Ryan Cayabyab (born Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab also known as Mr. C) is a renowned Filipino musician and was the Executive and Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts. He was also a resident judge for the only season of Philippine Idol in 2006.
His works range from commissioned full-length ballets, theater musicals, choral pieces, a Mass set to unaccompanied chorus, and orchestral pieces, to commercial recordings of popular music, film scores and television specials.
Cayayab's current project includes the Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS), a group of seven young adult singers comparable to his prior group Smokey Mountain in the early '90s. After FreemantleMedia decided not to renew the Philippine Idol franchise, Cayabyab transferred to rival show Pinoy Dream Academy (season 2), replacing Jim Paredes as the show's headmaster. PDA 2 started on June 14, 2008.
Background
Ryan Cayabyab was born on May 4, 1954 in Manila, Philippines. His mother died when he was only 6, and his father struggled to support him and his three other siblings. His mother's dying wish was that none of her children would pursue music as a profession, knowing how hard life is for a musician with meager earnings (she was an opera singer).
Thus, Cayabyab initially took up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in the University of the Philippines, Diliman. But at the same time, he looked for a job in order to support his studies, and eventually landed with then-Senator Salvador Laurel as accompanist for the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Chorale Ensemble. Noticing Cayabyab's exceptional talent on the piano, Laurel offered Cayabyab a scholarship which would allow Cayabyab to shift his course and pursue an education in music.
And so Cayabyab later graduated from the UP College of Music earning a Bachelor of Music, Major in Composition degree. After that, he became a full time professor for the Department of Composition and Music Theory in the UP Diliman for almost two decades.
At the turn of the century, Cayabyab was about to bring his family and migrate abroad, but when offered by Danding Cojuangco (President of the San Miguel Corporation) a command post that would give him full access in producing and performing new music that would bring forth a fresh wave to the Philippine music scene, Cayabyab accepted the offer. Today he is currently in his 7th year as Executive and Artistic Director of the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts
Credentials
As music director, conductor and accompanist, he has performed with leading Philippine music personalities at Avery Fisher Hall in the Lincoln Center in New York City; Carnegie Hall (both the Main and Recital halls) in New York; the Kennedy Center and the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.; the Shrine in Los Angeles; the Orpheum in Vancouver; even at the Circus Maximus of the Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip.
He has traveled as music director in most of the Southeast Asian cities, in the cities of Australia as well as in Germany, France, Spain, The Netherlands, Japan and the United States. He has worked in the same shows with Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra, as well as conducted the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra for special performances of American jazz singer Diane Schuur and pianist Jim Chappel.
He has performed as music director in command performances for King Hasan II in Rabat, Morocco, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain in Manila, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia in Tangiers, Queen Beatrix at the Noordeinde Palace in The Netherlands, and U.S. President Bill Clinton in Boston, Massachusetts.
In Manila, he has conducted the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines for a concert of Philippine and American contemporary music; and the Manila Chamber Orchestra for a concert of his original works.
Ryan Cayabyab is a laureate of the Onassis International Cultural Competitions (2nd Prize), having won for original music composition for dance (2001).
He is a TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee for contemporary Filipino music in 1978. He won the Grand Prize award at the first Metro Manila Popular Music Festival for the song "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika".
As of 2006, he has won three international Grand Prix awards for his compositions; in the First Seoul Song Festival, in the Voice of Asia Song Festival in the former U.S.S.R., and in the Tokyo Music Festival. He has won the Jingle of the Year award from the Philippine advertising industry as well as Bronze Awardee at the New York Film and Television Awards. He has won a total of ten best movie score awards from the various film award-giving bodies.
TV
Ryan, Ryan, Musikahan, the television show, has won a total of fourteen awards as Best Television Musical Show and for Mr. Cayabyab, the Best Show Host in various television award-giving bodies. Likewise, as an artist, producer, arranger, and composer, he has won a total of eighteen awards from the recording industry for various commercial recordings. He has produced albums of the popular Filipino teen group Smokey Mountain, Broadway and West End's diva, Lea Salonga, and Spain's internationally-acclaimed singer Julio Iglesias.
In 2006, Cayabyab signed on as a resident judge for the first season of Philippine Idol, offering critiques for the contestants on the reality-talent show. He was said to be personally chosen by the top guns of Philippine Idol, while the other two judges, Pilita Corrales and Francis Magalona, had to undergo auditions. He also composed the them of TV Patrol and The World Tonight in 1992 and it was used until 1996.
Movies
Ryan Cayabyab has been a prolific movie composer and among the movies that contain his original works are:
- Deathrow (2000)
- Azucena (2000)
- Kahapon, May Dalawang Bata (1999)
- Tatlo...Magkasalo (1998)
- Anak ng Bulkan (1997)
- Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya (1997)
- Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin (1997)
- Vulcan (1997)
- Abot Kamay ang Pangarap (1996)
- Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin (1995)
- Closer to Home (1995)
- Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1994)
- Kailangan Kita (1993)
- Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal (1992)
- Hihintayin Kita sa Langit (1991)
- Toyland ng Dalawang (1989)
- Misis Mo, Misis Ko (1988)
- Karnal (1984)
- Desire (1982)
- Aguila (1979)
- Masikip, Maluwang...Paraisong Parisukat (1977)
- Magandang Gabi sa Inyong Lahat (1976)
Theater
Among his many works, his theater musicals Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo have won acclaim and have been performed extensively in the cities of Japan in 1994 and 1996, with a special NHK broadcast in November 1996, and in Kuala Lumpur in 1996. Another musicale, Magnificat, has logged in almost 200 performances.
His other popular musicals include Katy (words by Jose Javier Reyes), Alikabok, Ilustrado and the classic pop-ballet Rama Hari (words by 2006 National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera). His latest opera, Spoliarium (libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio), premiered in February 2003 at the Tanghalan Nicanor Abelardo of the CCP, and is to be followed by another opera also with Asensio, Mariang Makiling at Ang Mga Nuno sa Punso, with music also by Ryan Cayabyab.
Awards
Ryan Cayabyab is 2004's Gawad CCP Awardee for Music. On February 2, 1999, he was selected as one of the 100 awardees of the CCP Centennial Honors for the Arts . He became the first recipient of the Antonio C. Barreiro Achievement Award on 4 May 1996 for significant and lasting contributions to the growth and development of Filipino music. Likewise, in 18 June 1996, Awit Awards, the recording industry awards, awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award for "invaluable contribution and outstanding achievements in the promotion and development of Filipino music." The University of the Philippines Alumni Association has conferred upon him the Professional Award in music for the year 1998.
Ryan Cayabyab The Music Studio, a music school that specializes in developing outstanding performance artists is run by Emmy Cayabyab, Ryan's wife. Established in 1986, the music studio has trained a whole generation of young singer-performers who have become nationally known Filipino performing artists.
Ryan is married to Emmy Punsalan and has a daughter, Cristina Maria, and a son, Antonio Maria. They reside in Quezon City, Philippines.
SMFPA
Ryan Cayabyab was also the Executive and Artistic Director of the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts. He was the conductor of the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra (SMPO) and the San Miguel Master Chorale (SMMC). Under his direction, the SMPO and the SMMC have recorded seven award-winning albums to date: Great Filipino Love Songs (2004), Great Original Pilipino Music by Ryan Cayabyab (2004), The Sacred Works of Ryan Cayabyab (2004), Pasko I and Pasko II (2005), Great Original Pilipino Music from the Movies (2006), and Dancing in the Rain (2006).
But in a swift and silent move, the big bosses of the San Miguel Corporation have already disbanded the SMMC and the SMPO. Late January 2007, instrumentalists of the SMPO and SMMC were summoned one by one by the big bosses who informed them of the non-renewal of their contracts. Insider reports say that the SMC was "more inclined" on supporting its four professional basketball teams.
Ryan Cayabyab has already graced an interview regarding this, saying that he considered the experience with San Miguel as a learning one, and not at all a setback. The following are excerpts from the said interview by Rito Asilo of The Inquirer.
The experience proved that it could work -- because it did in our case! I learned so much from it. I still wouldn’t consider the group world-class, but we were getting there!
Five years is too short a time to build a good reputation. But, I didn’t really see any malice in the management’s decision to pull the plug. It might have had something to do with the viability of the company -- there may have been a clamor from inside to cut the umbilical cord. And, I understand that they also have to answer to their stockholders. Perhaps this is something you need to ask them yourself.
We had a five-year program, but it kept getting stifled and derailed because of the constant talk that we were going to get cut off. But, I loved how the group worked as an organization! It was an exercise in discipline. Suddenly, temperamental and emotional artists who were used to the culture of ‘Pinoy racket’ and bara-bara had to learn how to tow the line!
If big companies can come to the realization that the concept works, everybody will benefit from the whole experience -- Filipino artists, especially.
Discography
GREAT FILIPINO LOVE SONGS
A bestseller in major record bars and a Certified Gold Record, thereby breaking records of sorts when it was released in 2004. Under Sony-BMG Pilipinas.
GFLS was the first locally-produced album to feature full-blown orchestral arrangements of well-known Filipino classics. It was produced and recorded in a span of 3 years.
It emerged as No. 2 album in sales charts upon its release in 2004, and after a week became No. 1, surpassing the sales of contemporary mainstream artists like Usher, Josh Groban, Maroon Five, Beyoncé, and Evanescence.
According to sales reports, the album has been bought by bulk by many customers as presents and give-aways among families and corporations for all occasions.
The album earned phenomenal success despite minimal advertising.
Track List:
- Bato sa Buhangin
- Maalaala Mo Kaya
- Ikaw
- Minamahal Kita
- Dahil Sa Iyo
- Hindi Kita Malimot
- Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig
- Buhat
- Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal
- Ikaw ang Mahal Ko
- Katakataka
- Minamahal, Sinasamba
- Saan Ka Man Naroroon
- Lahat ng Araw
GREAT ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC BY RYAN CAYABYAB
All songs in the album composed and arranged by Ryan Cayabyab. All songs recorded in 2001, except tracks 5, 8, and 9, which are SMMC a capella tracks and were recorded in 2004. This album received three nominations in the 18th Awit Awards aside from winning Best Musical Arrangement for Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka. Under Sony-BMG Pilipinas.
- Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka (winner, 18th Awit Awards, Best Musical Arrangement)
- Iduyan Mo
- Kahit Ika'y Panaginip Lang
- Paraisong Parisukat
- Tunay na Ligaya
- Nais Ko
- Limandipang Tao
- Tsismis
- Da Coconut Nut
- Iniibig Kita
- Paraiso
- Awit ng Pagsinta (Epithalamium) - from Ryan Cayabyab and Bienvenido Lumbera's pop-ballet Rama Hari; lyrics by Lumbera
- Hibang sa Awit - lyrics by Jose Javier Reyes
PASKO I
Festive Filipino Christmas classics, all songs arranged & conducted by Ryan Cayabyab and performed by the SMPO and the SMMC. Certified Gold Record. Under Sony-BMG Pilipinas.
- Kampana ng Simbahan
- Heto na Naman - music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab
- Namamasko
- Tuloy na Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko
- Sa Paskong Darating
- Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon (Ang Pasko ay Sumapit)
- Kumukutikutitap*
- Mano Po Ninong, Mano Po Ninang
- Noche Buena
- Heto na Naman ang Pasko**
- Maligayang Pasko**
- Pasko na Naman
*from Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes's musical Bituin; lyrics by Reyes
**from Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes's musical teleplay Pasko sa Amin; lyrics by Reyes
PASKO II
Mellow Filipino Christmas classics, all songs arranged & conducted by Ryan Cayabyab and performed by the SMPO and the SMMC. Certified Gold Record. Isang Taong Lumipas won as Best Christmas Song during the 19th Awit Awards. Under Sony-BMG Pilipinas.
- Ngayong Pasko*
- Pasko Na Sinta Ko
- Paskong Walang Hanggan*
- Himig Pasko
- Miss Kita Kung Christmas
- Isang Taong Lumipas*
- Ang Aking Pamasko
- Ang Mahalin Ka**
- Anong Gagawin Mo Ngayong Pasko - music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab
- Ang Naaalala Ko**
- Munting Sanggol - music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab
- Payapang Daigdig
* music by Ryan Cayabyab, lyrics by Jose Javier Reyes
** from Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes's musical teleplay Pasko sa Amin; lyrics by Reyes
SPOLIARIUM: THE OPERA
An neo-opera in three acts based on the life of renowned Filipino painter Juan Luna. Music by Ryan Cayabyab, libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio.
THE FILIPINO CLASSICS
A collection of Filipino classics from the '20s up to the '60s. All songs arranged & conducted by Ryan Cayabyab and performed by Basil Valdez accompanied by the SMPO. Sequel albums 2 and 3 are said to be produced if this first album performs well in the market. This album became No. 1 at Tower Records in one month's time since it was released. Certified Gold Record. Under Viva Records.
- Diyos Lamang ang Nakakaalam
- Babalik Ka Rin
- Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak
- Bituing Marikit
- Kung Nagsasayaw Kita
- Madaling Araw
- Sa Ugoy ng Duyan
- Bakas ng Lumipas
- Sapagka't Kami ay Tao Lamang
- Lagi Kitang Naaalala
- Bayan Ko
- Mahiwaga
THE SACRED WORKS OF RYAN CAYABYAB
Religious compositions of Cayabyab. Misa was his thesis composition for his graduation at the University of the Philippines College of Music. Misa 2000 was composed for and won as Original Music Composition for Dance in the 2000 Onassis International Cultural Competition in Greece. This album won as Best Religious Album in the 2004 Catholic Mass Media Awards. Under Sony-BMG Records.
Disc 1:
- Misa 2000
- Kyrie
- Gloria
- Credo
- Sanctus
- Agnus Dei
- Te Deum
Disc 2:
- Misa
- Kyrie
- Gloria
- Credo
- Sanctus
- Agnus Dei
- Aquesta Me Guiaba
- Aba Po, Santa Mariang Reyna
- Anima Christi
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Songs from the Philippine run of the musical Beauty and the Beast, arranged and conducted by Ryan Cayabyab, performed by the musical's main cast with the SMPO and the SMMC.
- Home (KC Concepcion)
- Beauty and the Beast (show version by Pinky Marquez)
- A Change in Me (KC Concepcion)
- If I Can't Love Her (Jett Pangan)
- Beauty and the Beast (pop version by Luke Mijares)
GREAT ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES
Well-known and well-loved theme songs from Filipino movies. Recorded live on July 2006 and released December of that year. Mainly featuring the SMMC, accompanied by the SMPO. Choral arrangements by Ryan Cayabyab, Jesus Carlo Merino, Ed Nepomuceno and Nathanael Arnel de Pano (the latter 2 being section leaders of the SMMC Tenors and Basses, respectively), and Eudenice Palaruan (SMMC Principal Conductor). All orchestrations by Ryan Cayabyab. Under Sony-BMG Pilipinas.
- Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas
- Kahit Isang Saglit
- Pangako
- Pangarap Na Bituin
- Pagdating Ng Panahon
- Kailangan Kita
- Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan
- Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw
- Iduyan Mo - music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab, from the movie "Agila" (1980)
- Hanggang Ngayon
- Tanging Yaman
- Sinasamba Kita
- Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin
- Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan
- Paraisong Parisukat - music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab, from the movie "Masikip, Maluwang...Paraisong Parisukat" (1977)
DANCING IN THE RAIN
Latin jazz pieces (mostly instrumentals) written, arranged, and produced by Ryan Cayabyab. Recorded live on August 2006 and released December of that year. Under Sony-BMG Pilipinas.
- First Glance
- Feels Like This Love Affair Is Gonna Last Forever
- Frap For Two On A Beach In Cebu
- Photographs Of You And Me, Together
- Like Children Dancing In The Rain With Nothing On
- Alone, Drenched In The Red, Orange and Gold Of A Manila Sunset
- Grey Clouds! Grey Clouds! Its Beginning To Drizzle
- Its Getting More Difficult To Explain Why I Do Things The Way That I Do
- Almost Sunup And I Haven’t Slept
- Last Trip To Boracay
- This Is Beginning To Sound Like An Old Song
- It Isn't The First Time Someone Left Me
- Letting Go
- Last Look
ONE
Features old Filipino classics and some of Cayabyab's earliest hits, performed a capella by Ryan Cayabyab's 16 voices.
- Bakya Mo Neneng
- Mamang Kutsero
- Hindi Kita Malimot
- Saan Ka Man Naroroon
- Tsismis
- Dahil Sa Iyo
- Limandipang Tao
- Minamahal, Sinasamba
- Maalaala Mo Kaya
- Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika
ONE CHRISTMAS
A collection of classic Filipino Christmas songs, including original compositions performed a cappella by Cayabyab.
- Heto Na Naman - music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab
- Miss Kita Kung Christmas
- Kumukutikutitap - from Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes's musical Bituin; lyrics by Reyes
- Ang Aking Pamasko
- Anong Gagawin Mo Ngayong Pasko - music and lyrics by Ryan Cayabyab
- Ang Pasko ay Sumapit
- Noche Buena
- Pasko Na Sinta Ko
- Himig Pasko
- Payapang Daigdig
ONE MORE
All songs composed, arranged, and performed a capella by Cayabyab.
- Da Coconut Nut
- Sa May Bintana
- Paraiso
- Nais Ko
- Kahit Ika'y Panaginip Lang
- Kailan
- Awit ni Isagani - lyrics by Jovy Miroy
- Mama
- Paraisong Parisukat
- Hideaway
ROOTS TO ROUTES (Pinoy Jazz II)
Ryan Cayabyab's first album, featuring jazz arrangements of well-known Filipino tunes.
Sitsiritsit Alibangbang
Itik Itik
Ang Pipit
Pen Pen Di Sarapen
Telebong
Singkil
Manilac Lay Labi
Lulay
Leron Leron Sinta
THE SILVER ALBUM
A collection of Ryan Cayabyab's hits throughout the years, performed by various well-known Filipino artists.
- Limandipang Tao (Lea Salonga)
- Araw Gabi (The Company)
- Tunay na Ligaya (Ariel Rivera)
- Iduyan Mo (Grace Nono)
- Magbalik ka na Mahal (Kuh Ledesma)
- Minsan ang Minahal ay Ako (Celeste Legaspi)
- Once Upon a Life (Jay Cayuca, on the violin)
- Mamang Kutsero (Apo Hiking Society)
- Paraiso (Lea Salonga)
- Kahit Ika'y Panaginip Lang (Agot Isidro)
- Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka (The Eraserheads)
- Nais Ko (Francis Magalona)
- Sometime, Somewhere (Cocoy Laurel)
- Kailan (Cayabyab's friends)
Future Albums
Other music albums are said to be in the pipeline, like:
A compilation of popular folk songs representative of different regions in the Philippines; e.g., "Atin Cu Pung Singsing," "Usahay, "Ay, Kalisud," and "Sarungbanggi." A compilation of popular novelty songs including "Ocho-ocho," "Pito-pito," and possibly "Boom Tarat-Tarat," all to be performed in symphonic style.
