Lucio D.

San Pedro was born on February 11, 1913 in

Angono, Rizal, the son of Elpidio San Pedro and Soledad
Diestro. At a young age, he composed various hymns and
became the local church organist, succeeding his late
grandfather.
San Pedro graduated from the University of the
Philippines (UP) College of Music with a double major in
Composition and Conducting. While at UP, San Pedro wrote
a symphonic work called “Suite Pastorale.” In 1943, he
wanted to write lyrics for one of its movements to submit to
a competition sponsored by the Japanese government during its occupation of the Philippines. He
did not join the competition. San Pedro took further studies at the Juilliard School of Music in
1947. On a ship upon his return home, San Pedro met Levi Celerio who wrote the lyrics for this
movement, what would become the iconic “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan”, a lullaby and ode to a mother’s
love. San Pedro drew inspiration in composing the music of the song from the melody his mother,
Soledad Diestro, hummed when he and his siblings were put into sleep during their childhood. The
song was supposed to be an entry to a competition in 1943, during the Japanese occupation of the
Philippines. However, because he could not find a collaborator to write the lyrics, he was unable
to submit it.
San Pedro excelled as a teacher, conductor, and composer. He eventually became Professor
Emeritus at his alma mater, UP. He also taught in many other universities. San Pedro conducted
the Banda Angono Numero Uno, Manila Symphony Orchestra, Musical Philippines Philharmonic
Orchestra, Peng Kong Grand Mason Concert Band, and the San Pedro Band of Angono. He was a
prolific composer whose works included band music, concertos, choral works, cantatas, chamber
music, and songs for solo voice. Among his famous compositions are “Simbang Gabi”, “Lahing
Kayumanggi”, and “Sa Mahal Kong Bayan”, which touch on Filipino culture.
San Pedro was dubbed a “creative nationalist” for his artistic way of showing love for his
country. He won countless awards, the most prominent being his conferment as National Artist of
the Philippines for Music in 1991.
Angono, Rizal has been recognized as the “Arts Capital of the Philippines” largely because
of its being the home town and inspiration for San Pedro and his cousin, town-mate and fellow
National Artist, Carlos “Botong” Francisco. Francisco was a skilled muralist who was
posthumously named National Artist for Visual Arts (Painting) in 1973.
San Pedro died on March 31, 2002, at the age of 89.
 Antonio Jesus Naguiat Molina was born
on the 26th of December, 1894, in Quiapo, Manila.
He was also known as the Claude Debussy of the
Philippines due to his use of impressionism in
music.
He was a versatile musician, composer,
music educator was the last of the musical
triumvirate, two of whom were Nicanor Abelardo
and Francisco Santiago, who elevated music beyond
the realm of folk music.
At an early age, he took to playing the violoncello and played it so well it did not take long
before he was playing as orchestra soloist for the Manila Grand Opera House. Molina is credited
with introducing such innovations as the whole tone scale, pentatonic scale, exuberance of
dominant ninths and eleventh cords, and linear counterpoints. Molina’s composition is over 500
and his first composition, "Matinal" (1912), is preserved in an unpublished volume called
Miniaturas, Vol. I.
According to the composer, they are called Miniaturas because they do not seem to have
arrived at a category of serious musical works. They are merely combinations of melody and
harmony conceived during a moment of enthusiasm, passion, or humour, and later written down.
They are products of inspiration and instinct, and not of technical studies in music.
He then wrote a set of waltzes, Lamentos de mi Patria (Laments of my Fatherland) in 1913,
and "Hatinggabi", his most famous violin piece (1915). His hundreds of compositions include a
sarsuwela entitled "Ana Maria", done while he was still in school.
His most important orchestral works are Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass (1964) and
Ang Batingaw (1972). Among his chamber music compositions are Prelude and Romanz for cello
and piano (1928) and Bontok Rhapsody. Some of his piano works are Malikmata (1939) and We
Were Moonlight (1941).
His major works are composed of chamber music, choral, piano, violin, theatre, voice and
violoncello music. Many of his works still have not been published. On June 12, 1972, he was the
first musician to be conferred the National Artist Award.
Antonio Molina, Sr. died on the 29th of January, 1980.