Nicanor Abelardo

Born: 1893-02-07
Birthplace: San Miguel, Bulacan
Died: 1934-03-21

Race: Asian
Field: Composer
Famous for: Kundiman songs

Nicanor Abelardo is a Filipino composer who composed over a hundred of Kundiman

Songs especially before and during the World War II.

Born in San Miguel de Mayumo (now is San Miguel, Bulacan in February 7, 1893,
Nicanor Sta. Ana Abelardo was introduced to music when he was five years old, when
his father taught him the solfeggio and the banduria. At the age of 8, he was able to
compose his first work, a waltz entitled "Ang Unang Buko," which was dedicated to his
grandmother. At the age of 13, he was already playing at saloons and cabarets in
Manila. At age 15, he was already teaching in barrio schools in San Ildefonso and San
Miguel Bulacan. All of these happened even before young Abelardo finally took up
courses under Guy F. Harrison and Robert Schofield at the UP Conservatory of Music in
1916. By 1924, following a teachers certificate in science and composition received in
1921, he was appointed head of the composition department at the Conservatory. Years
later, he ran a boarding school for young musicians, and among his students were
National Artist Antonino Buenaventura, Alfredo Lozano and Lucino Sacramento. In the
field of composition he is known for his redefinition of the kundiman, bringing the genre
to art-song status. Among his works were "Nasaan Ka Irog," "Magbalik Ka Hirang," and
"Himutok." He died in 1934 at the age of 41, leaving a prolific collection of more than
140 works.

As a composition major at the University of the Philippines, he also composed the

melody for the university's official anthem, U.P. Naming Mahal.

The building housing the College of Music in UP Diliman (Abelardo Hall) is named in his
honor.
 Levi Celerio

Born: April 30, 1910

Birthplace: Tondo, Manila
Died: April 2, 2002

Race: Asian
Field: Composer

Levi Celerio is a Filipino composer and lyricist, born on April 30, 1910 in Tondo, Manila,
Philippines. He received a free education to the Academy of Music in Manila and
became the youngest affiliate of the Manila Symphony Orchestra. He was a creative
songwriter, with more than 4,000 songs to his acclaim including Filipino folk, Christmas,
and love songs that are popular pieces, which many consider to be immortal.

Famous for being a lyricist, his songs treasure life; express nationalistic sentiments and
complete grand philosophies. At one instance or another, no Filipino can miss the song
or lyrics of Levi's Christmas songs namely Pasko na Naman, Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,
and Misa de Gallo.

He is probably best recognized for being a leaf-player, an achievement where he was

place into the Guinness Book of World Records.

He wrote a huge number of songs for local movies, which gained him the Lifetime
Achievement Award of the Film Academy of the Philippines.

He was awarded as National Artist of the Philippines for Music in 1997. He died on April
2, 2002.
 Ryan Cayabyab

Born: May 4, 1954

Birthplace: Manila

Race: Asian
Field: Composer

Warmly known as Mr. C, born Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab on May 4, 1954 in Manila,
Philippines. Ryan's mother was an opera singer; she died when he was only 6, while his father
fight to sustain him and his three siblings. His mother's wish was that no one of her children
would make music as a line of work; knowing how tough life is for a musician with insufficient
income.

Ryan Cayabyab firstly took up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in the University
of the Philippines, Diliman. But at the same moment, he searched for an employment to sustain
his studies, and sooner join with then-Senator Salvador Laurel as accompanist for the
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Chorale Ensemble. Noting his incomparable ability
on the piano, the Senator presented him a scholarship that would allow Ryan to alter his course
and hold learning in music.

Cayabyab afterward graduated from the UP College of Music earning a Bachelor of Music,
Major in Composition degree. Following that, he became a complete professor for the
Department of Composition and Music Theory in the UP Diliman for about two decades.

At the twist of the century, he was about to take his family and transfer abroad, but when
presented by Danding Cojuangco, President of the San Miguel Corporation, a authority post that
would give him full way in producing and performing new music that would carry out a new wave
to the Philippine music scene, he acknowledged the proposal.

Ryan Cayabyab is a prominent Filipino musician and the existing Executive and Artistic Director
of the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts. His works vary from specially made full-
length ballets, theater musicals, choral pieces, a crowd set to unaccompanied chorus, and
orchestral pieces, to salable recordings of popular composition, film scores and television
specials.

Now, he is presently in his 7th year as Executive and Artistic Director of the San Miguel
Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Angel Matias Pea

Born: April 22, 1921
 Birthplace: Malabon

Race: Asian
Field: Classical and Jazz Composer, Arranger, and Bass Player

Pea was born to a musical family on April 22, 1921. His mother, Rosario
Velarde Matias, a schoolteacher, studied voice at the University of the
Philippines and it was from her that he learned the solfeggio. His father,
Gregorio Cid Pea, played the violin, and his grandfather was handy with the guitar. He grew up
in Malabon which at that time was famous for its musicians and marching bands. His mother
died when he was 11 years old. Although discouraged by his father, he studied musical theory
and composition.

Pea wrote his first original jazz composition just before the World War II erupted. When life
returned to normal after the war, Pea became one of the most sought-after arrangers in
Manila. He had also switched from guitar to bass, leading to writing orchestral background
music for many musical ensembles and musical scores for film companies, most notably LVN
Pictures. Pea's interest in classical composition grew intense and so in 1956, he formed a big
band for the Upsilon Sigma Phis traditional concert at the University of the Philippines where he
composed Bagbagtulambing, a landmark in Filipino music.

In 1959, the University of Santo Tomas launched a national symphonic composition contest
open to all Filipino composers. Peas entry Igorot Rhapsody won the first prize the following
year. Since then, Pea moved effortlessly between the jazz and classical worlds, sometimes,
straddling them. In the mid-1960s, during his 3-year stint in Hong Kong, he earned a Licentiate
with the Royal School of Music in London, which is equivalent to a music degree.

In 1969 Pea auditioned for the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and was immediately accepted
as bassist and later as arranger. He would spend the next 28 years in Hawaii. As farewell
homage, the Manila Symphony Orchestra performed his Concerto for Double Bass and
Orchestra. In Honolulu, Pea continued to write his own music. In 1981, on the occasion of the
75th anniversary of Filipino presence in Hawaii, the Honolulu Symphony premiered his
Concerto for Jazz Quartet and Orchestra with an all-star Filipino jazz quartet. In 1982 Cultural
Center of the Philippines performed a concert of his classical works in honor of the Philippine
expatriate artist.

Julio Nakpil

Born: 22 May 1867 Race: Asian

 Birthplace: Quiapo, Manila Field: Composer
Died: 2 November 1960

Julio Nakpil was born as one of tw elve children from a well-off family in
the Quiapo district of Manila. His parents withdrew him from Escuela de
Instruccion Primaria after two years and had him take over the family stable,
making sure that their coachmen and stable boys were doing their work smoothly. Julio
educated himself at home and eventually learned how to play the piano, as was proper for
traditional families during that time. His passion for music was largely self-taught. Although he
took violin lessons from Ramon Valdes and piano lessons from Manuel Mata, he spent more
time practicing alone with these instruments, giving him the ability to interpret the music of
classic legends like Johann Strauss, Emile Waldteufel, Philipp Fahrbach, and Josef Kaulich,
among others.

In his desire to continue learning, he read Spanish books, novels, history books, the writings of
Jose Rizal, and music discourse. His skill in playing the piano earned him an audience among
the affluent, becoming a regular pianist Malacaang social functions. On April 27, 1888 he
composed his first short polka piece for the piano called "Cefiro," which was followed with other
pieces such as "Ilang-Ilang," "Recuerdos de Capiz," "Pahimakas," "Pasig Pantayanin," and
"Biyak-na-Bato," to name a few. Nakpil later became a piano teacher and composed regularly.

Many of his compositions during this time were directly inspired by the Revolution. His
composition "Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan" was a candidate to become the Philippine
National Anthem, and was personally preferred by Bonifacio, but was ultimately rejected by
General Emilio Aguinaldo in favor of Julian Felipe's "Lupang Hinirang". He later revised his
piece and entitled it "Salve Patria". After Aguinaldo allegedly ordered Bonifacio's execution,
Nakpil claimed to have received threats on his own life, as did General Antonio Luna, who
ended up being betrayed and executed by Aguinaldo's men.

Among his expository works were "Luz Poetica de la Aurora," "Recuerdos de Capiz" and
"Exposicion Regional Filipina," all of which were given a diploma of honor from the Exposicion
Regional Filipina in 1895. He was also awarded a diploma and bronze medal from the
Exposition of Hanoi in 1902, a diploma and silver medal from the St. Louis International
Exposition in the U.S. in 1904, and a medal and citation from the Civic Assembly of Women in
1954.

In 1963 he was given a posthumous award by the Bonifacio Centennial Commission in

recognition of his patriotism. In 1964, a memoir entitled Julio Nakpil and the Philippine
Revolution was published by his heirs.

Rodolfo S. Buenaventura
 Born: 15 May 1909
Birthplace: Singalong, Manila
Died: 11 August 1991

Race: Asian
Field: Composer

Rodolfo S. Cornejo, a composer, pianist and conductor, was born

on the 15th of May, 1909, in Manila. His parents are Miguel
Cornejo, Sr. and Crisanta Soldevilla. In 1949, he married Nieves Guerrero, a lyric soprano. The
couple had five children. Rodolfo Cornejo started piano lessons with Gelacio Reyes at age six.
At age eight, he had his first recital, and he became the organist of the Pasay Catholic Church.
He wrote his first composition, Glissando Waltz, at age 10. He also wrote and published a
military march, Salute, at age 13. At 16, twenty-six of his works had been listed by the United
Publishing Co.. While he was finishing his high school, he was already enrolled at the University
of the Philippines (UP) Conservatory of Music. At the UP Conservatory, he studied under Dr.
Francisco Santiago, Nicanor Abelardo and Alexander Lippay. Barely three years after
completing his high school, he obtained his teacher's diplomas in piano, science and
composition. He taught for a year at UP, then left for the United States. He acquired a bachelor's
degree in piano and theory at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University in 1932. He
won the Wesley Le Violette scholarship in composition, went on to complete his master's degree
in 1933. He studied with Rudolf Ganz and Glenn Dillard Gunn.

In 1934, he returned to the Philippines, founded and directed the Manila Conservatory of Music.
He again left for the US in 1939 to pursue doctorate studies in composition. He earned his
doctorate degree in 1947 at the Neotarian College in Kansas City, USA. In his US sojourns,
Cornejo was a soloist with various orchestras, such as the New York City Symphony Orchestra,
National Orchestra Association, and many others. During World War II, he played at concerts for
the Allied Armed Forces. In 1941, he became researcher and official composer of the Philippine
government-in-exile. In 1945, the Chicago Musical College awarded him an honorary doctorate
in music. In the Philippines, he became director of the Cosmpolitan Colleges Conservatory of
Music from 1948 to 1949. Rodolfo Cornejo died in Manila on the 11th of August, 1991.

Francisco Beltran Buencamino

 Born: 5 November 1883
Birthplace: Bulacan
Died: 15 October 1952

Race: Asian
Field: Composer

Francisco Beltran is the sixth of ten children of Fortunato

Buencamino and Luisa Beltran. His father was a church
organist and band master, and his mother, a singer. Francisco was married to Pilar Luceno and
they had two children, both of whom also took up music. Francisco first learnt music from his
father. At age 12, he could play the organ. At 14, he was sent to study at the Liceo de Manila.
There, he took up courses in composition and harmony under Marcelo Adonay. He also took up
pianoforte courses under a Spanish music teacher. He did not finish his education as he
became interested in the sarswela. In the early 1900s, Francisco Buencamino taught music at
the Ateneo de Manila and at the Centro Escolar de Senoritas. At the latter, he founded the
Conservatory of Music and was its head until 1938. At the same time, he also handled music
lessons at the Liceo de Manila. He founded the Buencamino Music Academy in 1930. It was
authorized by the Department of Public Instruction to grant music degrees. Some of his pupils
were Nicanor Abelardo, Ernestina Crisologo, Estela Velasco, Beatrice Alba, and Amelia Hidalgo.
In the 1940s, he started working as a musical director. He also composed music for films
produced by Sampaguita Pictures, LVN and Excelsior. For a time, Francisco Buencamino
frequently acted on stage. He also collaborated on the plays written and produced by Aurelio
Tolentino. The Philippine Music Publishers, which Buencamino established, undertook the
printing of his more important compositions, but it was not a successful venture.Some of the
sarswelas he wrote are: "Marcela" (1904), "Si Tio Celo" (1904) and "Yayang " (1905). In 1908,
the popularity of the sarswela started to wane because of American repression and the entry of
silent movies. Francisco Buencamino then turned to composing kundimans.

One of his earliest compositions is "En el bello Oriente" (1909), which uses Jose Rizal's lyrics.
"Ang Una Kong Pag-ibig", a popular kundiman, was inspired by his wife. In 1938, he composed
an epic poem which won a prize from the Far Eastern University during one of the annual
carnivals. His "Mayon Concerto" is considered his magnum opus. Begun in 1943 and finished in
1948, "Mayon Concerto" had its full rendition in February 1950 at the graduation recital of
Rosario Buencamino at the Holy Ghost College. "Ang Larawan" (1943), also one of his most
acclaimed works, is a composition based on a Balitaw tune. The orchestral piece, "Pizzicato
Caprice" (1948) is a version of this composition. Many of his other compositions were lost during
the Japanese Occupation, when he had to evacuate his family to Novaliches, Rizal.

Antonio Molina
 Born: 26 December 1894
Birthplace: Quiapo, Manila
Died: 29 January 1980

Race: Asian
Field: Composer

Antonio Jesus Naguiat Molina is the son of Juan Molina, a

customs inspector during the final years of the Spanish regime,
and Simeona Naguiat. Antonio Molina was married to Pilar Siauingco with whom he had six
children - among them are: Rostia, a pianist; Exequiel (Lito), a jazz artist and journalist; and,
Antonio Maria, Jr., a US-based conductor and composer.Antonio Sr.'s father founded the 22-
piece Orquestra Molina, whose members lived and rehearsed in the family residence. At 12,
Antonio Sr. could play the violin. The bandurria, mandolin, guitar, laud, bajo de unas and
octavina, and the cello all followed later. He received his Bachelor's degree in 1909 at the
Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Prior to that, he also went to the Escuela de Catolica de
Quiapo, where he began his first formal schooling. In 1919, he enrolled at the University of the
Philippines (UP) Conservatory of Music. His teachers included Nicanor Abelardo and the
Conservatory Director, Robert Schofield. He obtained his teacher's diploma in 1923. From 1922
to 1924, he concertised extensively in Hanoi and other parts of Indo-China. He also taught at
the UP Conservatory of Music and then at the Centro Escolar University. He functioned both as
organizer and conductor of Philippine choral and rondalla music groups wherein he was also
actively involved. He conducted the premiere of the Bach's Christmas Oratorio on the 14th of
December, 1947, the first performance of Mozart's opera, Don Giovanni, and the first television
choral concert to be presented in the Philippines.

Molina's first composition, "Matinal" (1912), is preserved in an unpublished volume called

Miniaturas, Vol. I. According to the composer, they are called Miniaturas because they do not
seem to have arrived at a category of serious musical works. They are merely combinations of
melody and harmony conceived during a moment of enthusiasm, passion, or humour, and later
written down. They are products of inspiration and instinct, and not of technical studies in music.
He then wrote a set of waltzes, Lamentos de mi Patria (Laments of my Fatherland) in 1913, and
"Hatinggabi", his most famous violin piece (1915).His hundreds of compositions include a
sarswela entitled "Ana Maria", done while he was still in school. His most important orchestral
works are Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass (1964) and Ang Batingaw (1972). Among his
chamber music compositions are Prelude and Romanz for cello and piano (1928) and Bontok
Rhapsody. Some of his piano works are Malikmata (1939) and We Were Moonlight (1941). His
major works are composed of chamber music, choral, piano, violin, theatre, voice and
violoncello music. Many of his works still have not been published.Antonio Molina received
numerous awards such as the Conductor of the Year Award (1953) from the Music Lovers'
Society, the UP Conservatory Alumni Award and the Phi Kappa Beta Award (1972), among
others. He was the first musician to be conferred the National Artist Award (12th June,
1972).Antonio Molina, Sr. died on the 29th of January, 1980.
 Lucio D. San Pedro

Born: 11 February 1913

Birthplace: Angono, Rizal
Died: 31 March 2002

Race: Filipino
Field: Composer

Senyor Lucio San Pedro is a great musician, conductor and teacher. He was born
February 11, 1913 in Angono, Rizal. Botong Francisco The Painter is his cousin.
Maestro Lucio San Pedro have left a legacy in Angono, he really contributes a lot for the
Angono, Rizal to be the center of arts. He was the conductor Peng Kong Grand Mason
Concert Band, the San Pedro Band of Angono, who is formerly conducted by his father ,
and the Banda Angono Numero Uno. Through his works, techniques and talents shared
in these two bands they improve and learn a lot in the field of music. Being the
conductor of these two bands made him more inspired and devoted for music by seeing
the outcome of his imparted talents.
Elpidio San Pedro, father of Lucio San Pedro have done a great part of leading
his son to the world of conducting and composing. But, Maestro himself find his heart
loving music. He studied Conservatory of Music major in Composing and conducting at
University of the Philippines Diliman. Remember that UP Conservatory is one of the
flagship of UP Diliman, meaning Lucio San Pedro has an inborn talent and he is one of
a kind.
He was given the title National Artist For Music in 1991. One of the greatest Compositon
of Lucio San Pedro is " Ugoy ng Duyan" . It touches many people's heart especially the
mother who really offer love, care and protection to their son and daughters. Lucio San
Pedro not just compose a song bu the tries to create a more deeper sense in every
lines he construct. "Lahing Kayumanggi" was also a poem made by maestro. It express
the way we have to love our country and to be proud that we are Filipinos. He also won
awards through his famous works.
Maestro Lucio San Pedro's key to succes is not just because of his
extraordinary talents but because of his drive to continue working with conviction and
devotion. He called his composition " Creative Nationalism", he creates through his
talents at the same time he always sees to it that he always comprises the heart of a
good musician.

Francisco Santiago
 Born: 29 January 1889
Birthplace: Santa Maria, Bulacan
Died: 28 September 1947

Race: Asian
Field: Composer

Dr. Francisco Santiago was a composer, pianist, teacher and

film director. His parents were Felipe and Maria Santiago. He
married Concepcion de Leon in 1923 and they had four children. The young Francisco had his
elementary education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He finished high school at the
Liceo de Manila. When he was seven years old, he took piano lessons from a private tutor. After
three years, he studied pianoforte under Blas Echegoyen, and then Faustino Villacorta and
Primo Calzada. Because his family was poor, he had to support himself throughout school.
When the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music was founded in 1916, he was
taken in as a piano instructor. He studied advanced harmony and counterpoint under Robert
Schofield. Dr. Santiago obtained his teacher's certificate in science and composition from the
University of the Philippines in 1922. He obtained his masters in music at the Conservatory of
Chicago, USA in 1924 and his doctorate at the Chicago Music School in the same year. It was
there that he presented his Concerto in B flat minor for pianoforte and orchestra, which is
considered his masterpiece. He returned to the Philippines in 1925 and resumed teaching at the
University of the Philippines.1 He became the director at the UP Conservatory of Music from
1930 to 1946. He was appointed Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines.

Among Dr. Santiago's popular kundimans are "Sakali Man" and "Hibik ng Pilipinas" (1917);
"Pakiusap" (1921); "Ang Pag-ibig" (1922); "Ano Kaya Ang Kapalaran?" (1938). Among his
undated kundimans are "Hatol Hari Kaya?"; "Aking Bituin" and "Pagsikat ng Araw". The
kundiman entitled "Kundiman, Anak Dalita", which he wrote in 1917, was sung before the Royal
court of Spain under the request of King Alfonso II.2 Among his works in the classical genre are
the "Philippine Overture" and the "Sonata Filipina in D flat Major" written in 1922. The latter is
the "first sonata written in the Philippines introducing Philippine musical themes" according to
the films, among which are "Kundiman", "Leron-leron Sinta", "Madaling Araw", "Manilena", and
"Pakiusap" (the movie which was inspired by his own composition). Dr. santiago also composed
a version of "Ave Maria" for high voice with violin obligato in 1919. He did musical transcriptions
of "Ay, Kalisud!" (1928); "Ang Kumintang", "Kura-kura" (a Jolo folk song) and "Hawi-hawi" (an
Aeta folk song). These last three pieces are undated. He also composed "Sumilang na Ang
Manunubos" in 1932, a Philippine Christmas carol, which according to composer, Antonio
Molina, is the "first Philippine Christmas carol ever written for mixed chorus and symphony
orchestra."3 Dr. Francisco Santiago wrote the music of the sarswela, "Si Margaritang Mananahi"
in 1913, with libretto by Severino Reyes.