Ryan Cayabyab on being a National Artist: ‘It’s only a title. I’m still me’

He’s a National Artist—but don’t call him that. Mr. C just wants to make music, mentor kids, and eat good food.

For musician Ryan Cayabyab, who was named National Artist for Music in 2018, the title didn’t exactly change him much. 

“I say it’s only a title. Nothing’s changed. I am still myself,” said Cayabyab, the man behind some of OPM’s most enduring melodies, like “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Paraiso,” and “Tuwing Umuulan,” to name a few. “That’s why when people say, ‘You’re a National Artist,’ It doesn’t mean that you’re advanced in your life, no.”

There’s no false modesty here, just a man who insists that the work, and the joy of doing it, matters more than the label. “As a matter of fact,” he added. “I’m afraid because people might think, ‘He’s a National Artist, so he’s rich; he’s expensive; let’s not hire him.’”

To balance that perception, Cayabyab makes it a point to remain approachable. “Of course, there’s pay,” he said, laughing. “But it depends on the conversation. Because most of the time, they’d say, ‘You’re a National Artist; can you donate a song?’”

The creative who never stops creating

At 71, you’d think Mr. C might be slowing down. But in his words, “We really don’t stop.”

“Us creatives, we don’t retire. Because when you’re creating, you only need yourself,” he said. “You’re alone, either composing or arranging, and then others perform. But I’m also given this opportunity to be performing. And sometimes I think, ‘Wow, it’s a good thing I still have that.’ Because imagine if I can’t play the piano anymore—I don’t know what else I’d do.”

He added, “I can sing, I can carry a tune, but I’m not a professional singer.”

For him, the drive to keep going is simple: mastery is a lifelong process. “You have to learn everything you can about what you’re doing,” he said. “Because if you do, and you become so good at it, you won’t be able to finish your work. There’s always something new to do.”

That philosophy has kept him teaching, mentoring, and composing well past the age most would’ve retired. “Since I can still play, direct, and conduct, I still have work, and I’m very happy.”

Passing the baton

As an artist and mentor, Cayabyab has one rule: teach everything you know. “People ask me, ‘Aren’t you scared that your students will be better than you?’ I tell them, ‘That’s the whole point!’”

He believes every generation of artists should raise the next one higher. “Their job is to share the same thing—to tell the next generation to surpass them. Because we’re pulling them up, not holding them back.”

For him, excellence isn’t just personal but communal. “When you push yourself to reach the heights of what you can do, you bring your community with you,” he explained. “You bring your family, your society, your country. You bring Filipino excellence.”

That’s why he beams when he talks about today’s new wave of Filipino artists. “It’s not us anymore,” he said. “The next generation will push us.”

He points to P-pop groups SB19 and BINI as examples of how far Filipino music has come. “It’s our dream to be known for our original songs abroad. Look at SB19. They’ve gone so far! We never imagined it could be like that. And they bring their own songs. That’s what makes me proud.”

The prayer of a maestro

Ask Mr. C what he prays for these days, and you’ll hear no lofty declarations—just a wish for the ability to keep making music.

“I just pray for health first. Because it’s exciting—our job. It’s exciting to play music. It’s exciting to perform,” he said. “So health-wise, I always pray that I won’t be totally sick and totally blind. Because when you’re getting older, your facilities start to fade. So that’s what I pray for. Stay healthy. Stay healthy—and be able to eat good food.”

Title or no title, Cayabyab remains the same man he’s always been: endlessly curious, generous with his craft, and still finding joy in every note.(

Cayabyab will be featuring Martin Nievera, Lani Misalucha, and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in the “MaestroClass concert series” from Nov. 14 to 16 at the Proscenium in Rockwell. Tickets are available through TicketWorld with the prices ranging from ₱8,000 to ₱12,000.

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