Name of the Antonio J.

Molina (1894-1980)
Composer
BIOGRAPHY
Antonio J. Molina (26 December 1894 – 29
January 1980) was a Filipino composer,
conductor and music administrator. He was
named a National Artist of the Philippines for
his services to music. 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. As a member of the faculty of
the UP Conservatory, he had taught many of
the country’s leading musical personalities
and educators like Lucresia Kasilag and
Felipe de Leon.

Date of Death: 29 January 1980

Cause of Death: Congestive Heart Failure

Works:
 Hatinggabi,
 Misa Antoniana Grand Festival Mass
 Ang Batingaw, Kundiman- Kundangan
 String Quartet
 Kung sa Iyong Gunita
 Pandangguhan
 Amihan
 Awit ni Maria Clara
 Larawan Nitong Pilipinas
Name of the Francisco Santiago
Composer (1889-1947)
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Francisco Santiago was born on the 29th of
January, 1889 in Santa Maria, Bulacan,
Philippines. He was a composer, pianist, teacher
and film director. His parents were Felipe and
Maria Santiago. He married Concepcion Z
Ocampo in 1923 and they had four children. 

The young Francisco had his elementary

education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
He finished high school at the Liceo de Manila.
When he was seven years old, he took piano
lessons from a private tutor. After three years, he
studied pianoforte under Blas Echegoyen, and
then Faustino Villacorta and Primo Calzada.
Because his family was poor, he had to support
himself throughout school. 

When the University of the Philippines

Conservatory of Music was founded in 1916, he
was taken in as a piano instructor. He studied
advanced harmony and counterpoint under Robert
Schofield. Dr. Santiago obtained his teacher's
certificate in science and composition from the
University of the Philippines in 1922. He obtained
his masters in music at the Conservatory of
Chicago, USA in 1924 and his doctorate at the
Chicago Music School in the same year. It was
there that he presented his Concerto in B flat
minor for pianoforte and orchestra, which is
considered his masterpiece. He returned to the
Philippines in 1925 and resumed teaching at the
University of the Philippines. He became the
director at the UP Conservatory of Music from
1930 to 1946. He was appointed Professor
Emeritus at the University of the Philippines. 

Dr. Francisco Santiago died on the 28th of

September, 1947.  He was posthumously given
the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award by
the City of Manila in 1968.

Works:
 Sakali Man
 Hibik ng Pilipinas
 Pakiusap
 Ang Pag-ibig
 Ano Kaya Ang Kapalaran
 Hatol Hari Kaya?
 Aking Bituin
 Pagsikat ng Araw
 Kundiman, Anak Dalita
 Philippine Overture
 Sonata Filipina in D flat Major
 Kundiman
 Leron-leron Sinta
 Madaling Araw
 Pakiusap
Name of the Lucio San Pedro
Composer
BIOGRAPHY
Lucio 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.
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. 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.

San Pedro died on March 31, 2002, at the

age of 89.

Works:
Suite Pastorale
Sa Ugoy ng Duyan
Simbang Gabi
Lahing Kayumanggi
Sa Mahal Kong Bayan
Name of the Ryan Cayabyab
Composer
BIOGRAPHY
Ryan Cayabyab (born Raymundo Cipriano
Pujante Cayabyab but known as Mr. C) is a
Filipino musician and was the Executive and
Artistic Director of the defunct San Miguel
Foundation for the Performing Arts. He was
also a resident judge for the only season of
Philippine Idol in 2006.

His works range from commissioned full-

length ballets, theater musicals, choral pieces,
a Mass set to unaccompanied chorus, and
orchestral pieces, to commercial recordings of
popular music, film scores and television
specials.

Cayayab's current project includes the Ryan

Cayabyab Singers (RCS), a group of seven
young adult singers comparable to his prior
group Smokey Mountain in the early '90s.
After FreemantleMedia decided not to renew
the Philippine Idol franchise, Cayabyab
transferred to rival show Pinoy Dream
Academy (season 2), replacing Jim Paredes
as the show's headmaster. PDA 2 started on
June 14, 2008.

Works:
 Kumukutikutitap
 Da Coconut Nut
 Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika
Name of the Nicanor Abelardo
Composer (1893-1934)
BIOGRAPHY
Nicanor Santa Ana Abelardo was born on the
7th of February, 1893 in San Miguel de
Mayumo, Bulacan. He was a composer,
pianist and teacher. He was the eldest of
eight children born to Valentin Abelardo, a
photographer, and Placida Santa Ana, a
church singer. His father taught him solfeggio
and bandurria when he was five. At six, he
could already play the William Tell Overture
on the guitar. At barely 15, Abelardo took on
a teaching job in barrio schools in San
Ildefonso and San Miguel, Bulacan. 

In 1916, he studied at the University of the

Philippines Conservatory of Music. While
there, he composed the "U.P. Beloved", a
school hymn which won first prize in an open
musical contest in 1917. In 1918, he was
appointed as an assistant instructor in
solfeggio and harmony. He became a full-
pledged instructor in 1919. He received his
teacher's certificate in science and
composition in 1923. He then became the
head of the composition department the
following year. 

After more than 140 works, Abelardo began

to ail. He died in 1934 leaving behind several
unfinished works. 

Works:
 Naku Kenkoy
 Sa Iyong Kandungan
 Nasaan Ang Aking Puso
 Ikaw Rin
 Pahiwatig
 Himutok
 Mutya Ng Pasig
 Magbalik ka, Hirang
 Bituing Marikit
 Kundiman Ng Luha
 Donde Estas, Mi Vida?
 Nasaan Ka, Irog
 Pahimakas
 Amorosa
 Kung Hindi Man
Contemporary
Filipino
Composers