NICANOR ABELARDO

Born in San Miguel de Mayumo, 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 teacher’s 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. DISCOGRAPHIES:

FREDDIE AGUILAR

Freddie Aguilar made folk pop songs a staple on the hit charts in the 1970's.
His song, "Anak" captured the international market while it struck an emotional
chord with parents and children. It has been recorded in Japanese, Cantonese,
Malay, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Italian, English and Dutch languages.

Aside from love ballads, ("Ipaglalaban Ko," "Kamusta Ka," "Minamahal Kita,") he
draws sociopolitical images with his "Bulag, Pipi at Bingi," "Magdalena,"
"Estudyante Blues" "Katarungan," and "Olongapo."
APO HIKING SOCIETY

Although they’re pretty well off, the trio of Jim Paredes, Boboy Garrovillo and
Danny Javier—popularly known as the APO Hiking Society—have enough street
credibility to write songs that touch the pulse of the masses.

Jim, Boboy and Danny wrote songs about society, mundane experiences,
friendship and love. But what made the trio unique were their insights on
commonplace situations, rendered with irreverent humor, as in “Pumapatak ang
Ulan,” “Salawikain,” “Mahirap Magmahal ng Syota ng Iba,” “American Junk,”
“Paano,” and “Yakap sa Dilim.” The group also gained reputation as performers
with a social conscience during the Marcos dictatorship with their protest songs,
“Hindi Ka Nag-iisa,” “Piece of Peace,” “Tuloy ang Ikot ng Mundo” and “Sasaya
ang Pilipinas.” During the 1986 EDSA revolt, Jim Paredes wrote the moving
“Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” as a tribute to the Filipinos’ courage and
heroism.

gs ("Hindi Ka Nag-iisa," "Tuloy ang Ikot ng Mundo," "Sasaya Ang Pilipinas," and
"Piece of Peace") against the Marcos dictatorship, and Paredes' composition,
"Handog ng Filipino sa Mundo," became a fitting tribute to the Edsa Revolution
in 1986.

JOEY AYALA

Joey Ayala's songs sing nature, humanity, and dying tribes and cultures in
"Aguila, Haring Ibon," "Dabaw," "Manong Pawikan" and "Tabi Po."

Like Asin, Joey and his band, Bagong Lumad, supplies melodies and rhythms with
the use of native instruments like the kulintang, bamboo flute and the hagalong.

Though his compositions are rich with ecological themes, the youth remember
him for his humorous "Answering Machine" and moving "Walang Hanggang
Paalam."
ELY BUENDIA

As the vocalist and frequent songwriter of the band, Eraserheads, Ely Buendia
has created witty lyrics and catchy melodies. Occasionally, Raymund Marasigan,
Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro pitch in the songwriting.

"Ligaya," "Pare Ko," "With a Smile," "Sem Break," "Magasin," "Overdrive," and
"Kailan" have transcended age and social class as students, kids, yuppies and
ordinary folks mouth and relate to the unusual lyrics.

Buendia deals with unusual themes in his compositions, "Huling El Bimbo," "Hey,
Jay," "Kaliwete" and "Alapaap."

GEORGE CANSECO

Canseco worked as a journalist before he turned to writing songs after Martial

Law. His composition "You're All I Love" became a hit after Pilita Corrales
recorded it in 1965. In 1970, he translated the English lyrics into Tagalog to
create the movie theme song, "Kapantay ay Langit."

Movie theme songs

Since then, he continued to make memorable movie theme songs like "Imortal,"
"Langis at Tubig," "Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan," "Paano Ba Ang Mangarap,"
"Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?" "Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit" and "Sinasamba Kita."

His ballads "Rain," "Kailangan Kita," "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Kung Ako'y Iiwan
Mo" and "Kastilyong Buhangin" tug at the heartstrings because they express true
sentiments without being mushy.
RYAN CAYABYAB

Cayabyab had a flair for dramatic experimentation. He mixed jazz, Broadway

and/or indigenous music in his compositions "Misa," "Maria Makiling" and
"Kapinangan." While his pop songs "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika," "Tsismis" "Isang
Awit" and "Paraisong Parisukat" mirrors the Pinoy's penchant for gossip, romance
and songs.

His exceptional musicals "Katy!" and "Magnificat" were later recorded on compact
discs and cassettes.

LEVI CELERIO

In the mid-'30s, Celerio wrote the lyrics for haranas like "Caprichosa," "Ang
Tapis Ni Inday," "Dungawin Mo Hirang" and "Umaga na Neneng." But he is best
remembered for the moving, emotional lyrics of "Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan," "Sapagkat
Kami'y Tao Lamang," "Saan Ka Man Naroroon" and "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal."

Novelty songs like "Waray-Waray," "Pitong Gatang," "Alembong," "Ikaw

Kasi,"Basta't Mahal Kita" and "Kalesa" owe their playful, sarcastically funny lyrics
to him.

As the dawn masses before Christmas would not be complete without the lilt of
"Ang Pasko ay Sumapit" and "Pasko Na Naman."
WILLY CRUZ

Willy Cruz will always be remembered for the songs “Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi” and
“I’ll Never Ever Say Goodbye”—two songs that raised the stock of Nonoy
Zuñiga and Didith Reyes, respectively.

But what made the Manila-born composer a force in the local music scene were
his movie theme compositions such as “Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap,” “Maging
Akin Ka Lamang,” “Pahiram ng Isang Umaga,” and “Himala ng Pag-ibig.”

The singer who benefited most from Willy’s talent was no less than Megastar
Sharon Cuneta. Willy’s brilliance in weaving dramatic melodies greatly
complimented most of Sharon’s unforgettable films, making her a certified mass
darling. “Bituing Walang Ningning,” “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas,” and “Bukas
Luluhod ang mga Tala” were all Willy Cruz’s creations that, just like the movie
itself, withstood the passing of time.

GARY GRANADA

He has written more than 200 songs which have political, satirical or
inspirational undertones. Among his notable works are "Kahit Konti," "Kung
Sama-Sama, Kayang-Kaya," "Salamat Musika "and "Earthkeeper."

MIKE HANOPOL

Together with Pepe Smith and Wally Gonzales, his compositions, "Ang Himig
Natin," "Beep-Beep," "Panahon," "Sarap Ng Buhay" and "Laki Sa Layaw
(Jeproks)" helped open the doors for Pinoy rock. His songs in the '70s
expressed the growing angst of the youth in those turbulent times.

He paved the way for other rock bands like the Dawn, Color It Red, Binky
Lampano, AfterImage, Introvoys and the Jerks to flourish in the 1990s.
HOTDOGS

Hotdog is a Pinoy rock n’ roll band that gained phenomenal popularity in 1974.
The band is the creator of the "Manila Sound" in the 70's - a very light kind of
pop music that uses Taglish language, and is full of juvenile sentiments. The band
was formed by Ella del Rosario, Dennis and Rene Garcia, Lorrie Ilustre, Mon
Torralba and Jess Garcia and was instrumental in launching the solo careers of
musicians like songwriter Lorrie and singers like Ella, Mazo Diez, and Zsa Zsa
Padilla.

Musicians and female vocalists have come and gone but the band’s mainstays are
brothers Dennis and Rene Garcia who have scored a number of awards for their
compositions and various performances.

In the 1974 Ms. Universe Pageant held here in Manila, the Hotdogs sang the
Pageant’s theme song entitled “Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko.” Some of
their other hit songs are: “Pers Lab,” “Annie Batungbakal,” “Bongga Ka Day”
and “Beh buti nga.” The group disbanded in 1984, after producing their most
popular hit “Manila,” but reunited five years later. The revived group added
three musical heavyweights; bassist Tony Cortez, keyboardist Egay Monsalve and
Blitz Padua.

MIKE VELARDE

Composer, conductor, and musical director, Velarde had his first taste of musical
teachings from his mother who taught him piano and violin. He studied at the
Zamboanga Normal School, where he became a member of the school orchestra. He
went to Manila to pursue medicine at the University of the Philippines, but later
discovered that it was music that he truly loved. His father objected to his plans to
pursue a career in music. To support his dream, he became a bus conductor. Later he
ran a weekly show, Stardust Program, where he sang and played his own jazz
arrangements on the piano. Velarde learned the basics of harmony and composition from
Antonio Molina and Ariston Avelino, and deepened his knowledge through self-study. He
dabbled into musical scores for Sampaguita Films' movie production and managed the
outfit's advertising. During the Japanese Occupation, he worked as a musical director for
Avenue Theatre, where his concertized arrangements of folk songs like Planting Rice
were well-received by the audience. Regarded as his most important works are Luksang
Tagumpay (1960), which received the FAMAS Best Picture award from the Filipino
Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), and for which he wrote the story and screenplay,
and Alaala Kita (1961). He won the FAMAS awards for the story of Luksang Tagumpay
and for his musical direction of Alaala Kita. As a composer, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter
first influenced Velarde. Later, he created his own style and produced songs such as
Ikaw (1935), Lahat ng Araw (1939), Habang Buhay (1938), Minamahal Kita, Ikaw ay
Akin (1940), and Dahil Sa Iyo (1938). In 1970, he won the Best conductor award at
the First International Popular Song Contest in Japan, where his composition As Long
as Forever was the Philippine entry. In 1975 the Philippine Government Cultural
Association awarded him the Cultural Achievement Award in Popular Music. He received
the Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining in
 PROJECT
IN
MUSIC IV

Submitted By: Karl Ponti N. Bartolome

Submitted to: Sir Kaligayahan

Section : IV – San UrieL