10 Department of Education

National Capital Region

SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE
MARIKINA CITY

Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health

MUSIC
Third Quarter – Module 1:
Contemporary Filipino Music:
Traditional Composers

Writer: Darren L. Bancod

Cover Illustrator: John Orville Munar

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

 What I Need to Know

Having been influenced by the Western styles such as the Spanish and
American music, Filipino composers were able to combine some traditional elements
and Western techniques. Numerous music pieces were composed by different
talented Filipino musicians with original blend of Filipino’s creativity adapting classic
harmonies and historical experiences to hear our own contemporary style of music.

The module contains:

● Lesson 1 – Contemporary Filipino Music: Traditional Composers

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Narrates the life of selected contemporary Filipino composer/s.
2. Analyzes the musical characteristics of traditional and contemporary
Philippine music.
3. Improvises simple vocal/instrumental accompaniments to selected
contemporary Philippine music.

What I Know

The result of this pre-test will check your prior knowledge, understanding and
skills on this module. Read and analyze each statement. Write TRUE if the statement
is correct. If the statement is incorrect, change the underlined word/s with the
correct answer. Answer the activity on a separate sheet of paper. Write your name
and section in the upper right corner of the paper.

1. Francisco Buencamino Sr. taught at Ateneo de Manila, and at Centro Escolar

de Señoritas where he founded the Conservatory of Music.
2. Santiago’s compositions include Maligayang Bati, Ang Bukang Liwayway,
Pandanggo ni Neneng, Ang Bagong Balitaw, Himig ng Nayon, Damdamin and
Pizzicato Caprice.
3. Francisco Santiago is recognized as the “Father of the Filipino Contemporary
Music”.
4. Nicanor Abelardo is belongs to the “Triumvirate of Filipino Composers”
5. Nicanor Abelardo was greatly influenced by Schoenberg and Bach.
6. Francisco Buencamino and Francisco Santiago were among the teacher of
Antonio Buenaventura.
7. Buenaventura became a delegate to the general assembly of the International
Society for Music Education that was held in Montreux, Switzerland.
8. Pandanggo sa Ilaw is considered as one the most popular compositions of
Lucio San Pedro.
9. Lucio San Pedro composed Ugoy ng Duyan, a lullaby melody sung by his
mother.
10. Ryan Cayabyab recorded an album One, where he personally sang the
unaccompanied songs on different tracks to produce different 16 voices.

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

 What’s In

Let’s sing together! Try to sing the song below. After singing, answer the
following questions.

1. Based on the song excerpt “Bayan ko”, how do the composer describe the
Philippines?
2. What word/s best describe when you are singing this song? Why?
3. Do you consider this song traditional? Explain briefly.

What’s New
Activity 1: What comes to your mind when you hear the term “traditional
Filipino music”? Write the related words and attached it beside the rays of the sun.

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

 What is It
TRADITIONAL FILIPINO COMPOSERS

Francisco Buencamino Sr., Francisco Santiago, Nicanor Abelardo, Antonio

Molina, Col. Antonino Buenaventura, Lucio San Pedro, and Ryan Cayabyab are
notably considered as some of the “Pillars” of Philippines music. Using the influence
of Western musical technique, music that were passed on orally from our ancestors,
music that has been performed over decades as customary tradition, these
composers created new materials with a distinct character of sound together with a
unique set of lyrics.

Francisco Buencamino Sr. (November 5, 1883 – October 16, 1952)

Francisco Beltran Buencamino Sr. was born

on November 5, 1883 in Bulacan. His father
Fortunato Buencamino is band master and church
organist. His mother was Luisa Beltran, a well-
known singer. He entered Liceo de Manila and
studied music composition and harmony but he was
not able to finish his studies. He taught at the
Ateneo de Manila, and at Centro Escolar de
Señoritas where he founded the Conservatory of
Music. In 1930, he established the Buencamino
Music Academy wherein Nicanor Abelardo was one
of his students. He then started musical directing
and scoring, and composing film music for
Sampaguita Pictures, LVN, and Excelsior.

Buencamino’s compositions include Harana,

Pandanggo ni Neneng, Collar de Sampaguita,
Dulces las Horas, Mayon (Fantasia de Concierto),
My Soul’s Lament, Larawan, Mazurka, Boholana, Mi Bandera, Princesa ng
Kumintang, Maligayang Bati, Ang Bukang Liwayway, Pandanggo ni Neneng, Ang
Bagong Balitaw, Himig sa Nayon, Damdamin (Romance), and Pizzicato Caprice. Most
of his piano works have become a vital part of the Philippine repertoire of today’s
young students, particularly Mayon, Larawan, and Maligayang Bati. He also wrote
zarzuelas and kundimans. He died on October 16, 1952 after which a posthumous
award honored him with the title “Outstanding Composer.”

HIMIG SA NAYON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZkCOlNZLc8

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

Francisco Santiago (1889 – 1947)

Francisco Santiago is recognized as the

“Father of the Kundiman” and belongs to the
“Triumvirate of Filipino Composers.” He
completed his music specialization at the
American Conservatory of Music in Chicago,
where he obtained his Doctorate Degree in 1924.
Santiago’s music was Romantic in style with
incorporations of Western forms and techniques
including folk materials. He composed kundiman,
symphonies, piano concertos, and other music
pieces for the piano, violin, and voice.

His famous works are Pakiusap, Madaling

Araw, Sakali Man, Hibik ng Pilipinas, Ano Kaya
ang Kapalaran, and Kundiman (Anak Dalita). He
is musical director for films such as Kundiman,
Leron Leron Sinta, Madaling Araw, Manileña, and
the movie inspired by his own composition
Pakiusap. He became the first Filipino Director of
the UP Conservatory of Music.

PAKIUSAP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0cOB6Zn3Z8

Nicanor Abelardo (February 7, 1893 – March 21, 1934)

Nicanor Abelardo is one of the “Triumvirate of Filipino

Composers” which includes Antonio Molina and Francisco
Santiago. He studied music at the Chicago Music College.
He was influenced by Schoenberg, and Stravinsky. Abelardo
combined European romanticism with chromaticism. His
compositions contain hazy tones, dissonance and unusual
chordal combinations that can be heard in his different
works such as Cinderella Overture, Panoramas, and a violin
sonata. He is also considered a composer in the Romantic
style although some musicians considered him as a 20th
century modern composer in style. His popular
compositions were Mutya ng Pasig, Nasaan Ka Irog,
Cavatina for Violoncello, and Magbalik Ka Hirang.

MUTYA NG PASIG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU2bhAjeaDk

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

Col. Antonino Buenaventura (May 4, 1904 – January 25, 1996)

Antonino Ramirez Buenaventura is a

composer, conductor, and teacher. His father
Lucio was the chief musician of the Spanish
artillery band in Intramuros and founder of
Banda Buenaventura. During his childhood, he
demonstrated an interest in music by studying
the rudiments of music and solfeggio. He became
a proficient clarinet player.

At the age of 19, Buenaventura developed

his musical abilities at the Conservatory of Music,
University of the Philippines (UP). He earned a
Teacher’s Diploma in Science and Composition at
UP. Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago
were among his famous teachers. Buenaventura
led the UP ROTC Band and established the UP
Junior Orchestra which was the first collegiate
orchestra in the country. He pursued further
studies at the Institute of International Education
in New York. He was awarded a study grant by the UNESCO in 1949. In 1976,
Buenaventura became a delegate to the general assembly of the International Society
for Music Education that was held in Montreux, Switzerland. He represented the
Philippines at the general meetings of the International Music Council (IMC) in Rome
(1962) and Hamburg (1964).

Buenaventura was actively engaged with the different military bands which
earned him his military rank of Colonel. He became the music instructor and band
conductor of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). Later, he restored the Philippine
Constabulary Band in 1945, which was reputedly considered as a symphony
orchestra. It was arguably considered as “one of the best military bands in the world.”
It was later be renamed the Philippine Army Band. He also founded the San Pablo
Music Academy in Laguna.
Buenaventura was a regular faculty member of the UP Conservatory of Music.
In 1961, he became the music director of the Conservatory of Music, University of
Santo Tomas (UST). After retiring from the military, he became the music director at
the School of Music and Arts, University of the East (UE) in 1964. He promoted
Philippine music using folk materials which he had recorded around the country
with Ramon Tolentino and National Artist for Dance Francisca Reyes Aquino.
Buenaventura composed music and folk-dance notations for the dance research of
Aquino. He composed Minuet, Mindanao Sketches, Divertimento for Piano and
Orchestra, Variations and Fugue, and Greetings based on Philippine folk music.
Pandanggo sa Ilaw is considered as one of his most popular compositions. It
remained a favorite performance repertoire of many folk-dance group. He was
declared National Artist for Music in 1988 and passed away in 1996.

PANDANGGO SA ILAW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Xp7w8xwzE

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

Lucio San Pedro (February 11, 1913 - March 31, 2002)

Lucio San Pedro was born on February 11,

1913 in Angono, Rizal. During his elementary
days, he already started composing. He studied
the banjo which inspired him to become a serious
musician. He studied his music degree at the
University of the Philippines and pursued further
studies at the Juilliard School in New York, USA.
Upon returning to the Philippines, he became a
professor of theory and composition at the
University of the Philippines College of Music.

San Pedro is known to be a “romantic

nationalist.” He incorporated Philippine folk
elements with Western forms and harmony in his
compositions. The he chords he uses have a rich
expressive tonality, and can be heard in his
famous composition, Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, a lullaby melody sung by his mother. Among
his orchestral compositions are Suite Pastorale (1956), a poetic aural description of
his hometown Angono, and his nationalistic symphonic poem Lahing Kayumanggi
(1962). His other compositions include songs, pieces for violin, cello, and chorus.
San Pedro works for the symphonic band was where he was most creative and
productive both as composer and conductor. His musical ability was internationally
recognized when he was invited to be a judge at the prestigious Van Cliburn
International Piano Competition in 1980. He was declared National Artist for Music
in 1991 and passed away on March 31, 2002.

UGOY NG DUYAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpdAzjYwGss

Raymundo Cipriano Pujante Cayabyab (1954 – present)

Ryan Cayabyab is a popular

contemporary composer who also has classical
compositions such as Misa, Four Poems for
Soprano and Piano, and Te Deum. His
compositional style commonly use syncopation,
extended chords, and chromatic harmony.
Cayabyab’s differents compositions are
the award-winning like Kay Ganda ng Ating
Musika (1978), as well as the modern zarzuela
Alikabok (2003), the opera Spoliarium with
libretto by Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, and various
choral pieces and song. He produced a number
of recordings, including the album One, where
he personally sang the unaccompanied songs on
different tracks to produce different 16 voices.

Cayabyab was born on May 4, 1954 in

Manila. He received his Bachelor of Music
degree at the University of the Philippines’
College of Music. He then became a faculty member for Composition at the same

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

University. In addition, he also served as the Executive and Artistic Director of the
San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts, which managed the operations and
programming of the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Miguel Master
Chorale. At present, he continues to be professor, musical director, composer,
arranger, and conductor in the Philippine concert and recording scenes.

KAY GANDA NG ATING MUSIKA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTOMLJmj0Ow

What’s More
Activity 2: Fill in the chart to show the similarities and differences between different
Filipino Traditional composers.

Traditional Music Style/Genre Awards Career as a

Composers Education Received musician
Francisco
Buencamino Sr.
Francisco
Santiago
Nicanor
Abelardo
Col. Antonio
Buenaventura
Lucio San
Pedro
Cipriano
Cayabyab

What I Can Do
Choose among the different Traditional Filipino Composer that was discussed.
Choose any of their song composition. Sing at least 1 verse and 1 chorus of their
songs.
Criteria 5 3-4 1-2
Pitch Correct pitch was 1-2 pitch was 3 or more pitch was
sung all observably out of observably out pitch.
throughout the tune.
performance.
Rhythm The song There were 1-2 There were 3 or more
performance was mistakes in rhythmic mistakes in the
on beat. performance. rhythmic performance.
Performance Showed exemplary Performed well but Needs improvement in
Level performance. needs more performing. Poor
showmanship in showmanship was
performing. exhibited in the
performance
Innovation Used 4 or more Used 2-3 Used only 1
innovations. innovations. innovation.

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

Sample Innovations:
1. Performed using an appropriate dance costume.
2. Performed with a family member.
3. Performed using a musical instrument. You may ask somebody who can play
the instrument for you.
4. Others you may deemed to consider as innovation.

Assessment
Read and analyze each statement. Write TRUE if the statement is correct. If the
statement is incorrect, change the underlined word/s with the correct answer.
Answer the activity on a separate sheet of paper. Write your name and section in the
upper right corner of the paper.

1. Francisco Buencamino Sr. taught at Ateneo de Manila, and at Centro Escolar

de Señoritas where he founded the Conservatory of Music.
2. Santiago’s compositions include Maligayang Bati, Ang Bukang Liwayway,
Pandanggo ni Neneng, Ang Bagong Balitaw, Himig ng Nayon, Damdamin and
Pizzicato Caprice.
3. Francisco Santiago is recognized as the “Father of the Filipino Contemporary
Music”.
4. Nicanor Abelardo is belongs to the “Triumvirate of Filipino Composers”
5. Nicanor Abelardo was greatly influenced by Schoenberg and Bach.
6. Francisco Buencamino and Francisco Santiago were among the teacher of
Antonio Buenaventura.
7. Buenaventura became a delegate to the general assembly of the International
Society for Music Education that was held in Montreux, Switzerland.
8. Pandanggo sa Ilaw is considered as one the most popular compositions of
Lucio San Pedro.
9. Lucio San Pedro composed Ugoy ng Duyan, a lullaby melody sung by his
mother.
10. Ryan Cayabyab recorded an album One, where he personally sang the
unaccompanied songs on different tracks to produce different 16 voices.

Additional Activities

Listen and analyze the song Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka composed by Ryan
Cayabyab and performed by Moira Dela Torre-Hernandez. Click or type the link
below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr4bDmrK3-I
1. Is the song fast, slow, or moderate tempo? What can you say about its
rhythmic pattern?
2. Is the song the comfortable within the range of your voice? Does it sound
traditional? Why? Why not?
3. Is the song pleasant to your ears? Why? Why not?
4. Will you recommend this kind of song to your family and friends? Explain.

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

 Answer Key

10. TRUE Answers may vary

9. TRUE What's New
Buenaventura
8. Col. Antonino Answers may vary
7. TRUE What's In
6. Nicanor Abelardo
5. Stravinsky 10. TRUE
4. TRUE 9. TRUE
3. Kundiman Buenaventura
2. Buencamino 8. Col. Antonino
1. TRUE 7. TRUE
Assessment 6. Nicanor Abelardo
5. Stravinsky
Refer to the rubrics 4. TRUE
What I Can Do 3. Kundiman
2. Buencamino
Answers may vary 1. TRUE
What's More What I Know

References

Books
Vecino, Rosenberger, Boquiren, Grecia, and Angeles. Living with Music, Art,
Physical Education & Health. K-12ed. Vibal Group, Inc., 2017.
Cipriana, Pineda-Limos, Solis, and delos Reyes. The 21st Century: MAPEH in
ACTION. Rex Book Store, Inc., 2015.
Sunico, Cabanban, and Moran. 2015. HORIZONS Grade 10 Learner’s Materials:
Music and Arts Appreciation for Young Filipinos. Tawid Publications.
WEBSITES

Images Resources

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Philippine_flag_%28prop
osed_9_ray_sun%29.svg

VIDEOS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZkCOlNZLc8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0cOB6Zn3Z8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU2bhAjeaDk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Xp7w8xwzE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpdAzjYwGss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTOMLJmj0Ow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr4bDmrK3-I

DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE

 Development Team of the Module

Writer: Darren L. Bancod, MSHS

Editors: Jovita Consorcia F. Mani
Reviewers:
Illustrator:
Layout Artist: Maria Isabel G. Tutor
Management Team:
Sheryll T. Gayola
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
OIC, Office of the Schools Division Superintendent

Elisa O. Cerveza
Chief, CID
OIC, Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Jovita Consortia Mani

EPS-MAPEH

Ivy Coney A. Gamatero

EPS – LRMS

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Schools Division Office- Marikina City

Email Address: sdo.marikina@deped.gov.ph

191 Shoe Ave., Sta. Elena, Marikina City, 1800, Philippines

Telefax: (02) 682-2472 / 682-3989

10

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