Gumamela: An Intimate Preview. Florante Aguilar with Cascada de Flores and Special Guests Charmaine Clamor, Jorge Mijangos, and Greg Kehret

Gumamela, a hibiscus flower in Tagalog, flor de jamaica in Mexico, is an exploration of the musical connection between Mexico and the Philippines as envisioned by Florante Aguilar and the San Francisco Bay Area ensemble Cascada de Flores.

The Gumamela project is a collaboration born from the shared passion of Cascada de Flores and Florante Aguilar for the traditional music of their respective homelands, Mexico and the Philippines. This project celebrates the striking musical parallels that connect the two cultures—an unexpected discovery that began with a chance meeting between these artists.

These similarities trace back to the historic Manila Galleon trade, a Pacific shipping route that linked Manila and Acapulco for over 300 years. Under Spanish colonial rule, these ships carried not only goods but also culture, weaving together the musical traditions of two distant lands. Though the trade route has long since ceased, its cultural impact endures.

In Gumamela, the musicians begin immersed in the songs and danceable rhythms that the cultures share: the serenading Philippine haranas alongside the romantic danzas of Latin American, jotas, rondalla, and kumparsa paired with Mexico’s son and jarabe, and of course, the boleros!

As the project blossoms, so does the creativity of its arrangements and the inspiration of its compositions. Like its namesake, the hibiscus flower (Gumamela in Tagalog), the collaboration flourishes into a dynamic album and concert. The music is more than a celebration of shared heritage—it is a living testament to the enduring bonds of two cultures brought together across oceans and centuries. Even today, it inspires the creativity of its descendants here in the San Francisco Bay Area.