Palabunibunyan

• The most widely performed instruments of Maguindanaons are those with an ensemble of loud instruments called "Palabunibunyan."
• The palabunibunyan is for merrymaking not for serious matters.
• The kulintang consists of eight gongs of graduated sizes in a row.
• The kulintang is played by striking the bosses or knot of the gongs with two wooden sticks.
• The kulintang plays the melody part.
• The kulintang is played for two to three minutes.
• The kulintang is found in Maguindanao, Maranao, and the natives of Sulu like the Badjao, Samal, Tausug, and Yakan.
• The dabakan is an hour-glass shaped wooden drum covered with animal skin.
• Reptile skin produces the best sound for dabakan.
• The dabakan is played by 2 wooden sticks.
• The babandil is a small suspended gong played on its rim using a wooden stick.
• The babandil is used as the timekeeper of the Maguindanao kulintang ensemble.
• The agung is exclusively played by men.
• The agung consists of two wide-rimmed, kettle-shaped brass gongs.
• The agung is played with a light-padded stick on the rim of the gongs.
• The gandingan is also known as the talking gongs.
• The gandingan consists of four suspended gongs with narrow rims.
• The gandingan is played by two light-padded mallets.