Defining a Filipino Vocal Habitus

Authors

Katherine Frances V. Molina, University of the PhilippinesFollow

Abstract

Filipino Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) singers have gained a worldwide reputation for possessing a “beautiful voice.” Their success, however, is not simply a product of raw talent or vocal training but is rooted in a distinct habitus of singing, a set of learned and inherited musical instincts, technical tendencies, and expressive qualities. This essay aims to describe the elements that define a unique vocal habitus that nurtured Filipino CCM singers and that made them gain the worldwide reputation of having a beautiful voice. It states that the artistry is the result of centuries of musical evolution, combining indigenous practices, singing in everyday life, colonial influences, social customs, and technological advancements. It is an embodied way of singing that manifests in both technical execution and emotional delivery, that has shaped how Filipino singers engage with music, performance, and audience connection.

Recommended Citation

Molina, Katherine Frances V. (2025) "Defining a Filipino Vocal Habitus," Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia: Vol. 15: No. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://archium.ateneo.edu/paha/vol15/iss1/2