of the International Music Council (IMC) in Rome

(1962) and Hamburg (1964).

Buenaventura was actively involved with the various
COL. ANTONIO BUENAVENTURA military bands which ultimately earned him his military
(1904 – 1996) rank of Colonel. He was a music instructor and band - was born on May 15, 1909 in Singalong,
conductor Manila. Inspired by his mother’s genuine support, the
of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). Later, he young
restored the Philippine Constabulary Cornejo started formal music lessons at the age of six.
Band in 1945, which was reputedly likened to a He
symphony orchestra. It was considered as “one of the performed on stage after only two years of music
best military bands in the world.” It would later be studies. During this time, he was also invited as
renamed the Philippine organist of the Pasay Catholic Church. His first
National Artist for Music Army Band. He also founded the San Pablo Music composition at age 10 was a piano piece entitled
Col. Antonio Ramirez Buenaventura was a renowned Academy in Laguna. Glissando Waltz. It was followed three years later by a
composer, conductor, and teacher. His father Lucio was military march entitled Salute. At the age of 14, 26 of
the Cornejo’s compositions were already listed by the
chief musician of the Spanish artillery band in United Publishing Company Inc.
Intramuros and Buenaventura was a faculty member of the UP
founder of Banda Buenaventura. As a young boy, he Conservatory of Music. Later, he became the music Cornejo graduated with a Teacher’s Diploma in
had director of the Conservatory of Music, University of Pianoforte and a Teacher’s Diploma in University of
already demonstrated a passion for music while Santo Tomas (UST) in 1961. After retiring from the the Philippines
learning the military, he became the music director at the School of (UP) in 1930. He received his Bachelor of Music
rudiments of music and solfeggio and becoming a Music and Arts, University of the East (UE) in 1964. degree major in piano and theory from the Chicago
proficient He promoted Philippine music through his extensive Musical College of Roosevelt University, USA in 1932.
clarinet player. use of folk materials which he had recorded around the He received a Master
Col. Buenaventura further developed his musical country
abilities at with Ramon Tolentino and National Artist for Dance
the Conservatory of Music, University of the Francisca Reyes Aquino. of Music degree major in composition and conducting
Philippines (UP) Buenaventura composed the music and folk dance at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt
at the age of 19. He received a Teacher’s Diploma in notations for the dance researches of University, USA in 1933. He was conferred a Doctor of
Science Aquino. As a multi-awarded musician, he composed Music degree honoris
and Composition at UP. Nicanor Abelardo and Minuet, Mindanao Sketches, Divertimento for Piano causa in 1954. He received his Doctor of Philosophy
Francisco and Orchestra, Variations and Fugue, and Greetings degree major in composition from the Neotarian
Santiago were among his famous mentors. At the based on College of Philosophy in Kansas City, USA in 1947.
University, Buenaventura led the UP ROTC Band and Philippine folk music. Pandanggo sa Ilaw, one of his Cornejo taught at the UP Conservatory of Music and
established the UP Junior Orchestra which was the first most popular compositions, remains a favorite became the researcher and official composer of the
collegiate orchestra in the country. He pursued further performance repertoire of many folk dance companies. Philippine government-in-exile. He was appointed by
studies at the Institute of International Education in He was declared National Artist for Music in 1988 and then President
New York. He was also awarded a study grant by the passed away in 1996. Manuel L. Quezon. He was commissioned to write a
UNESCO in 1949. symphony and an opera and compose
He was a delegate to the general assembly of the the music for the documentary film on President
International Society for Music Education held in RODOLFO S. CORNEJO Quezon’s funeral. He served as pianistdirector of a
Montreux, Switzerland in 1976. He represented the (1909 – 1991) USO concert unit that entertained the Allied Forces at
country at the general meetings the E.T.O., the Marianas, and the Hawaiian Islands
during World War II. Cornejo was the soloist of the
Manila Symphony Orchestra, Filipinas Youth illustrations and sketches and was paid for them. When the martial law. He wrote the popular Christmas carols
Symphony Orchestra, and UP Symphony Orchestra. he was studying at the Nueva Ecija High School, he Payapang Daigdig (1946), Noche Buena, and Pasko Na
Later on, he became the musical director of the went on trips with his hometown band Naman, both in 1965. Felipe de Leon received a
Sampaguita and Vera-Perez Movie Companies. Since and wrote short pieces for them. He took up Fine Arts posthumous
1978, he held concerts in the United States. He at the University of the Philippines award as National Artist for Music in 1997. He died on
appeared as composer-conductor at the Seattle Opera in 1927, but he had to stop schooling in order to make a December 5, 1992.
House and the Seattle Playhouse. He is listed in “The living. He played the trombone in dance orchestras
International Who’s Who in Music.” Cornejo was also which performed in cabarets, circuses and bodabil LUCIO SAN PEDRO
known for his extemporaneous thematic improvisations (vaudeville). Then, (1913 – 2002)
based on the letters of people’s names. His he worked as an assistant conductor of the Nueva Ecija National Artist for Music
compositional output includes A la Juventud Filipina, High School Orchestra where he started doing musical
Bailes de Ayer, Caprice on a Folksong, Cello Sonata, arrangements. Later on, he wrote music for the
Ibong Adarna, Kandingan, Malakas at Maganda, zarzuela.
Overture, Okaka, Oriental Fantasy, Ibong Adarna, He decided to study formally and enrolled at the
Piano Concerto Nos. Conservatory of Music, University of the Philippines,
1,2,3, Ruby, and Song of the Miners. He passed away where he studied under National Artists Col. Antonio Lucio San Pedrowas born on February 11, 1913
on August 11, 1991. Buenaventura and Antonio Molina. He contributed inAngono,
articles to the school paper and vernacular magazines. Rizal. Since his elementary days, he started composing.
Later, he wrote music columns for the Manila Times He
FELIPE PADILLA DE LEON SR. (then known as Manila Tribune) and Taliba. He studied the banjo which inspired him to become a
(1912 – 1992) graduated with a music teacher's diploma, major in serious
National Artist for Music conducting in 1939. musician.He later pursued his music degree at
Much later, he took advanced studies in composition theUniversity
under Vittorio Giannini of the Julliard School of Music of the Philippines and the Juilliard School in New York,
in New York, USA. De Leon received many awards, USA.
such as
Composer of the Year (1949), Manila Music Lovers Upon returning to the Philippines, he became a
Society, Musician of the Year (1958), UP Conservatory professor of
of Music, and others. He was conferred an honorary theory and composition at the University of the
degree, doctor of Philippines’
philosophy in the humanities, by the University of the College of Music. San Pedro is known as a “romantic
Philippines in 1991. nationalist.” He incorporated Philippine folk elements
De Leon wrote piano compositions, hymns, marches, in his compositions with Western forms and harmony.
art songs, chamber music, symphonic poems, overtures, His chords have a rich expressive tonality, as
Felipe Padilla de Leon was born on May 1, 1912 in
band muic, school songs, orchestral works, operas, represented
Barrio Papaya (now General Tinio) in Penaranda,
kundiman, and in his well-loved Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, a lullaby melody
Nueva Ecija. He is the son of Juan de Leon and Natalia
zarzuelas. He was known as a nationalist composer sung by his mother. His orchestral compositions are
Padilla. Felipe de Leon married pianist Iluminada
who expressed the Philippines' cultural identity through best represented by the Suite Pastorale (1956), a poetic
Mendoza with whom he had six children. Bayani and
his compositions. Two operas which are considered his aural description of his hometown Angono, and his
Felipe Jr., are two of his children. Bayani is a well-
masterpieces are the Noli Me Tangere (1957) and El nationalistic symphonic poemLahing Kayumanggi
known composer, and Felipe Jr. is a writer and the
Filibusterismo (1970). These two operas have (1962). Other compositions include songs, pieces for
chairman of the National Commission for Culture and
been staged in the Philippines and abroad. He also violin, cello, and chorus. His works for the symphonic
the Arts (NCCA). De Leon’s talent in painting and
wrote a march during the Japanese regime entitled band was where he was most prolific and productive
drawing was discovered during his school days and
Tindig, Aking Inang Bayan, and another march Bagong both as composer and conductor. His musical prowess
admired by his uncle, peers. People asked him to make
Lipunan during was internationally recognized when he was invited to
be a judge at the prestigious Van Cliburn International sopranos of Tiples at Sto. Domingo Church from where symphonic poems, five operas in Filipino, numerous
Piano Competition in 1980. He was declared National he band overtures, and more than 200
Artist for Music in 1991 and passed away on March 31, received his first significant musical training. At that marches. He had also written 50 masses in Latin and 20
2002. time, he in English. He has more than 1,000 musical
also wrote his first composition, Danza. A prolific compositions in the library of the University of the
ROSENDO E. SANTOS JR. composer, Buenaventura has composed over 50 major Philippines. Santos’
(1922 – 1994) works including five full-length operas, operettas, last musical work and only ballet composition,
dance dramas, cantatas, symphonies, concertos, ballets, Melinda’s Masquerade, was performed in 1995, a year
overtures, prelude, fugues, and chamber music. His after his death. Santos passed away on November 4,
compositions and other creative 1994 in Swoyersville,
works have transcended territorial, racial, and language Pennsylvania, USA.
. was born on September 3, 1922 inCavite City. At age barriers as these have been performed abroad by
11, he started composing band marches,instrumental, international virtuosi and religious groups. Many of his symphonies such as Dakilang Lahi (1971),
and vocal scores, as well as music for compositions Gomburza (1981), and Rizal, the Great
Catholicmasses.He studied in Cavite schools and later are based on Filipino heroes, legends, and epics. He
graduated from the UPConservatory of Music where he uses native songs, both tribal and folk, as themes of his
Malayan Antagonist (1990). His minor works
eventually became a facultymember. He also pursued a music compositions. A number of his compositions are numbering more than 50 cover mostly
Master of Music degree in theoryand composition from accompanied religious songs and hymns for specific
the Catholic University of America inWashington, D.C. by Filipino indigenous instruments. celebrations such as the Sixteenth Centenary
After which, he also served on its facultyas well as in Some of his major works include the operas Maria of
West Virginia University and Howard University. Makiling (1961), Diego Silang
(1966), Prinsesa Urduha (1969), cantatas Ang Ating
St. Augustine, Mass for the 400th Year of the
Watawat (1965), Pasko ng Barangay Augustinian Recollect, and the Philippine
ALFREDO BUENAVENTURA (1964), three piano concertos subtitled Celebration, Music Festival. His other creative musical
(1929 – ) Determination, and Exultation, and works have been commissioned by the
As a UNESCO scholar, Santos was awarded the Cultural
“Philippine Composer of the Century” after receiving
the “Composer of the Year Award” in Manila in 1956
Center of the Philippines, Metropolitan
and 1957. He joined Theater, and the National Music Competitions
the faculty at Wilkes University, Pennsylvania in 1968. for Young Artists (NAMCYA).
He performed as timpanist, pianist, and conductor with Buenaventura’s compositional style rests
several orchestral groups. He conducted church choirs mainly on his own set of musical ideas,
in Maryland,
wherein
Dr. Alfredo Santos Buenaventura, composer, New Jersey, Lehman, Huntsville, and Shavertown
conductor and United Methodist Churches in Pennsylvania, USA. He he creates a combination of contemporary and
teacher, was born in Sta. Maria, Bulacan on October 14, composed the background music for J. Arthur Rank conventional materials. He keeps his
1929. Films at melodies simple and understandable but with
He grew up in a musical environment and became a Pinewood Studios in London, England, where he contemporary harmonies that enhance their
band worked with British composers Malcolm Arnold and
complexity. He became an official organist of
member in his hometown at a young age. He was drawn Muir Mathieson. Among Santos’ teachers were famous
by composers Aaron the Manila Cathedral in 1960. He became
his fascination with trumpets and trombones and Copland, Irving Fine, Humphrey Searle, and conductor the Dean of the College of Music, Centro
became one Norman Del Mar. A prolific composer, he had Escolar University. He is a member of the
of its arrangers and conductors. He was one of twenty composed several piano concerti, sonatas, symphonies,
boy
League of Filipino Composers. He received a the operations and programming of the San Miguel Dean of the College of Music and
number of awards in the music industry. Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Fine Arts, Philippine Women’s University. President of
Miguel Master Chorale. At present, he continues to be a the Cultural Center of the Philippines. In the dance
much sought-after professor, circles, she was the President and
musical director, composer, arranger, and conductor in Music Director of the Bayanihan Dance Company. She
He was twice an awardee of the Republic Cultural the Philippine concert and recording also served as Chairman of the
Heritage Award and the The Outstanding scenes. Asian Composers’ League and the League of Filipino
Filipino Award (TOFIL) for Music in 1995. Composers.
Kasilag’s compositions demonstrated a fusion of
NEW MUSIC Eastern and Western styles in using , harmony, and
CIPRIANO “RYAN” CAYABYAB COMPOSERS rhythm. She is particularly known for incorporating
(1954 – ) indigenous Filipino instruments into orchestral
productions.
Jose Maceda (1917-2004)

Ramon P. Santos (1941)

Birthday: February 25, 1941

Birthday: January 17, 1917 Birthplace: Pasig
Birthplace: Manila Spouse: Pilar Luceno
died on the 5th of May, 2004 Dean of the UP College of Music
Professor of Piano and Musicology at the College of Head UP Center of Ethnomusicology
Ryan Cayabyab is a popular contemporary composer Music, University of the Philippines from 1952 to 1990. Santos’ compositional style features chromaticism,
who also has classical compositions to his credit, such He was appointed Executive Director of its Center for music seria, and electronic components, combined with
as Misa, Four Poems for Soprano and Piano, and Te Ethnomusicology in 1997. In the same year, he was indigenous Philippine music elements. His works
Deum. His compositional style makes much use of conferred the honor of National Artist for Music. includeDing Ding Nga Diyawa, Nabasag na Banga at
syncopation, extended chords, and chromatic harmony. Iba’t iba pang Pinag-ugpong-ugpong na Pananalita sa
Among his numerous compositions are the award- He embarked on his life’s work, dedicated to the Wikang Pilipino para sa Labing Anim na Tinig, and
winning understanding and preservation of Filipino traditional L’BAD.
Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika (1978), as well as the music. His extensive research
modern zarzuela Alikabok (2003), the opera Spoliarium and fieldwork resulted in an immense collection of Fr. Manuel P. Maramba, OSB
with libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, and a variety recorded music taken from the remote mountain
of choral pieces and song cycles. He also produced a villages and far-flung inland communities in the
number of recordings, Philippines. Although his compositional approach Birthday: July 4, 1936
including the memorable albumOne, where he tended to be Western in style, Maceda Birthplace: Pangasinan
personally sang the unaccompanied songs on different combined sounds of the environment with ethnic died on the 16th of October, 1952.
tracks to produce 16 voices. Cayabyab was born on instruments. His compositions were A monk at Our Lady of Montserrat
May 4, 1954 in Manila. He obtained his Bachelor of usually for large groups of musicians. Abbey in Manila. He was the former
Music degree at the University of the Philippines’ director of the Paul VI Institute of Liturgy in
College of Music. After which, he became a faculty Lucrecia R. Kasilag (1918-2008) Malaybalay, Bukidnon during which he composed the
member for Composition at the same University. He music for the papal mass. A prominent canon lawyer,
also served as the Executive and Artistic Director of Birthday: August 31, 1918 he served on the National Appellate Matrimonial
the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts, Birthplace: San Fernando, La Union Tribunal. He was also a faculty member at the UST
which oversaw Died on 16th of August 2008
Conservatory of Music, St. Scholatica’s College, and Birthday: October 23, 1913
Sta. Isabel College. Birthplace: Manila
Parents: Dr. Miguel Velarde, Sr.
Jonas Baes (1961) Dolores Guison  
JERRY DADAP ( 1935) Birthday: 1961 died on 1986
Birthplace: Los Baños, Laguna
Birthday:5 November 1935 Baes is known for writing music
Birthplace:Hinunangan, Southern Leyte utilizing unorthodox musical instruments Velarde composed musical scores for Sampaguita
The first Filipino composer to conduct his such as beanpod rattles, leaves, iron-nail Films’ movie productions and managed its advertising
own works at the Carnegie Recital Hall in New York chimes, and various Asian instruments such as bamboo department. Among his most important works were
City. scrapers, bamboo flutes, and vocal music Luksang Tagumpay, which received the FAMAS
He taught composition, ear training, and orchestration using Asian vocal techniques. His early works in the (Filipino Movie Arts and Sciences) Award for Best
at the Sta. Isabel College of Music in Manila. 1980s were influenced by Maceda in the use of large Picture (1960) and for which he wrote its story
  numbers of performers.
and screenplay, and Alaala Kita for Best Director
(1961). He attributes substantive influence from
SONG COMPOSERS American composer and songwriters
Francisco F. Feliciano (1942-2014) Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.

Birthday: February 19, 1942 Levi Celerio (1910-2002)

Birthplace: Morong, Rizal
Parents:  Maximiano Feliciano    Birthday: April 30, 1910 Restituto Umali (1916-1998)
died on September 19, 2014 Birthplace: Tondo, Manila
Feliciano became the choir died on the 2nd April, 2002 Birthday: June 16, 1916
conductor and instructor in music His achievements include a citation Birthplace: Paco, Manila
fundamentals at St. Andrews Seminary in Quezon City. in the Guinness Book of World Records Parents: Benedicto Umali
He became an instructor at the UP Conservatory of for being the only person to make Eulogia Aquino
Music and conducted the UP Symphony Orchestra. He music with a mouth-blown leaf. (age 81)
was the musical director of the movie Ang Umali arranged the Philippine
Bukas ay Atin and provided orchestration for a number national anthem and the local classic Kataka-taka for
of musical productions including Constancio C. de Guzman (1903-1982) the Boston Pops Orchestra when it performed for the
My Fair Lady and various Philippine productions. “Dean of Filipino Movie Composer Philippine Independence Night in
s and Musical Directors,” Boston in 1972. He composed approximately 120
Josefino “Chino” Toledo (1959) Birthday: November 11, 1903 movie theme songs and more than250 scores for
Birthplace: Guiguinto, Bulacan movies. His musical scoring career was capped by a
Birthday: 6 March 1959 Died on the 16th August 19, 1982 Universal Pictures’
Birthplace: Manila Music director of movie production production of No Man Is An Island starred by Jeffrey
Professor at the College of Music, companies like Sampaguita, LVN, Royal Hunter and Barbara Perez. Hismusical scores for the
University of the Philippines (UP). , Excelsior, Lea, and Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions. movies Sa Bawat Pintig ng Puso (1964), Pinagbuklod
Founding music director of the Metro His “unexpected” hit music, Panaginip, paved the way ng Langit
Manila Community Orchestra, the UP for him to record hundreds of songs, principally under (1969), Mga Anghel na Walang Langit (1970), and Ang
Festival Orchestra, and the Crosswave Villar and Columbia Records. Alamat (1972) won for him“Best Musical Score”
Symphony Orchestra. honors at the Filipino Academy of Movies Arts and
Miguel “Mike” Velarde, Jr. (1913)
 George Canseco
Angel Matias Peña (1921) Vicor Music Corporation owner
Vic del Rosario for giving him his
Birthday: April 22, 1921 biggest break in the music industry.
Birthplace:San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan.
Parents: Rosario Velarde He was elected President of the Filipino
Gregorio Cid Peña Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP) in 1973. He was also
died on the December 22, 2014. elected as Councilor for the First District of Quezon City in 1988.

Peña auditioned for the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. He was immediately accepted
as bassist and later as arranger in 1969. He would spend the next 28 years in Hawaii,
where he continued to write his own music. As farewell homage, the Manila Symphony
Orchestra performed hisConcerto for Double Bass and Orchestra. 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. Leopoldo Silos, Jr.

Birthday: March 6, 1925

Birthplace: unknown
Ernani J. Cuenco (1936-1988) Parents: Juan Silos Jr. 
 Marcela Rigo y Acasio 
Birthday: May 10, 1936
Birthplace: Malolos, Bulacan Spouse: Soledad 'Choling
Parents: Felix Cuenco, Maria Joson ' Garcia with 7 children  
died on the July 11, 1988. died on the 10 of March 2015Accordingly, the music of Silos touches the sentiment
quite deeply. His lyrical melodies are complemented by exotic harmonies. His melodies
His career as a musical director began were made more appealing through their extended chords, diminished intervals, and
in 1960 when he was discovered by secondary dominants. Thus, that enriched
then actor Joseph Estrada while he was playing as part of a band he had formed with the otherwise basic chordal patterns accompanying a tonal melody
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 faculty member at the UST Conservatory of Music until his death on July
11, 1988.

Birthday: April 23, 1934

Birthplace: Naic, Cavite
died on the November 19, 2004
Canseco credited film producer and