Felipe Padilla De LeonFelipe Padilla De Leon - National Filipino ArtistFelipe Padilla De Leon, Sr. was a major Philippine composer, conductor, and scholar. He was known best for translating the lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem from the original Spanish to Tagalog. A recipient of numerous awards and honors, he was posthumously named National Artist of the Philippines for music in 1997. He was the father of equally gifted and musical children: Bayani, Luningning, Marilag, Tagumpay, and De Leon Jr.. Musical CareerFelipe Padilla de Leon was born in Peņaranda, Nueva Ecija on May 1, 1912. He was educated in Manila and the United States. He taught in various schools in the capital city. He became conductor of Banda Malaya No. 1 of Taytay, Rizal. He was known for Filipinizing western music forms. He was a prodigious composer: for orchestra, Mariang Makiling Overture (1939), Roca Encantada (1950), Maynila Overture (1976), Orchesterstuk (1981); for choral music, Ako'y Pilipino, Lupang Tinubuan, and Ama Namin. De Leon wrote his famous piece Payapang Daigdig the morning after he woke up to the destruction of the city of Manila during World War II. He also wrote the classic songs Bulaklak, Alitaptap, Mutya ng Lahi and the kundiman Sarong Banggi. He also composed the first full-length Filipino opera, [Noli Me Tangere Opera |Noli Me Tangere]. Many Martial Law babies recall singing his patriotic song "Bagong Lipunan" immediately after the national anthem. Musical LegacyDe Leon not only took Filipino music seriously. He made every effort to keep music traditions alive, even in small towns. Hagonoy.com reported: "Sometime in the 1950's, a stranger named Prof. Felipe Padilla de Leon walked in this barrio and formed the Hagonoy Banda Malaya brass band. 'I am walking the history or re-enacting it,' Padilla claimed. 'Next time around, my eyes are on the brass band.'" Hagonoy.com Thus began his fruitful and happy relationship with the historic town. De Leon also wrote and lectured extensively on Philippine music and culture. He wrote as a columnist of the Manila Times, Taliba, and others. He toured Himig ng Lahi, which he founded as a performing group with a lecture-concert format throughout the US and the Philippines. He established the Filipino society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (FILSCAP) and united all the bands of the Philippines with Pambansang Samahan ng mga Bandas sa Pilipinas (PASAMBAP). Felipe Padilla de Leon is remembered as one of the prime exponents of nationalism in Philippine music. He gave the Philippines two fully-written grand operas: Noli Me Tangere in 1957 and the sequel El Filibusterismo in 1970. Musical AwardsHe was conferred various awards and distinctions including the Republic Cultural Heritage Award, Doctor of Humanities from UP, Rizal Pro-Patria Award, Presidential Award of Merit, Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila, among others. On December 8, 1997 De Leon was posthumously conferred by President Fidel V. Ramos the highest honor a Filipino artist can receive, the National Artist Award for music. He is still considered the most prolific composer in Philippine music. The Felipe Padilla de Leon High School in Nueva Ecija was named after him. A-H: Best of OPM Filipino Artists and Singers resources | terms | privacy | sitemap |blog
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