silver Medal in the Choral Music Category for “Kanta Di Sida-ayan (The Traveler’s Song),” performed by the internationally renowned Seattle Pro Musica, conducted by Karen P. Thomas.
In announcing the awards, Alcala expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the choirs and conductors who continue to perform his compositions and champion Filipino choral music on concert stages around the world.
Although he has established a distinguished career in the United States, Alcala proudly traces his roots to Catanduanes. He is the son of the late Nilo Alcala and Reggie Belarmino, and the grandson of the late musician-educator Fredeswindo Alcala Sr. and Soledad Mendez Alcala of Barangay San Roque, Virac.
He is likewise a descendant of the distinguished Aguilar-Abundo Clan of Las Piñas and Virac, a family long respected for its invaluable contributions to the musical and cultural heritage of Catanduanes.
Family tradition credits members of the clan with helping introduce and teach Catholic liturgical music in the province, nurturing generations of church musicians and choir leaders.
The family has also been associated with preserving the province’s rich musical traditions, including the Pantomina, one of Bicol’s most treasured folk dances.
The family’s musical legacy is reflected in the works of Macario Talan Arcilla Sr. (“Tang Cayong”), whose lyrics to “Isle of the Eastern Seas” have inspired generations of Catandunganons and remain among the province’s most cherished cultural symbols.
Today, Nilo Alcala II continues that proud tradition through compositions that seamlessly blend indigenous Philippine music, folk traditions, and contemporary classical techniques. His works have been performed by leading choirs, orchestras, and music festivals across North America, Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world, earning international acclaim while showcasing the richness of Filipino culture.
His latest Global Music Awards honors further affirm his stature as one of the Philippines’ foremost contemporary composers and highlight the growing international appreciation for Filipino choral music.
For the people of Catanduanes, Alcala’s remarkable achievement is more than a personal milestone. It is a celebration of the island’s enduring musical heritage and a testament that the traditions nurtured by generations of Catandunganon musicians continue to inspire audiences around the world through one of their distinguished descendants.
As his music resonates in concert halls across the globe, it also carries with it the enduring spirit, artistry, and cultural pride of Catanduanes—the “Isle of the Eastern Seas.”