National Artists and their

Contributions to
Contemporary Arts
MUSIC
 ANTONINO
BUENAVENTURA
Popularized Philippine folk songs in 1935. He wrote songs
and musical arrangement based on the folksongs of
different ethnic groups in the country.
Buenaventura was also the conductor of Philippine Army
Band that brought back the band’s prestige as one of the
world’s best military bands. With his lead, the Philippine
Army Band was tagged as “the only band that can sound
like a symphony orchestra.”

Link
 JOSE MACEDA
His musical career focused on understanding and
popularizing Filipino traditional music. He
conducted researches and field works on traditional
music which resulted in his wide array of recorded
music from different parts of the country. His papers
led to the understanding and appreciation of the
ethnic and traditional music of the Philippines
locally and internationally.
His major works include, Ugma-ugma, Pagsamba,
Udlot-udlot, kubing, agungan, ugnayan, aroding,
adding, siasid, and suling-suling.

Link
 LUCRECIA R. KASILAG
She reinforces the Filipino’s
appreciation to music by fusing
Western influences to Philippine
ethnic music.
Kasilag was the music director of
the Bayanihan Dance Company.
Together with other artists, she
made the group one of the finest
Link
cultural dance group in the
Philippines.
ERNANI J. CUENCO
Ernani Cuenco is one of the remarkable
singer, composer, film scorer, and
musician in his time. Many of his songs
etched a mark in the hearts of the
Filipinos due to his style of
incorporating kundiman elements in
his ballad love songs which served as
theme songs and musical scores for
numerous Filipino movies that led to
his fame. His works include Bato sa
Buhangin, Bulong ng Puso, Kalesa,
Gaano kita Kamahal, Diligin mo ng
Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa, and Nahan,
Kahit na Magtiis.
LUCIO SAN PEDRO
Lucio San Pedro is a master composer
known for creatively using folk idioms
in his musical compositions. He
extracted the Filipino essence and style
from the folk materials and used them
in his compositions for bringing a sense
of identity of the Filipinos. Some of his
famous songs include, Sa ugoy ng
Duyan, Sa Mahal Kong Bayan, Lakas at
Maganda Overture, and lahing
Kayumanggi.
ANTONIO J. MOLINA
He innovated the Philippine music by
using folk instruments like the
kulintangan and gabbang. He
composed more than 300 works and
2/3’s of which used traditional music.
His works incluse orchestral music like
Ang Batingaw Choral Symphony,
Kundiman-Kundangan, Hating Gabi,
Kung sa Iyong Gunita, Amihan, Awit ni
Maria Clara, and Larawan Nitong
Pilipinas. He became known as the last
triumvirate who set the bar of folk
music.
FRANCISCO FELICIANO
Francisco Feliciano was a musician,
composer, teacher, and conductor
known for incorporating “Asianess” in
his music. His works shows the rich
culture and ethnicity of Asia especially
in the Philippines by transforming
indigenous music to a level equal to
the music of the wester countries. His
major works include Sihay sa Kabila ng
Paalam, La Loba Negra, Pokpok
Alimako, Pamugun, Yerma, and the
Ashen Wings.
 LEVI CELERIO
Levi Celerio started playing violin when he
was 11 years old. A national Artist known
for making music using a leaf. He was
included in the Guinness Book of World
Records for such talent. Despite of broken
wrist due to accident, it did not stopped
him from continuing a career in music. He
composed an estimate of 4000 musical
works. Some of his famous pieces are sa
Ugoy ng Duyan, Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak,
Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Kung Tayo’y
magtanim, Kalesa, etc. he is the lyricist of
the famous Christmas song “Ang Pasko Ay
Sumapit.”
RAMON SANTOS
Ramon Santos’ music highlights was Asia’s
and Philippines’ rich artistic tradition and
features elements from western and non-
western areas. He combined Philippine
indigenous instruments and vocals to
orchestral instruments and other
instruments from foreign nations like
Javanese gamelan. He is also composed
works that interweaved Asian culture,
drama, poetry, and dance like his
Sandiwaan, Daragang Magayon, Ta-O,
Awit ni Pulau, etc. Santos promoted the
Philippine music to other nations through
his cultural education programs.
JOVITA FUENTES
Jovita Fuentes was a remarkable Filipina
artist known for her portrayal of Cio-Cio
san in Madame Butterfly by Giacomo
Puccini, which was held in Treatro
Municipale di Piacenza in Italy. Spain
awarded her as the “Embahadora de
Filipinas a su Madre Patria” for
outstandingly portraying different roles in
numerous musical performances in
Europe. She was also the founder of
Artists’ Guild of the Philippines and
promoted opera productions in the
country.
FELIPE PADILLA de LEON
He is a “people’s musician” for the
sentiments and aspirations of the Filipino
people in times of war and of peace are
evident in his musical works.
Some of his orchestral music include
Mariang Makiling Overture and Roca
Encantadia, his symphonic work Manila
Overture and Orchesterstuk, ang choral
music and songs include Payapang
Daigdig, Ako ay Pilipino, Bulaklak, and
Mutya nga Lahi.
ANDREA VENERACION
She was the founder of the world-
renowned choral group, the Philippine
Magrigal Singers, which was won
numerous awards in and outside the
country. Veneracion also conducted
cultural outreach programs providing
music education in several areas in the
country.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH!
For your group output, choose
any Ilonggo Song and perform
in class next session.

EMMAN NOEL A. BANCA