Levi Celerio- (April 30, 1910 –

April 2, 2002) was

a Filipino composer and lyricist
who is credited to writing not less
than 4,000 songs. Celerio was
recognized as a National Artist of
the Philippines for Music and
Literature in 1997.
Levi Celerio was born on April 30,
1910, in Tondo, Manila to Cornelio
Cruz and Juliana Celerio and was
born to a poor family. Celerio's
affinity for music was a result of
influence from his mother who is
a harpist and a member of a
church choir. He was estranged
from his father who is involved in
the real estate and jewelry
business. His father was never
married to his mother.
His mother encouraged him to be
involved in music as a distraction
from the squalid conditions of
their neighborhood. Despite of
this, Celerio became a close
acquaintance of gang
leader Asiong Salonga. At his
mother's encouragement Celerio
started playing the violin at age
11 taking lessons from a member
of the Philippine Constabulary
Band. Celerio later performed
with the band as its member while
simultaneously attending Torres
High School.[1] It was during in his
high school years, Celerio
learned about his father.
He also attended the University of
the Philippines Conservatory of
Music to study violin for two
semesters. Then director
Alexander Lippay recommended
him for a scholarship at the
Academy of Music in Manila. He
received scholarship and became
the youngest member of the Manila
Symphony Orchestra.

He is also known for using the

leaf as a musical instrument which
led to being recognized as the
"only man who could play music
using a leaf" by the Guinness Book
of Records. This led to him making
guest appearance in television
shows recorded outside the
Philippines.
Aside from being a musician,
Celerio is also poet. He was also a
film actor who appeared in
various Philippine films of the
1950s and 1960s.
Achievements-
1-National Artist for Music and
Literature - On October 9, 1997,
pursuant to Proclamation No.
1114, President Fidel V.
Ramos proclaimed him a National
Artist for Music and
Literature. His citation read that
his music "was a perfect
embodiment of the heartfelt
sentiments and valued traditions
of the Filipino.
2- Guinness recognition - Celerio
was known for using the leaf as a
musical instrument which
resulted the Guinness Book of
World Records to recognized him
as "the only man who could play
music with a leaf". According to
his daughter, he first learned to
play the leaf as an instrument
during the World War II.
According to the account, he had
to prove himself as a musician
when he had an encounter with
Japanese soldiers. He managed to
pick a young leaf and play them a
song and he was left unscathed.

ART PIECE- Some of songs he

composed is “ikaw”,“Kahit konting
pag tingin”, “saan ka man
naroroon?”. He wrote the lyrics
of the famous lullabye “sa ugoy ng
duyan”. He also composed folk
songs including “ako ay may
singsing”, “ang pitpit”, “dungawin
mo hirang”, “itik itik”, “pitong
gatang” and “waray-waray”. “sa
ugoy ng duyan”, in particular was
a collaboration with lucio san
pedro, a fellow national artist.
aside from being a musician,
celerio is also a poet. He was also
a film actor who appeared in
various Philippine film of the
1950s and 1960s