Kilyab’s Karl Ramirez turns Bicol pop into call for good governance

BICOL POP. Karl Ramirez showcases original Bicol music during a performance at the Pista Nin Teatro 2026, a national theater festival. Photo courtesy of The Mariners Collegian By putting Bicol music at the center of his work, this musician inspires a new generation of artists to celebrate their roots and use their craft to push for change Karl Ramirez and his band, Kilyab, are revitalizing Bicol pop music by incorporating local narratives and community struggles, aiming to give voice to regional aspirations for change. The movement has established Pagsibol, an initiative that trains young musicians in songwriting and music production, encouraging them to create socially relevant music in their native language. Through partnerships with local government and community support, the movement seeks to empower artists, promote local heritage, and provide opportunities for musicians to reach broader audiences while maintaining their cultural roots. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. ALBAY, Philippines – From the dimly lit corners of local bars and cafes in Naga City, Karl Ramirez and his band, Kilyab, quietly listen to the stories of their community. They transform these local narratives, heritage, and aspirations to reinvent Bicol pop — giving voice to the region’s call for change. Now, the movement is helping the younger generation of musicians to do the same. Ramirez, a music industry veteran, returned to Bicol during the pandemic. As a founding member of Musika Publiko, a nationwide network of artists dedicated to advance socially relevant music, he sought to localize the group’s advocacy. KILYAB. Karl Ramirez and his band perform at Pista Nin Teatro 2026, introducing the Bicol pop movement to a nationwide audience. Photo courtesy of The Mariners Collegian Starting without financial backing in an unfamiliar base, Ramirez and his band brought together local musicians from across Camarines Sur to create a platform for original Bicol music. Initially, they had to persuade reluctant bar and cafe owners to grant them a stage to perform. Soon, those same venues were inviting them back, fueling the community’s rapid growth and popularity. “We were surprised when more and more bars and cafes opened their doors to Bicol pop. It was challenging at first because every venue has its own specific brand, but through their support, our movement grew larger and reached more listeners,” Ramirez said. By rooting their songs in community struggles, the movement transformed Bicol pop into a platform for local causes. To sustain this momentum, the organization eventually formed Pagsibol, an initiative that trains aspiring musicians, particularly the youth, to write songs about their local experiences in their native language while using music as a driver for social advocacy. “We decided to form Pagsibol to expand our reach and prepare younger musicians to lead and advance the movement. We realized we needed to grow our ranks,” Ramirez said. He explained that the organization not only expanded its footprint, but also created a more open environment for continuous growth: “We wanted to encourage the youth to create fresh work that directly serves their communities and generation.” Pagsibol now functions as a structured platform for training enthusiasts in songwriting and music production. Beyond developing artists, the group focuses on empowering broader communities through local skills training. PAGSIBOL. Aspiring young musicians participate in a Pagsibol songwriting workshop aimed at advancing socially relevant original Bicol music. Contributed photo/Verna Abalyan-Velasco Local support In Naga City, the group has leveraged music to reinforce good governance, placing “active listening” at its core. Partnering with the local government, they have reached more students while advancing advocacy for Musikong Nagueño, a collective pushing for local government support and funding for community musicians and cultural workers. “We invited Mayor Leni Robredo to a concert held in 2024 at the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, where we presented her with a Bicol pop roadmap and policy proposals for the Naga City music industry,” Ramirez recalled. “Following her election, our movement established a collaborative partnership with the local government, placing active listening at the center of the city’s good governance agenda.” He noted that if such a partnership can thrive in Naga, there is immense potential for other local government units to provide genuine backing for artists working to preserve and promote their local heritage. HERITAGE. The cast of ‘Ibalong Z: A New Bikol Musical’ performs 17 original songs composed by Karl Ramirez in collaboration with the local theater collective Sining Banwa. Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler In August 2026, Ramirez also served as the lead composer and music producer for Ibalong Z: A New Bikol Musical, writing and producing 17 original songs in just 17 days. The production was funded by the City Government of Legazpi. “With this play, the original Bicol music we produced, and state support, we proved that local artists and collectives deserve greater investment if we want to advance regional talent and heritage,” Ramirez said. “Ibalong Z stands as a testament that with proper support, local artists can rival mainstream productions.” Hyperlocal to mainstream Speaking on the shift to mainstream media, Ramirez said that Pagsibol students are fully supported if they choose to pursue mainstream careers. For him, Bicol pop serves as a springboard — helping emerging artists introduce their work to broader audiences and share regional stories with the national music scene. “We encourage our musicians to seize opportunities to go mainstream and bring Bicol pop to more listeners. Our hope is that wherever their success takes them, they carry the movement with them,” Ramirez said. ARTISTIC SUPPORT. In partnership with the City Government of Naga, Bicol pop launched its SongLab initiative for Pagsibol students. Contributed photo/Verna Abalyan-Velasco Through this hyperlocal music movement, artists gain a solid community to rely on a network that offers support wherever their careers lead. Ultimately, the movement aims to empower budding musicians by giving them greater leverage in their creative expression and stronger control over their career trajectories. “What we teach the youth goes beyond writing lyrics. We focus on how we, as a community, can support one another in artistic growth and management while advocating for artists’ rights and welfare,” Ramirez shared. “We also guide them as they navigate the music industry and hone their talent.” For now, Ramirez and Kilyab continue to mentor Pagsibol’s emerging artists by immersing them in local communities. This hands-on approach ensures that every lyric accurately reflects the real issues, places, and people they write and sing about. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading