LOUIE VILLAFUERTE

As you enter the Camarines Sur Capitol Complex – you will be met by a massive yet beautiful monolith
structure – that speaks volumes of the artistic vision of its longest serving Governor, Louie Villafuete.
Before you reach the Capitol building, you will see an impressive Greek amphitheater – a monument to
to the magnificence of the Bicolano artists. And most surprising, there is a State of the Art recording
studio inside the Capitol Complex.

Louie as a politician needs no introduction. He served as Governor of Camarines Sur the longest – 15
years. As current member of the Congress, Louie was voted as the one of the best congressmen of the
Philippines for three consecutive years. Today, he is considered one of the most astute, one of the most
brilliant and one of the most revered politicians.

But not many know Louie Villafuerte as an Artist and a Composer. It is not surprising that his first foray
into songwriting was through Politics. As a leading member of the opposition during the darkest years of
the Marcos Regime, Louie wrote the lyrics to the political march, DUMATING NA ANG AGILA. In his run
for the governorship of the province in 1994 against recording star Imelda Papin, Louie adapted into
Bicol Lyrics the song, WHEN I FALL IN LOVE by Nat King Cole. “Kung ako mamoot – mayo nin
hangganan” Louie would sing this song with gusto in his campaign sorties to counter act Papin’s “Isang
Linggong Pag ibig.” Of course we know who got elected.

As Chairman of KAMPI, he wrote the lyrics “KAKAMPI KO ANG BAWAT PILIPINO” which was adopted as
the Theme Song of the country’s most dominant Political Party. Even in the early days of his political
career – Louie was already into the Arts. In 1982, he conceived and organized the FIRST BICOL MUSIC
FESTIVAL – this original music competition became the biggest musical event in Bicol’s history –
gathering in one single night, all the biggest stars and artists Bicolandia had produced.

As Governor, he organized the longest weekly singing contest dubbed as DALAN SA KALANGITAN. It ran
for ten years and produced many of Bicolandia’s leading singers and musicians. He organized and
financed Choral Groups that had won national awards at the NAMCYA and had participated in
International choral festivals. He supported Radio Programs that pioneered in the playing of original
Bicol Music. To this day, he continues to donate MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS to various schools and
institutions in line with his quest for musical development and excellence of the Bicolanos.

In the recording front, Louie produced “BAYLENG BIKONON” - dubbed by many music critic as a
Bicolano Recording Masterpiece. This historic recording transformed Bicol folk songs into Ballroom
music with universal appeal. Imagine dancing the Foxtrot with “Sarung Banggui” or doing the Rhumba
with “Si Nanay, si Tatay.” In line with this, Louie sponsored the recording of the Regional Dance
Competition KURUDUTAN. As Governor, he built a professional recording studio inside the Capitol –
probably the only of its kind in the Philippines, to better serve the recording needs of Bicolano
composers, arrangers, musicians and artists. Just recently, he organized the FIRST PASKO SA
KABIKOLAN Songwriting Contest. The competition produced the First Bicol Christmas Album from
among the many winning entries.

At the Congress, Louie authored a Bill that will soon become a Law – creating a NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS in the Bicol region. In one single move – the future development of the Bicolano
music and artists is now assured. The Bicolano artists of tomorrow will owe him a debt of gratitude.

With “ LOVE SONGS BIKOLNION, ” Louie had come full circle. It’s about time we set aside Politics and
listen to the lyrical expressions of his Heart and Soul.