Severino Montano

(January 3, 1915 – December 12, 1980)

 Severino Montano is a National Artist for Theater

(2001), born on January 3, 1915 in Laoag, Ilocos
Norte.
 He was considered as one of the Titans of
Philippine Theater.
 He was a playwright, director, actor and theater
organizer with an output of one novel, 150 poems
and 50 plays in his 65-year lifetime.
 He studied at the University of the Philippines
and became a part of the UP Stage.
 Then a scholarship took him to the
famous "English 47" or "Workshop 47" playwriting
workshops of George Pierce Baker at Yale
University and guided by Broadway names and
international personalities like Komissarjevsky of
the famous Moscow Art Theater. He was conferred a Master of Fine Arts degree in
playwriting and production by Yale University.
 He was the forerunner in institutionalizing “legitimate theater” in the Philippines.
 As Dean of Instruction of the Philippine Normal College, Montano organized the Arena
Theater to bring drama to the masses.
 He trained and directed the new generations of dramatists including Rolando S. Tinio,
Emmanuel Borlaza, Joonee Gamboa, and Behn Cervantes.
 He established a graduate program at the Philippine Normal College for the training of
playwrights, directors, technicians, actors, and designers.
 He also established the Arena Theater Playwriting Contest that led to the discovery of
Wilfrido Nolledo, Jesus T. Peralta, and Estrella Alfon.
 He died on December 12, 1980, at the age of 65.

Among his awards and recognitions are the:

 Patnubay ng Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila (1968)
 Presidential Award for Merit in Drama and Theater (1961)
 Rockefeller Foundation Grant to travel to 98 cities abroad (1950, 1952, 1962, and 1963)
  Pamulinawen Award (1981)
  The National Artist Award (2001)

Prepared by: Marjeth Nangca

His published works include:
 The Love of Leonor Rivera (poetic tragedy in two-parts) – a three – acts play written by
Severino Montano in 1952.

 Sabina (tragedy)

Other works of Severino Montano

 My Morning Star (poetic historical tragedy in three-parts)
 But Not My Sons Any Longer (poetic tragedy in two-parts), 
 Gabriela Silang (poetic historical tragedy in three-parts), 
 The Merry Wives of Manila (comedy of manners in three-parts), 
 The Ladies and the Senador (satirical comedy) and 
 Parting at Calamba (historical drama).

Prepared by: Marjeth Nangca

 Andrea Ofilada Veneracion
(July 11, 1928 – July 9, 2013)

 She was born on July 11, 1928, to Macario

Ofilada and Raymunda Carriaga. She was raised
in Manila, Philippines.
 A Filipina choral conductor and a recipient of
the 1999 National Artist for Music award.
 She founded the Philippine Madrigal
Singers in 1963.
 She was also an adjudicator in numerous
international choral competitions and was an
active force in choral music before her massive
stroke in 2005.
 She earned her Bachelor of Music degrees in
Piano and Voice at the University of the
Philippines Diliman, graduating cum laude.
 Andrea Veneracion, is highly esteemed for
her achievements as choirmaster and choral arranger.
 Two of her indispensable contributions in culture and the arts include the founding of the
Philippine Madrigal Singers and the spearheading of the development of Philippine
choral music.
 A former faculty member of the UP College of Music and honorary chair of the
Philippine Federation of Choral Music, she also organized a cultural outreach program to
provide music education and exposure in several provinces.

 The Philippine Madrigal

Singers was organized in 1963 by
National Artist Professor Andrea O.
Veneracion.

 The choir is one of the world's most

awarded, having consistently won all
the top prizes in most of the world's
prestigious choral competitions.

Prepared by: Marjeth Nangca

Among of her awards include:
 1997 - she was given the TOFIL (The Outstanding Filipino) Award for Culture and the
Arts For her contributions to the development of choral singing in the Philippines.
 1999 - she was named National Artist for Music, the highest cultural award bestowed by
the Philippine government for an individual.
 2001 – she retired as the Choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Distinguished
Alumni Service award – awarded by Indiana University.

 Madz in Love - Album by University of the Philippines

Madrigal Singers and was released on February 28, 2001.

Veneracion’s Death
• December 2005 - she suffered a massive stroke which led to her paralysis.
• July 9, 2013 - having been comatose since her 2005 stroke, Veneracion died at her home
in Cubao, Quezon City at the age of 84.
• July 11, 2013 – she was cremated.
• July 14, 2013 - her necrological rites at the Cultural Center of the Philippines was
scheduled on Sunday.

Prepared by: Marjeth Nangca