Monday, May 4, 2009

LEVI CELERIO


LEVI CELERIO

Levi Celerio (April 30, 1910 - April 2, 2002) was a Filipino composer and lyricist who was born in Manila, Philippines. Celerio was a prolific song-writer, with over 4,000 songs to his credit. He is perhaps best-known for being a leaf-player, a feat for which he was put into the Guinness Book of World Records. In 1997, he was named National Artist of the Philippines for Music. He died on April 2, 2002.

Levi Celerio was born on April 30, 1910 in Tondo, Manila. He received a scholarship to the Academy of Music in Manila and became the youngest member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra. He wrote several number of songs for local movies, which earned for him the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Film Academy of the Philippines. Celerio has written lyrics for more than 4,000 Filipino folk, Christmas, and love songs, including many that became movie titles.

Known for being a lyricist, his songs cherish life, convey nationalistic sentiments and utter grand philosophies. Celerio wrote more than 4,000 songs, among them are popular pieces, which many consider to be immortal. At one time or another, no Filipino could miss the tune or lyrics of Levi's Christmas songs: Pasko na Naman, Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon (Ang Pasko ay Sumapit), and Misa de Gallo.

His more popular love songs include: Saan Ka Man Naroroon?, Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal, Kapag Puso'y Sinugatan, and Ikaw, O Maliwanag na Buwan, Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak, Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, Bagong Pagsilang, and Sapagkat Kami'y Tao Lamang, while his folk songs include Ang Pipit, Tinikling, Tunay na Tunay, Itik-Itik, Waray-Waray, Pitong Gatang, Ako ay May Singsing, Alibangbang, Alembong, Galawgaw, Caprichosa, Ang Tapis ni Inday, Dungawin Mo Hirang, Umaga na Neneng, Ikaw Kasi, and Basta't Mahal Kita. Celerio also wrote nationalistic songs such as Ang Bagong Lipunan, Lupang Pangarap, and Tinig ng Bayan.

Celerio, for a time, was also recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the only man who could play music with a leaf. Because of his talent, Celerio was invited to The Merv Griffin Show, where he played "All the Things You Are" with 39 musicians. Using his leaf, Levi wowed the crowd and got the attention of the Guinness Book of World Records. The Book later listed the entry: "The only leaf player in the world is in the Philippines". He would also later appear on That's Incredible!.

On October 9, 1997, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1114, President Fidel V. Ramos proclaimed him a National Artist for Music and Literature. His citation read that his music "was a perfect embodiment of the heartfelt sentiments and valued traditions of the Filipino."

Later years

In his old age, Levi occasionally appeared in public, usually at a concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He was also playing at a Quezon City bar from time to time.

He died at the Delgado Clinic in Quezon City on April 2, 2002 at the age of 91, just two days after the death of a fellow National Artist, Lucio San Pedro (who wrote the music for Sa Ugoy ng Duyan). But his death was overshadowed by the death a few days earlier of the popular matinee idol Rico Yan, thus, his death was received with little public attention. He was buried with full military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (National Heroes' Cemetery).

Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (February 2009)

* The Swallow Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands is named after him.
* He has five siblings: Joey, Louie, Edmond, Tita and Levi Celerio, Jr. Only Joey Celerio fortunately had kids amongst the siblings. They are Joseph Christian and Joy Christina. Both of them didn't had the talent of the late national artist, instead they excelled in visual arts. Both of them pursued to study architecture. Unfortunately, Joey's family broke. Presently, Joy and Joseph don't live with their parents Joey and Ofelia.

* His child Eric Celerio, his youngest son, now lives in New York with his wife Glazen, his daughter and his son. Eric Celerio is a song composer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Celerio

Levi Celerio

Si Levi Celerio (1910-2002), isang lirisista at kompositor, ay Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Musika nang Pilipinas. Bilang isang kompositor, nakasulat siya ng higit sa 4000 na mga awit sa Tagalog. Ang ilan sa mga ito ay salin mula sa mga banyagang kanta o mga bernakular na awit, ngunit ang karamihan dito ay kanyang mga orihinal na obra.

Pinagmulan at Edukasyon

Ipinanganak siya noong 30 Abril 1910 sa Tondo, Maynila at supling nina Juliana Celerio, ang nagturo sa kanya na tumugtog ng harpa, at ni Cornelio Cruz.

Nang siya ay 11 taong gulang, kumuha siya ng aralin mula sa Philippine Constabulary at kinalaunan ay naging miyembro nito. Nakatapos siya ng dalawang semestre ng kurso sa pagtugtog ng biyulin sa Konserbatoryo ng Musika sa UP, at pagkatapos ay kumuha ng tulong pinansyal sa pag-aaral, sa Academy of Music sa Maynila

Mga Natatanging Obra

* Alembon (musika ni J. Silos Jr.)
* Bagong Pagsilang (F.de Leon)
* Kapag Puso'y Sinugatan (T. Maiquez)
* Galawgaw (J.Silos Jr.)
* Misa de Gallo (J. Balita)
* Pasko na Naman (F. de Leon),
* Sa Ugoy ng Duyan (L. San Pedro)
* Saan Ka Man Naroroon (R. Umali)
* Tinikling (awiting bayan)
* Itik-itik (awiting bayan)
* Waray-waray (J.Silos Jr.)
* Tunay na Tunay (J. Silos Jr.)
* Ang Pasko ay Sumapit

Ang ibang mga awit na naisulat ni Celerio ay ginamit sa ilang mga pelikula tulad ng "Pandora" at "Ikaw ang Mahal Ko" para sa Premiere Productions' Pandora, Sapagka't Kami ay Tao Lamang, Kapantay ay Langit, Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa, Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Pitong Gatang, Hanggang Doon Kay Bathala, Babaeng Uliran, Eva at Adan, (starring Edna Luna), Caprichosa, Malvarosa, Ang Dalagang Taga-bukid, Alabok na Ginto ar Ang Daigdig Ko'y Ikaw.

Mga Pagkilala

* Natatanging Gawad Urian mula sa Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino noong 24 April 1993
* Humanities doctorate honoris causa mula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, 1991
* Lifetime Achievement Award mula sa Film Academy of the Philippines
* Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining mula sa Cultural Center of the Philippines
* Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Musika

Siya rin ay pumasok sa Guiness Book of World Records para sa natatanging tao na may kakayahang gumawa ng musika gamit ang dahon.

Panlabas na Kawing

* Levi Celerio
* Filipino of the Century

Sanggunian

* Natatanging Gawad 1993: Levi Celerio. (Hinango noong 24 Abril 2008).
* Levi Celerio. (Hinango noong 24 Abril 2008).

http://fil.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Levi_Celerio

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