Van Dan Flores, “the drummer boy of Baguio,” dies at 32

On the sloping steps beside the police station near SM Baguio, there once echoed a sound that made even the busiest of passersby slow down. That sound came from Van Dan L. Flores, known to many as the “Drummer Boy of Baguio.” 

That sound is no more to be heard as Van passed away at the age of 32. 

Who is Van Dan? 

No one knows exactly when Van first set down his homemade drums on those steps, but to many locals and visitors, he was the young man with a quiet face and strong hands, coaxing rhythm from what others saw as junk. Cans, pans, a bucket, and scraps—they became his instruments. 

He wasn’t just performing; he was speaking in percussion, telling stories that words couldn’t quite convey. He didn’t ask for much. Just a space on the stairs and ears to listen. 

A community’s gift 

Over the years, Van became more than a fixture. He became part of Baguio City’s streets as a simple drummer boy performing every Sunday, entertaining the passersby. 

People began to take notice not just his talent but his dedication. He was there in the rain, in the sun, drumming with the same intensity whether he had one listener or many. And then, something beautiful happened. In 2023, the community gave back.

In said year, local residents who were touched by Van's spirit came together and gifted him a real drum set—shiny, complete, and well-earned. 

From then on, Van’s performances became fuller and louder but no less sincere. His style didn’t change. The beats were still his own, raw, unpolished, and full of feelings. He remained, above all, an artist on his own terms. 

The final bow 

No one expected that this year is the 32-yr.-old’s last. Hearts across the city and online were broken on June 12, when the news came that he had died. 

The spot where he performed is now different, but to his fans, the echoes of his drumbeats are always there. 

Following his untimely passing, social media lit up with memories. People who walked by him every day posted photos of him behind his old and new sets of drums.  

“His beats made the city alive. I didn’t know his name but always knew his music. Thank you, drummer boy,” one of Van’s fans wrote in a social media post. One message captured what many felt. 

Others posted pictures of him from years past. One of those photos was taken by Steven Orano in 2016, showing showed Van mid-performance, face calm, hands in motion, and drumsticks blurred from speed. 

Van Flores was not a celebrity. He didn’t tour the world or record albums. But in one corner of the world, his story reminds us that art doesn't need a stage, and beauty doesn't need a spotlight.