The Instrument That Made History

Between 1816 and 1824, Father Diego Cera constructed what would later be known as the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ. It remains the only one of its kind in the world. Out of its 1,031 pipes, 902 are crafted from bamboo, while the remaining pipes are metal. Bamboo, abundant around Manila Bay, offered an accessible and innovative alternative to imported materials. What emerged was a fusion of Spanish liturgical tradition and Filipino resourcefulness — an instrument rooted in its environment.

Time and nature were not always kind to it. Earthquakes and typhoons in the late 19th century damaged the organ, and for years it fell into disrepair. In the 1970s, a major restoration project was undertaken. The instrument was transported to Germany for rehabilitation before returning to Las Piñas in 1975. Since then, its sound has once again filled the church, not only during Mass but also through formal recitals and the annual International Bamboo Organ Festival held every February.

Standing beneath the choir loft, watching light filter through the windows while the organ’s tones ripple through the nave, you understand why music lovers travel specifically for this place.