CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE

MUSIC
Have you ever wondered what the Filipino music
can be? Can it be more appealing?
Philippine National Artists
for Music
What does it take to be a National Artist?
The Filipino nation is gifted with a
pool of talented musicians. They
entertain us and make us
appreciate the different types of
music. This lesson shall feature
some of the Philippines’ National
Artists for Music.
 Antonio Jesus Molina
 is one of the pillars of Philippine Music and led the first nationalistic movement in the
Philippines. He used the pentatonic scales and ethnic instruments such as the
kulintang and gabbang in his symphonic music.
 Molina was born on December 26, 1894 to a very musical family. His first formal
music lessons were given by a member of the Molina Orchestra which was founded
by his father.
 His career spans from being a concert soloist, composer, and conductor here and
abroad. Molina was very instrumental in honing the musical prowess of our country’s
leading musical artists Lucresia Kasilag and Felipe De Leon.
 He contributed several compositions to our nation. His very first composition
“ Matinal” was written in 1912. His other works include “Hating-gabi,” “Malikmata,” the
zarsuela Ana Maria, Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass, “Ang Batingaw,” “Kundiman-
Kundangan” (chamber music), and “Kung sa Iyong Gunita,” “Pandangguhan” (vocal
music).
 Molina also received several awards such as Diploma of Honor, Manila Music Lovers
Society, 1940 Choral Conductor of the Year and Music Researcher of the Year, Music
Lovers Society, 1949, Republic Cultural Heritage Award, in 1965 and 1972 just to name
a few. He was the first artist to be conferred with the title of National Artist of the
Philippines for Music on June 12, 1973.

Molina died on January 29, 1980 at age 86 and was honored with a state funeral
befitting a Philippine National Artist.
 Felipe Padilla De Leon
 Have you ever wondered who translated the lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem from the
original Spanish words to Tagalog? This achievement is attributed to Philippine composer,
conductor, and scholar Felipe Padilla De Leon.
 born in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija on May 1, 1912 to father Juan De Leon and mother Natalia
Padilla. His struggles in life started at a young age of three when his father passed away. His
mother supported their family through selling of betel nuts. This event in the life of De Leon did
not deter his will to pursue his dream.

 In his lifetime, he worked hard to keep the Filipino traditions and culture alive. He is best known
for Filipinizing western music forms.

 He expressed the Philippines’ cultural identity through his compositions such as “Alitaptap.”
“Anak ng Dalita,” “Ang Lahi Ko’y Dakila,” the opera El Filibusterismo, “Mga Anak ng Pilipinas,”
Noche Buena,” “Pasko Na Naman,” “Payapang Daigdig,” Si Rizal Ang Sagisag.”
 Felipe De Leon married pianist Iluminada Bonus Mendoza. They were blessed with
equally gifted and musical children. Among the children, Bayani became a well-known
composer and Felipe became a writer.

 De Leon was conferred various awards such as Republic Cultural Heritage Award,
Doctor of Humanities from UP, Rizal Pro-Patria Award, Presidential Award of Merit,
Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila among others. On
December 8, 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos conferred the highest honor a Filipino artist
can receive, the National Artist Award for Music.
 Lucio San Pedro
 Born on February 11, 1913, San Pedro came from a family of musicians, and thus
started his career at an early age. His father, Elpidio San Pedro, handled the Angono
National Symphonic band and his grandfather was a church organist.
 studied composition and conducting at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of
Music. Later, he had further training from Bernard Wagenaar of the Netherlands and
Vittorio Giannini at Juilliard in 1947.
 a well-known composer and teacher who believed that music has the power to
strengthen our sense of nationalism. His philosophy “Creative Nationalism” has guided
him to create masterpieces.
 Maestro San Pedro is a highly creative person who had written and created several
musical pieces in about 60 years of his life as a musician.
 His works include; “Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan,” the orchestral music Violin Concerto in D
Minor (1948), the symphonic poem Ang Buwan Sa Kabundukan (1952), the oratorio
The Reedemer (1989), and Misa Santo Niño just to name a few. He also wrote musical
scores for Darna, Sakada, and Alabok na Ginto.

 Among his several works, it is perhaps, “Lahing Kayumaggi” which best exemplifies his
patriotism. For this work, he earned the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1962. He
was also acknowledged as the best band conductor for 1962 and 1963. He received a
special prize in the 1946 National Composition Contest. The most important award of his
life was bestowed to him by then President Corazon C. Aquino who proclaimed him as a
National Artist of the Philippines for Music on May 9, 1991.
 Lucio San Pedro was married to Gertrudes Diaz and had five wonderful children. He
died of cardiac arrest on March 31, 2002 and was buried in his hometown in Angono
Rizal.
 Levi Celerio
 Born on April30, 1910 to parents Cornelio Cruz and Juliana Celerio. Levi grew up in Tondo
Manila. He was married to Leonila Jose-Celerio. They had two daughters, namely Divinia and
Nora.
 Learned to play the violin when he was ii years old from a classmate who was member of the
Philippine Constabulary Band.
 His stint on becoming a well-respected and prolific composer and lyricist started when he was
asked to write the theme song of the film Dalagang Bukid. Many took note of the melody and the
words he used in the song, This opened more opportunities for him to write his music. In fact, it
was observed that he could write the lyrics of a song in an average of 20 minutes.
 He wrote the words for Santiago Suarez’s songs like “Caprichosa” and “Ang Tapis Ni Inday,” and
the popular harana song “Dungawin Mo Hirang.” Of course, it is also important to acknowledge
that Celerio was the one who wrote the lyrics of Lucio San Pedro’s “Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan.”
 Levi Celerio wrote and collaborated with many other composers and came up almost
4,000 Filipino folk music, Christmas songs, and love songs. He wrote the wrds of
popular songs like “Saan Ka Man Naroroon” (music by R. Umali), “Lagi Kitang Naaalala”
(music by J. Silos Jr.), “Kalesa” (music by E. Cuenco), “Alimbong”, “Waray-Waray”
(music by J. Silos Jr.), and even our well-loved Christmas song “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,”
and Pasko Na Naman” (music by F. De Leon).
 Aside from composing, he is also known all over the world for his other special talent.
He can make music with a leaf. In fact, he was invited at the Merv Griffin Show where
he played “All The Things You Are” using a leaf with 39 musicians as his
accompaniment.
 Levi Celerio passed away on April 2, 2002 at the age of 91 just two days after the
passing of his friend and fellow National Artist, Lucio San Pedro.
 Lucresia Kasilag
 Born on August 31, 1917 in San Fernando La Union. She is known as the Great
Dame of Philippine Music.

 Known to her students and colleagues as “Tita King,” she is a distinguished

composer, music educator, artistic director, and former President of the Cultural
Center of the Philippines.

 She founded the Bayanihan Folk Arts Center and the world-acclaimed Bayanihan
Philippine Dance Company. She also helped established the National Competition
for Young Artists. She also served as artistic director and then president of the
Cultural Center of the Philippines from 1969-1986. She introduced the fusion of
indigenous music with that of Western music in her compositions.
 Kasilag was able to compose a repertoire of folk songs, opera, orchestral works, vocal
music, operatta, theatre, and dance. Some of her works include April Morning (Fantasie
Tone-Poem) (1941) Theme and Variations (based on a Filipino folk tune “Walay Angay)
(1950) Elegy on Mt. Pinatubo (1941), Toccata for Percussions and Winds (1958)
Divertissement for Piano and Orchestra (1960), Legend of the Sarimanok (1963),
Filiasiana (1965), and Dularawan (1969).

 In 1989, Lucresia Kasilag was named National Artist for Music. She continued to inspire
musicians and students even after her passing on August 16, 2008.
 Ernani Joson Cuenco
 Are you familiar with the songs “Kalesa, Bato Sa Buhangin,” and “Gaano Kita
Kamahal?” These are immortal hits composed by no other than Ernani Cuenco.
 He was born in Malolos, Bulacan on May 10, 1936 to Felix Cuenco and Maria Joson.
His exposure to music began when, at 6 years old, his mother encouraged him to learn
how to play the piano and the violin.
 Cuenco’s one greatest contributions in Philippine music is his collection of award
winning musical scores to Filipino films.
 He had the opportunity to perform with various orchestras in the Philippines. He
became part of the Filipino Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Manila Symphony
Orchestra from 1960-1968. He became a soloist of the Manila Chamber from 1966-
1979. In 1983 and 1987, Cuenco toured to the US with other Filipino performers
bringing with him Kayumanggi Kaligatan, a choral group he had organized.
 Some of his works include “Nahan, Kahit na Magtiis,” and “Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang
Uhaw na Lupa,” “Pilipinas,” “Inang Bayan,” “Bakya Mo Neneng,” “Isang Dalangin,”
“Kalesa,” “Bato sa Buhangin,” and “Gaano Kita Kamahal.”

 In his projects, he often collaborated with with Levi Celerio.

 He also won various awards from prestigious award-giving bodies like the Filipino
Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), URIAN, and Film Academy of the
Philippines (FAP) who recognized his genius as a composer and film scorer. Diligin Mo
Ng Hamog Ang Uhaw Na Lupa and Bakya Mo Neneng both won Best Musical Score in
FAMAS. The same award-giving body also bestowed on him the Best Theme Song
Award for Bato Sa Buhangin.

 In 1999, Cuenco was post-humuosly awarded the National Artist Award for Music.
 Jose Maceda
 born on January 31, 1917 to parents Castro Maceda and Concepcion Monserrat.
 he is an ethnomusicologist, composer, pianist, and professor.
 introduced avant garde music to the Philippines. He also did an in depth research
about Philippine indigenous music. His researches have resulted in an immense
understanding of Philippine indigenous music. Maceda also shared his expertise
as a professor of piano and ethnomusicology at the University of the Philippines
from 1952-1990
 His notable works are: Pagsamba for 116 instruments, 100 mixed and 25 male
voices (1968); Cassette 100 for 100 cassette players (1971); Ugnayan for 20 radio
stations (1974); Udlot-Udlot for several hundred to several thousand people. (1975)
Suling-Suling for 10 flutes, 10 bamboo buzzers and 10 flat gongs (1985).