For Maestro Michael A. Dadap, music is not limited to merely performing or playing a tune. Rather, music is a medium for one to gain more confidence, empowerment and a strong sense of completeness. This inspiring insight harmonized with his strong passion for music, have brought him to the limelight of success as an accomplished musician, performing artist, mentor and inspiration to the young. Hailing from a small town in Leyte, he worked his way to become an international virtuoso, making beautiful music with the world’s great musicians and performers; at the same time sharing his talent with others as his contribution to make this world a better place to live.

     An acclaimed classical and folk guitarist in the Philippines and the United States, Mr. Dadap has performed in hundreds of concerts in many parts of the world including New York City’s most prestigious concert halls such as Carnegie Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. He comes home to the Philippines periodically to give concerts at the CCP and conduct workshops in educational and other performing arts centers. By including Filipino music as part of his concert repertoire, he has raised cultural awareness and national pride among Filipinos in many parts of the world. In 2000, he was awarded “Artist of the Year” by the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts.

     An accomplished and seasoned composer and conductor, he has written a significant number of original compositions and conducted major symphonic works by great composers of the romantic period to contemporary times. His early works include the patriotic piece, “Huling Pagsamo” which became popular among Filipinos in the United States during the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship in the early 70s. His “Handurawan Suite” won the first prize award from the Asian American Alliance for Culture and Arts in 1986. In 1998, he composed “Sinulog”, a symphonic work for orchestra to commemorate the Philippine Independence Centennial Celebration. He also wrote the music of “Yutao: A Musical Dula in Two Acts”, a theatrical piece designed for courses in culture and history which will be included in the curriculum of high schools in California and eventually in all high schools in the US. The play highlights the Filipino-American experience from their migration to the US a century ago, and during World War II. Moreover, his arrangements of music for the rondalla are now part of standard rondalla repertoire in the US and the Philippines. He is currently working with the Supreme Council of Datus Alimaong, the ethnic-based community group in the Visayas and Northern Mindanao, on a community cultural program by promoting the revival of the bandurria and rondalla music. His award-winning works commissioned by different Filipino communities, have been featured in various events in the US and other countries.

     A passionate educator, he enjoys providing children with the best musical education and training by being the artistic and music director of the Children’s Orchestra Society and Iskwelahang Pilipino Rondalla Ensemble. He believes that when exposed to music early in life, children develop a strong sense of self-esteem and personal discipline. In 1992, he founded the Young Symphonic Ensemble which has toured the US, Canada and the Far East. In 2004, he inaugurated the workshop series, “Music Appreciation and Participation Designed for the Hearing Impaired Children” at New York’s Lexington School for the Deaf. Having established the philosophy and methodology, he is currently applying for patent for his music education approach for the hearing-impaired, as well as his invention of a distinct musical instrument specifically designed for them.

     Beyond service to his school and immediate colleagues, he serves as a community consultant in producing special programs to celebrate Philippine culture and inspire Filipinos through community celebrations. He has also organized fund-raising concerts to help various community causes that have benefited among others the Mt. Pinatubo evacuees in 1991, and those affected by the Southern Leyte flood and mudslide in 2003 and 2006, respectively.

     In conferring the Pamana ng Pilipino Award to Michael A. Dadap, the President recognizes his remarkable achievements as a virtuoso musician, composer and music teacher, proponent of Philippine traditional music, and for promoting Philippine culture and causes through his work.