TWO songs composed by a faculty member of the Ateneo de Manila University Senior High School won several awards at the recently concluded 36th Awit Awards.

Antonio Maria Cayabyab’s composition “Just Because” was adjudged Best Jazz Recording, while “Pasko Sa Atin” was named Best Christmas Recording.

Both songs were produced by Debonair District, which describes itself as “a unique jazz sextet that adapts various Filipino folk, kundiman, and OPM music into jazz.”

Aside from composing the group’s songs, Cayabyab is also its lead vocalist and head.

The 36th Awit Awards were held on the evening of 9 November 2023, at the Baked Studios in Makati.

During the event, more than 30 awards were given out for various music genres, not to mention recognitions for performances and technical achievements.

Toma Cayabyab is the son of National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab.

He currently teaches Rudiments of Music, Filipino Film and Society, Basic Music Research, and Criticism as part of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Humanities’ Interdisciplinary Studies department.

He also teaches Film Production for Grade 12 students at Ateneo Senior High School.