Decades of making guitars from scratch have resulted in a legacy rich in heritage and history for the Lumanog clan—a family from Guagua, Pampanga who has been producing handcrafted guitars since the 1940s.
Lumanog has become a staple in Philippine music culture, specifically when it comes to guitars. By following a tradition passed down from generation to generation, the Lumanogs have become one of the most recognized names in the country’s guitar-making industry.
The Ramon R. Lumanog Store | Photo from Google Street View
It is said that the origin of Lumanog guitars can be traced back to Cebu, where Spaniards taught Cebuanos the craft of guitar-making. In the 1940s, the patriarch of the Lumanog clan used to sell these guitars in Pampanga, but due to the rising costs of shipping, he eventually decided to handcraft his own guitars, taking inspiration from the luthiers of Cebu. By mixing solid woods such as rosewood, spruce, and cedar, with locally sourced varieties like jackfruit, narra, and guava, Lumanog guitars became more durable than the average instrument. Focusing on impeccable quality and careful craftsmanship, the Lumanog guitar store opened with only 10 guitars on display. It was eventually passed down through the generations, earning prestige and gaining a reputation as a quality guitar brand.
Artist and composer Shane Lumanog is one of the descendants of the original Lumanog family. Her father, June Lumanog, owns one of the Lumanog music stores that sells quality string instruments, and has honed her in the world of music. “When she was just a kid, I would hear her singing. It would delight me and her grandfather,” remarked June in a feature by NLEX Corporation. By age 4, Shane began playing the ukulele, and by age 10, she had mastered the guitar.
Shane Lumanog in an Interview with SEA WAVE Pop Culture Magazine
With the vast influence of Lumanog guitars in Filipino music, Shane expressed her gratitude that their craft is known globally and is sought out by locals and foreigners because of the artisan quality found in their pieces.
“What touches me the most are stories of our fellow Filipinos who first learned to play using our guitars,” said Shane in an interview with SEA Wave Pop Culture Magazine as she shared what it was like to grow up with the Lumanog legacy.
Moving away from guitar-making, Shane Lumanog aims to pave her own way in the world of music through songwriting and performing. Nowadays, she pursues a career as an independent musician, creating her own songs in her native Kapampangan language. “Weaving Kapampangan words and stories into my music is less about the style and more about honoring my roots,” she said.
Like her family before her, Shane believes in pursuing her craft while respecting her heritage. “Music and musical instruments carry memories, dreams, and pieces of our identity,” she said, as she shared her goal for her music to become a vessel for her own lived experiences.
Lumanog guitars represent a long tradition of Filipino craftsmanship, and Shane Lumanog hopes to add to her family’s legacy through songs that preserve, enrich, and carry forward the beauty of her language and culture.