AILEEN JOYCE S.

SANTIAGO 10-Hebreu
Music is one of my passions which is why I hold a very deep respect for musicians... probably
even deeper than the respect that I hold for mathematicians and scientists. It never ceases to amaze me
how they are able to touch thousands of lives through melodies and words, how their works are able
break down the barriers of time and often times even geography so long as the language are the same.

A Brilliant Filipino Composer: George Cancesco

George Canseco was one of the Philippines' greatest composers. He lived a very colorful life
which is reflected through his songs. Below is an article I clipped from books which hopefully will give
you an idea of the man behind the songs which touched our lives.

In November 2004, the great Filipino songwriter George Canseco died in Manila at the age of
70. It has been noted that Mr. Canseco is credited in writing more than 160 songs in a career which
spanned three decades. Words such as timeless, classic, and unforgettable may describe his music
however, Mr. Canseco's contribution to the development of Original Pilipino Music through the
extensive use of the Filipino language can never be measured. For generations to come, his music will
performed by artists looking to express the genuine form of Filipino music composed by a brilliant
Filipino from the innermost layers of his soul.

Unlike most masters of music, multi-awarded composer Canseco had no formal training in
music. He learned to interpret, write and compose notes at a very early age and he taught himself to
play the piano. Canseco finished journalism at the University of the East and worked for the
Philippines Herald and Associated Press as an editor. Aside from being a journalist, he also worked as a
part-time scriptwriter for the Manila Broadcasting Co and news director at Eagle Broadcasting. When
Martial Law was declared in 1972, he turned to composing songs. His first composition was I Will
Never Be Yours, followed by Youre all I Love. He translated the latter into Tagalog in 1970, when
Eddie Rodriguez asked him to write a theme song for the movie Kapantay ay Langit. The song
became a big hit and gave Canseco instant popularity. Kapantay ay Langit paved the way to
numerous hit songs like "Kailangan Kita," "Ako Ang Nagwagi, Ako Ang Nasawi," "Ngayon At
Kailanman," "Dito Ba" and "Langis at Tubig." Cansecos songs have helped most of our talented
performers rise to fame. He has composed hits for singers like Basil Valdez, Kuh ledesma, Sharon
Cuneta, Dulce, and Pilita Corrales. He also directed the music of such movies as Burlesk Queen,
Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak; Atsay, and Miss X. Between 1979 and 1991, he has won a total
of 6 FAMAS Awards for Best Movie Theme Song.the Artistic Achievement Award.
 The Man behind the Music

Born on April 30, 1910, Levi Celerio was destined to be one of the great saviours of Filipino
music having written lyrics for more than 4,000 Filipino folk, Christmas and love songs, including
many that became movie titles.

His compositions include familiar titles such as Saan Ka Man Naroroon?, Kahit Konting
Pagtingin, Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal, Kapag Puso'y Sinugatan, Ikaw, O Maliwanag na Buwan, Dahil Sa
Isang Bulaklak, Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, Bagong Pagsilang and Sapagkat Kami'y Tao Lamang, among
others.

One interesting tidbit about Celerio is that he can write or translate a song in only 15-20
minutes!

His lyrics convey not only heartfelt messages to ones greatest love, but also nationalistic
sentiments and philosophies, as well as the valued traditions of Filipinos.

Celerio is also known for his leaf-playing; he was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records
as the only man who could do so. In 1997, he was conferred the National Artist for Music and
Literature award by President Fidel V. Ramos.

Celerio died at age 91 in April 2002.

A great number of his songs have been written for the local movies, which earned for him the
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Film Academy of the Philippines. Levi Celerio, more
importantly, has enriched the Philippine music for no less than two generations with a treasury of more
than 4,000 songs in an idiom that has proven to appeal to all social classes.

There will always be one Levi Celerio, proclaimed Dr. Antonio Hila when asked if there is
any "Levi Celerio talent" in the present generation. A master like Levi Celerio is one-of-a-kind and
certainly one that cannot be replaced.
 Ernani Cuenco: Embodying Filipino Musicality

Ernani J. Cuenco was hailed as a National Artist in Music in 1999. His works embody a
Filipino sense of musicality, and the classical sound of the kundiman is evident in some of his ballads.
Up to this day, his compositions are popular and well-loved.

On May 10, 1936, Cuenco was born to Feliz Cuenco and Maria Joson in Malolos, Bulacan. As a boy,
he was encouraged to learn the violin and was mentored by his mother, his godmother Doa Belen
Aldaba Bautista and his first teacher, Jovita Tantoco. He finished his elementary studies at the
Immaculata Academy of Malolos in 1948, then went on to study at the University of Santo Tomas High
School. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Music, Major in Piano at the University of Santo Tomas
Conservatory of Music in 1956. He got a scholarship grant at the UST in the same year and studied the
cello under Professor Modesto Marquiz, finishing in 1965. In 1968, he completed his Masters Degree
in Music at the Sta. Isabel College.
 From 1960 to 1968, he was a cellist at the Manila Symphony Orchestra under Dr. Hubert
Zipper, and played for the Filipino Youth Symphony Orchestra. He also played for the Manila
Chamber Soloists from 1966 to 1970. His career as a musical director began in 1960, when he was
discovered by Joseph Estrada playing as part of a band Cuenco formed with friends at an exclusive
restaurant in Makati. In 1963, Cuenco was sent as a delegate to the International Music Conference in
Tokyo, Japan. Aside from being a composer and musical director, he was also a music teacher at the
UST until his death on July 11, 1988.