SONG COMPOSERS

Another category of 20th century Filipino musicians are

the well-known song composers and lyricists such as
Levi Celerio, Constancio de Guzman, Mike Velarde
Jr., Ernani Cuenco, Restie Umali, George Canseco,
Angel Peña, Leopoldo Silos Sr., and Santiago
Suarez. Together, they produced a memorable output of
traditional Filipino love songs, music for the movies, and
materials for contemporary arrangements and concert
repertoire.
LEVI CELERIO
(1910 - 2002)
BIOGRAPHY:
Celerio was born in Tondo on April 30, 1910. He studied
at the Academy of Music in Manila under a scholarship.
Later, he went on to join the Manila Symphony
Orchestra.Celerio passed away on April 2, 2002.

PAST & PRESENT JOB/S:

- Prolific lyricist
- Composer
- Writer
MUSICAL STYLE:
Celerio was known for creating music with a mouth -
blown leaf. Celerio's achievements include a citation in
the Guinness Book of World Records for being the only
person to make music with a mouth-blown leaf.

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS:
- Ang Pipit (music by Lucio D. San Pedro)
- Bagong Pagsilang (music by Felipe Padilla de Leon)
- Sa Ugoy ng Duyan (music by Lucio D. San Pedro)
- Misa de Gallo (music by J. Balita)
- Itik-itik (folk song)
- Tinikling (folk song)
LESSON IN HIS LIFE:
Don't give up and be creative seek for another
unique idea that people will remember you.
CONSTANCIO C. DE GUZMAN
(1903 - 1982)
BIOGRAPHY:
Constancio Canseco de Guzman was born on November
11,1903 in Guiguinto, Bulacan. He grew up in Manila where
he studied piano and composition under Nicanor Abelardo.
At the prodding of his father, he went to law school but
switched to pursue and finish a BS Commerce degree at
Jose Rizal College in 1928. He passed the certified public
accountants (CPA) board examinations in 1932. After he
took the CPA board exam, he started working for the
movies.
PAST & PRESENT JOB/S:
- Composer
- Musical Director
MUSICAL STYLE:
Constancio de Guzman was acknowledge as the "Dean
of Filipino Movie Composers and Musical Directors". De
Guzman became the music director of movie
production companies like Sampaguita, LVN, Royal,
Excelsior, Lea, and Tagalog Ilng-Ilang Production.

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS:
- Bayan ko
- Babalik ka rin
- Ang tangi kong pag-ibig
- Birheng walang dambana
- Maalaala mo kaya
- Sa piling mo
- Ang langit ko'y ikaw

LESSON IN HIS LIFE:

Work hard and don't give up, pursue your
dreams.
MIGUEL "MIKE" G. VELARDE JR.
(1913 - 1986)
BIOGRAPHY:
Miguel “Mike” Guison Velarde Jr, composer, conductor, movie
actor, and musical director was born in Manila on October 23,
1913 as the second of two children of Dr. Miguel Velarde, Sr.
and Dolores Guison. His family moved to Zamboanga when
he was only one year old and where he spent the succeeding
eighteen years of his life. His exposure to the unaffected and
unpretentious environment of Basilan and Zamboanga had
influenced his creative imagination, mainly nurtured by his
mother who became his first music teacher in piano and violin
when he was six years old. Velarde studied at the
Zamboanga Normal School, where he became a member of
the school orchestra and graduated as valedictorian. He then
went to Manila to pursue medicine at the University of the
Philippines, but later realized that it was music that he truly
loved.
PAST & PRESENT JOB/S:
- Composer
- Conductor
- Movie Actor
- Musical Director

MUSICAL STYLE:
Velarde created his own style as he composed highly
melodious and romantic songs.
MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS:
- Buhat
- Ikaw
- Bituing marikit
- Minamahal kita
- Dating sumpaan
- Dalisay
- Eternally yours
- Gabi at araw
- Dahil sa iyo
LESSON IN HIS LIFE:
Use the nature to inspire you to be a creative thinker.
Don't be afraid to do other thing and even though your
love ones are against to your dreams pursue it by
yourself.
SANTIAGO SUAREZ
(1901 - 1964)
BIOGRAPHY:
Santiago Suarez was born in Sampaloc, Manila in 1901.
He learned how to play the piano from his grandmother
who was also a competent harpist, while his grandfather
played the flute. He attended the Conservatory of Music,
University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila in
Intramuros. He took private music lessons from Caetano
Jacobe, Pedro Floriaga, and Nicanor Abelardo.

PAST & PRESENT JOB/S:

- Writer
- Composer
MUSICAL STYLE:
Suarez's compositions are a mixture of the soulful
kundiman style and the lively strains of the countryside.
The melodies are tonal and catchy, while the rhythms
follow the regular meter with minimal tempo changes.
His harmonies follow the traditional classical
progression, making his compositions easy to
understand without the complexities of form and
structure.

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS:
- Harana
- Kataka-taka
- Labandera ko
- Ligaya ko
- Pandanggo ni neneng
- Dungawin mo
- Hirang
- Bakya mo neneng
- Caprichosa
- Sa libis ng nayon
- Lakambini
- Kamia

LESSON IN HIS LIFE:

Don't give up and be creative.
RESTITUTO "RESTIE" A. UMALI
(1916 - 1998)
BIOGRAPHY:
Restituto Aquino Umali was born in Paco, Manila on
June 16, 1916. His early exposure to music was due to
the influence of his father who taught him violin as well
as his exposure to the regular family rondalla. He was
also taught solfeggio and score reading at the Mapa
High School where he became an active member of
the school glee club and orchestra. Umali played the
E-flat horn, trombone, and tuba when he was part of
the UST (University of Santo Tomas) Band.

PAST & PRESENT JOB/S:

- Composer
 - Arranger
- Teacher

MUSICAL STYLE:
Umali was a composer, teacher, and a musical arranger.

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS:
- Saan ka man naroroon
- Alaala ng lumipas
- Ang pangarap ko'y ikaw
- Sa libis ng barrio
- Di ka nag iisa
- Paano kita lilimutin
LESSON IN HIS LIFE:
Pursue your dreams and don't be afraid to
experience more things that can help you in the
future.
ANGEL M. PEÑA
(1921-2014)
BIOGRAPHY:
He was born was born on April 22, 1921 to a musical
family. Peña learned solfeggio from his mother Rosario
Velarde Matias. His father, Gregorio Cid Peña, played the
violin. His grandfather was a respected guitar player. He
grew up in Malabon which was then famous for its
musicians and marching bands. At the age of 11 when his
mother passed away, he was discouraged by his father to
continue his musical pursuits. But, the boy persisted and
proceeded to study music theory and composition.

PAST & PRESENT JOB/S:

- Classical & Jazz Composer
- Arranger
MUSICAL STYLE:
Peña is a classical and jazz composer, arranger, and
bass player. He is widely considered by
modern Filipino jazz musicians as “one of the founders
of traditional jazz in the Philippines.”

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS:
- Bagbagtulambing
- Igorot rhapsody
- Concerto for double bass and orchestra
- Concerto for jazz quartet and orchestra
LESSON IN HIS LIFE:
Don't give up even though your parents are
against to your dreams pursue it and prove
yourself.
ERNANI J. CUENCO
(1936 - 1988)
BIOGRAPHY:
Cuenco was born on May 10, 1936 in Malolos, Bulacan. As
a boy, he was encouraged to learn the violin. He was
mentored by his mother, his godmother Doña Belen
Aldaba Bautista, and his first teacher, Jovita Tantoco. He
earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music, major in Piano at
the UST Conservatory of Music in 1956. A UST
scholarship grant in the same year enabled him to study
the cello under Professor Modesto Marquiz, which he
finished in 1965. In 1968, he completed his Master of
Music degree at the Sta. Isabel College.
PAST & PRESENT JOB/S:
- Composer & Music Teacher
- Film Scorer
- Musical Director
MUSICAL STYLE:
Cuenco was a composer, film scorer, musical director,
and music teacher, was conferred the National Artist
Award for Music in 1999. His works embody a Filipino
sense of musicality as expressed in the classical sound
of the kundiman.

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS:
- Nahan
- Kahit na magtiis
- Diligin mo ng hamog ang uhaw na lupa
- Pilipinas, Inang bayan
- Isang dalangin
- Kalesa
LESSON IN HIS LIFE:
Be creative and pursue your dreams.
GEORGE M. CANSECO
(1934 - 2004)
BIOGRAPHY:
George Masangkay Canseco was born on April 23,
1934 in Naic, Cavite. He graduated with a Liberal Arts
degree at the University of the East. After graduation,
he worked for the Philippines Herald and the
Associated Press as a journalist. He also worked as a
“free-lance scriptwriter for hire” in Manila.

PAST & PRESENT JOB/S:

- Journalist
- Free-lance scriptwriter
- Composer
MUSICAL STYLE:
Canseco is hailed as a " nationally acclaimed composer of
numerous popular classics."

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS:
- Ikaw
- Kailangan kita
- Dito ba
- Hiram
- Langis at tubig
- Hanggang sa dulo ng walang hanggan
- Sinasamba kita
- Kastilyong Buhangin
- Minsan pa nating hagkan ang nakaraan
- Ngayon at kailanman
- Saan darating ang umaga
- Sana bukas pa ang kahapon
- Dear heart
- Gaano kadalas ang minsan

LESSON IN HIS LIFE:

Study hard and work hard.
LEOPOLDO R. SILOS SR.
(1925 - 2015)
BIOGRAPHY:
Leopoldo Rigo Silos Sr. was born on March 6, 1925. He
was a composer, singer, and arranger. He composed
and recorded a number of romantic songs.

PAST & PRESENT JOB/S:

- Composer
- Singer
- Arranger
- Musical Director
MUSICAL STYLE:
The music of Silos touches the sentiment quite deeply,
with lyrical and appealing melodies being
complemented by exotic harmonies.

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS:
- Dahil sa isang bulaklak
- Hindi kita malimot
- Aling kutsero
- Ay anong saklap
- Basta't mahal kita
- Diyos lamang ang nakakaalam
- Hindi ko malilimutan
- Lagi kitang naaalala
- Langit at lupa
- Halina halina
- Lihim na pag-ibig
- Mundo ma'y mawala

LESSON IN HIS LIFE:

Be a unique person and work hard for it.
THANK YOU