Emil Sanglay

Emil Sanglay (born Emilio Estrella Sanglay Jr. on January 7, 1953 in Manila, Philippines) the youngest of seven children. His father Emilio Rilloraza Sanglay before his death was a businessman-lawyer and his mother Flora Carriaga Estrella who was a daughter of the late ex-mayor Alipio Gutierrez Estrella of Bautista Pangasinan was a retired educator. Emil Sanglay is a multi-awarded composer-singer and neo-ethnic music artist in the Philippines. He took up Chemical engineering at Mapu'a Institute of Technology and Advanced Education for Music Teachers and Musicians at UP - Diliman College of Music. He has taught music at every level of elementary and high school at Christ Baptist Academy and was head of the Screening Department in Music of Christ Baptist Church.

In the early 70's, he was a bass and lead guitarist of Acid Tree Rock Band l & ll, Silhouette Band, served as a choir director of FYM Choral Group at the Sta. Mesa Church in Manila, chord editor of Jingle Chord book Magazine, researcher, author, testing officer of TESDA for Overseas Performing Artists and PHILCHIME (Philippine Chamber of Industry in Music & Entertainment). He was a former Vicor & Ivory recording artist, CCP artist ( Outreach & Exchange Program) and one of the main cast of Lapu-lapu, a multi Lingual neo-ethno classical-rock opera. Beside performing with his band New Penpen, he also teaches Voice, Guitar and ethnic/world music Lessons.

Emil Sanglay, a multi-awarded composer-singer, together with his group Penpen who is made up of innovators and experimentalists are well known for this musical style that integrates the sounds of Filipino indigenous instruments with modern pop music. His professional music career started when Vicor Records released his song "PEN-PEN DE SARAPEN" in 1978.

Most of the Filipino indigenous instruments Emil Sanglay is known to use in his live performances are "Sagaypo", "Tonggatong", "Gangsa", Gabbang", "Kubing", "Balimbing", Maraak, "Tambur", "Patting" or the bamboo guitar of the Cordillerans and the carabao horn " Tambuli", stones, frog sounds, rain stick and birds caller. He and his band "Bagong Penpen" also uses modern, Asian and Vedic instruments in his music, such as the electric guitar, bass guitar, flute, congga, djembe, sitar, tabla, mridangga, harp, violin, marimba, Chinese gong, Udu drums, Doumbek, keyboard synthesizer and drums.

Read more about Emil Sanglay:  Affiliations and Memberships, Awards and Recognitions Received, Songs