Contemporary Composers

Levi Celerio was born on April 30, 1910, in Tondo, Manila to parents that hailed from Baliuag, Bulacan.
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 good 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, 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 Bagong Pagsilang, 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!.
Canseco wrote the classic "Kapantay Ay Langit", a theme from the award winning motion picture
sung by Amapola. It also had an English version titled "You're All I Love" that was sung by American
singer Vic Dana that included some Tagalog lines. The song won the Manila Film Festival Best Song
Of The Year Award in 1972. Canseco followed it with an English song entitled "Songs" exclusively
for "Songs and Amapola" under the Vicor Music Corporation Pioneer Label. Canseco's best-known
composition, however, was "Child", the English-language version of Freddie Aguilar's signature song
"Anák". He wrote for Sharon Cuneta and Basil Valdez, and his songs were also recorded by Regine
Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pilita Corrales, Martin Nievera, and Kuh Ledesma. Rey Valera was a
lyricist of two of Canseco's songs.
Canseco credited film producer and Vicor Music Corporation owner Vic del Rosario for his biggest
break in the music industry. Canseco was elected President of the Filipino Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers, Inc. in 1973, and also elected a Councillor for the First District of Quezon
City in 1988
1998 Muling ibalik ang tamis ng pag-ibig

1995 Paano ang ngayon kung wala ang kahapon
1993 Ikaw
1992 Ngayon at kailanman
1989 Imortal
1989 Ang babaeng nawawala sa sarili
1989 Babangon ako't dudurugin kita
1988 Langit at lupa
1988 Paano tatakasan ang bukas?
1987 Saan nagtatago ang pag-ibig?
1987 Kung aagawin mo ang lahat Sa Akin
1986 Huwag mong itanong kung bakit
1986 Magdusa ka!
1986 Iyo ang Tondo kanya ang Cavite
1986 Kailan tama ang mali
1985 Bomba Arienda
1985 Paradise Inn
1985 Kailan sasabihing mahal kita
1985 Tinik sa dibdib
1985 Muling buksan ang puso
1985 Isla
1984 Muntinlupa
1984 Sa hirap at ginhawa
1984 Minanong magat
1984 Sampung ahas ni Eva
1984 Somewhere
1984 Piesta
1984 Daddy's Little Darlings
1984 Apoy sa iyong kandungan
1984 Dapat ka bang mahalin?
1984 Pieta: Ikalawang aklat
1983 Laruan
1983 Dugong buhay
1983 Minsan pa nating hagkan ang nakaraan
1983 Saan darating ang umaga?
1983 Sa bawat tunog ng kampana
1983 To Love Again
1983 Pieta
1983 Paano ba ang mangarap?
1983 Sana, bukas pa ang kahapon
1983 Palabra de honor
1983 Friends in Love
1983 Mga alagad ng kuwadradong mesa
1982 Moral
1982 Bambang
1982 Gaano kadalas ang minsan?
1982 Lalake ako
1982 Cross My Heart
1982 Sinasamba kita
1982 Alyas Palos II
1982 Forgive and Forget
1982 Mga uod at rosas
1982 Magkano ... ang kalayaan mo
1982 My Only Love
1981 P.S. I Love You
1981 Bawal
1981 Dear Heart
1981 Legs Katawan Babae
1981 Hari ng stunt
1981 Flor de Liza
1981 Ang babaing hinugot sa aking tadyang
1981 High School Scandal
1980 Brutal
1980 Kung ako'y iiwan mo
1980 Langis at tubig
1980 Broken Home
1980 Lumakad kang hubad... Sa mundong ibabaw
1980 Kastilyong buhangin
1980 Bubot na bayabas
1980 Pagbabalik ng mga tigre
1980 Miss X
1980 Nakaw na pag-ibig
1979 Kadete
1979 Star
1979 Aliw
1979 Pag-ibig, bakit ka ganyan?
1979 Hiwaga
1979 Huwag
1979 Biyak na manyika
1979 Menor de edad
1979 Coed
1979 Huwag, bayaw
1978 Atsay
1978 Katawang alabok
1978 Kid kaliwete
1978 Dyesebel
1978 Lalaki, ikaw ang dahilan
1978 Kukulog, kikidlat sa tanghaling tapat
1978 Miss Dulce Amor, Ina
1978 Pagputi ng uwak... Pag-itim ng tagak
1978 Isang gabi sa iyo... Isang gabi sa akin
1978 Topo-Topo barega
1978 Sa lungga ng mga daga
1978 Mananayaw
1978 Doble kara
1978 Hubad sa mundo
1978 Bakit kailangan kita
1977 Burlesk Queen
1977 Dalagang ina
1977 Bawa't himaymay ng aking laman
1977 Ang diwata
1977 Pang umaga, pang tanghali, pang gabi
1976 Hagdan-hagdan ang daan sa langit
1976 Makamandag si adora
1976 Malvarosa
1976 Hinog sa pilit
1976 Mga rosas sa putikan
1976 May langit ang bawat nilikha
1976 Wanted ... Ded or Alayb
1976 Mrs. Eva Fonda, 16
1976 Hugasan mo ang aking kasalaman
1975 Saan ka Pupunta, Miss Lutgarda Nicolas?
1975 Batu-bato sa langit: Ang tamaa'y huwag magagalit
1975 Niño Valiente
1975 Hello, Goodnight, Goodbye
1975 Ang inyong linkod—matutina
1974 Vilma and the Beep Beep Minica
1974 Magsikap: Kayod sa araw, kayod sa gabi
1973 Babalik ka rin
1971 Kapantay ay langit

Contemporary Composers

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Levi Celerio was born on April 30, 1910, in Tondo, Manila to parents that hailed from Baliuag, Bulacan.

1998 Muling ibalik ang tamis ng pag-ibig

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