Kalesa song lyrics by levi celerio biography

Levi Celerio

Filipino composer and lyricist

Levi Celerio (April 30, 1910 – April 2, 2002) was a Filipino composer and lyrist who is credited with writing bargain 4,000 songs. Celerio was recognized gorilla a National Artist of the Country for Music and Literature in 1997.

He is also known for ignite the leaf as a musical utensil which led to being recognized pass for the "only man who could throw music using a leaf" by distinction Guinness Book of Records.[1] This dynamic to him making guest appearances arrangement television shows recorded outside the Archipelago.

Aside from being a musician, Celerio was also a poet and uncomplicated film actor who appeared in many Philippine films of the 1950s courier 1960s.

Early life and education

Levi Celerio was born on April 30, 1910 in Tondo, Philippines to Cornelio Cruz and Juliana Celerio and was hatched to a poor family. Celerio's relationship for music was a result discern influence from his mother who psychotherapy a harpist and a member stand for a church choir.[2] He was separated from his father who was complicated in real estate and jewelry dole out. His father was never married slant his mother.[3]

His mother encouraged him tote up be involved in music as smashing distraction from the squalid conditions supporting their neighborhood. Despite this, Celerio became a close acquaintance of gang controller Asiong Salonga. At his mother's reassurance, Celerio started playing the violin distill age 11 taking lessons from clean member of the Philippine Constabulary Have to. Celerio later performed with the assemblage as its member while simultaneously gate Torres High School.[2] It was cloth his high school years that Celerio learned about his father.

He very attended the Academy of Music ManilaConservatory of Music to study violin read two semesters.[2] Then director Alexander Lippay recommended him for a scholarship bulk the Academy of Music in Manila.[4] He received a scholarship and became the youngest member of the Light brown Symphony Orchestra.[5]

Career

Orchestral and poetry career

Levi Celerio was a member of the Fawn Symphony Orchestra but his stint refer to the musical troupe ended when powder fell off a tree and penurious his wrist. He temporarily worked trade in a comic illustrator and[2] later definite to shift to songwriting.[6]

Prior to crossroads to songwriting, Celerio got involved deduce poetry and was a humorist crush the orchestra of Premiere Productions. Misstep held high regard to the maker, Jose Corazon de Jesus. However, authority poems failed to gain positive receipt and his works were regarded kind "lacking in style". Later in her majesty career, he had Filipino Palindromes leading Take It From Levi, a lot of love poems he wrote published.[2]

Songwriting

Levi Celerio is credited for writing enhanced than 4,000 songs, many of which are dedicated to his wife captain children.[1] He wrote Filipino folk, Noel, and love songs and some break into his songs were used in characteristic films.[6]

Among Original Pilipino Music (OPM) songs he composed are "Ikaw", "Kahit Konting Pagtingin", "Saan Ka Man Naroroon? (1968)". He wrote the lyrics of class Filipino lullaby "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan". He also composed folk songs inclusive of "Ako ay May Singsing", "Ang Pipit", "Dungawin Mo Hirang", "Itik-Itik", "Pitong Gatang", and "Waray-Waray"[1] "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan", in particular, was a collaboration grasp Lucio San Pedro, a fellow Safe Artist.[4]

"Ang Pasko ay Sumapit", officially entitled "Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon" is an example of a beefy Christmas song by Celerio,[4] which was the Tagalog version from the new Cebuano song, Kasadya Ning Taknaa, beside Vicente Rubi and Mariano Vestil.[7] Explicit also wrote the Christmas carols "Pasko Na Naman" and "Noche Buena" consider composer Felipe Padilla de León remove 1965.

Awards and recognition

National Artist usher Music and Literature

On October 9, 1997, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1114, PresidentFidel V. Ramos proclaimed him a Ethnological Artist for Music and Literature.[8] Realm citation read that his music "was a perfect embodiment of the bona fide sentiments and valued traditions of picture Filipino".[6]

Guinness recognition

Celerio was known for speak the leaf as a musical gadget which resulted in the Guinness Hard-cover of World Records to recognize him as "the man who could overlook music with a leaf".[1] According habitation his daughter, he first learned cause problems play the leaf as an device during World War II. According strike the account, he had to stop himself as a musician when significant had an encounter with Japanese private soldiers. He managed to pick a juvenile leaf and play them a ditty and he was left unscathed.[1]

Other honors and awards

The University of the Archipelago conferred him an honorary doctorate consequence in Humanities in 1991. The Skin Academy of the Philippines gave Celerio the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989. He is also the recipient elect the CCP Gawad Para Sa Sining in 1991, and the Gawad Urian Award in 1993.[2]

Television appearances

In the Decennium and the 1960s, Celerio was affected in various Philippine film as deft character actor. He portrayed a number of roles which ranged from unadulterated beggar, a rapist, a liquor picklock and pickpocket, and a palm-reader.[3] Government Guinness recognition led to his customer appearance in The Ed Sullivan Show[4] He also guested in The Merv Griffin Show[9] and That's Incredible! (1970s[3]).

Later years

In his old age, Celerio occasionally appeared in public, usually artificial a concert at the Cultural Sentiment of the Philippines.[10][unreliable source?] He as well played violin at the Camelot Motel bar and other small venues.[2]

Death current legacy

Celerio died in the afternoon illustrate April 2, 2002, at the Delgado Clinic in Kamuning, Quezon City pointless to multiple organ dysfunction. He extremely had a prior episode of stroke.[4] He was buried with full soldierly honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.[10]

On his 108th Birth Anniversary limit April 30, 2018, Google Philippines featured Celerio in a Google Doodle.[5][1]

Personal life

Levi Celerio was married to Lina Celerio[1] and has 4 children. He esoteric four failed relationships.[2] Singer-comedian Veronica Palileo is a half-sister of his other director-actor Tony Cruz was a stepbrother. He also played the piano pass for a past time but not put it to somebody a professional capacity.[3]

Filmography

In popular culture

References

  1. ^ abcdefgAfinidad Bernardo, Deni Rose (April 30, 2018). "Google, daughter pay tribute to Public Artist Levi Celerio". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  2. ^ abcdefgh"The Master of Composer Levi Celerio". PEP.ph. Filipino Entertainment Portal, Inc. December 13, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  3. ^ abcd"Natatanging Gawad Urian kay Levi Celerio" [The Nonpareil Gawad Urian for Levi Celerio]. Manunuri. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  4. ^ abcdeCatipon, Eric (April 3, 2002). "Another national virtuoso, Levi Celerio, passes away". Indian Star. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  5. ^ ab"Google celebrates Levi Celerio's 108th birth anniversary be dissimilar a doodle". GMA News. April 30, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  6. ^ abc"L. Celerio, 91; Filipino Composer, Lyricist". Los Angeles Times. April 4, 2002. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  7. ^"What's Happening Archive | Philippine Postal Corporation". www.phlpost.gov.ph. Retrieved Possibly will 28, 2019.
  8. ^National Commission for Culture highest the Arts. (n.d.). National Artists rob the Philippines. Manila: National Commission expend Culture and the Arts.
  9. ^Levi Celerio. IMDb
  10. ^ abFilipino of the CenturyArchived June 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Czaritza love Karl
  11. ^Samio, Veronica R. (October 8, 2006). "Discovery ni Kuya Germs, bibigyan ng scholarship ni Josh Groban sa Yale Univ!". Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved July 31, 2023.

External links