National Artists for Music and Dance

Antonio Molina

(Music, Composer and Conductor) Known for Hatinggabi, Matinal, and Malikmata; his compositions incorporate distinctive musical techniques.

Hatinggabi

(Music, Composition) A musical composition by Antonio Molina.

Matinal

(Music, Composition) A musical composition by Antonio Molina.

Malikmata

(Music, Composition) A musical composition by Antonio Molina.

Levi Celerio

(Music, Lyricist and Composer) Known for writing songs and for playing music using a leaf; his works include Ang Pipit and Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, whose music was composed by Lucio San Pedro.

Sa Ugoy ng Duyan

(Music, Song) A Filipino lullaby with lyrics by Levi Celerio and music by Lucio San Pedro.

Ang Pipit

(Music, Song) A song associated with lyricist and composer Levi Celerio.

Nicanor Abelardo

(Music, Composer) Known as the “Father of Filipino Sonata”; a prolific kundiman composer in the 1920s who composed more than 144 songs.

Bituing Marikit

(Music, Song and Sarsuwela) A work listed among Nicanor Abelardo’s compositions.

Dakilang Punglo

(Music, Composition) A work listed among Nicanor Abelardo’s compositions.

Kundiman ng Luha

(Music, Kundiman) A composition by Nicanor Abelardo.

Mutya ng Pasig

(Music, Kundiman) A composition by Nicanor Abelardo.

Nasaan Ka Irog?

(Music, Song) A composition by Nicanor Abelardo with stirring, poetic lyrics, as described in the lesson.

Naku… Kenkoy!

(Music, Composition, 1930) A composition by Nicanor Abelardo combining foxtrot and waltz with humor as a tribute to the komiks character Kenkoy.

Felipe de Leon

(Music, Composer, Conductor, and Scholar) Translated the Philippine National Anthem’s lyrics from Spanish into Filipino; helped preserve Filipino traditions by adapting Western musical forms to Filipino contexts.

Alitaptap

(Music, Composition) A work by Felipe de Leon.

Ang Lahi Ko’y Dakila

(Music, Composition) A work by Felipe de Leon.

Noche Buena

(Music, Composition) A work by Felipe de Leon.

Ramon P. Santos

(Music, Composer, Conductor, and Musicologist) A prominent exponent of contemporary Filipino music who draws on Philippine and Southeast Asian musical traditions.

Sandiwaan

(Music, Composition) A work by Ramon P. Santos that interweaves Asian culture, drama, poetry, and dance.

Daragang Magayon

(Music, Composition) A work by Ramon P. Santos that interweaves Asian culture, drama, poetry, and dance.

Ta-O

(Music, Composition) A work by Ramon P. Santos.

Honorata “Atang” dela Rama

(Theater and Music, Performer) Known as the “Queen of Kundiman”; advocated kundiman and sarsuwela as expressions of the Filipino soul and performed in Dalagang Bukid.

Nabasag na Banga

(Theater and Music, Sarsuwela Performance) A song Atang dela Rama performed as a 15-year-old and again when honored as Queen of Kundiman.

Dalagang Bukid

(Theater, Sarsuwela and Film) A sarsuwela in which Atang dela Rama performed; she later played the same role in its film version.

Antonino R. Buenaventura

(Music, Composer and Conductor) Restored the Philippine Army Band to its former prestige, helping it become renowned for a sound comparable to a symphony orchestra.

Jose Maceda

(Music, Ethnomusicology and Research) Composer, musicologist, teacher, and performer who documented traditional Filipino music through fieldwork and recordings from remote communities.

Andrea Veneracion

(Music, Choral Music) Founded the Philippine Madrigal Singers and spearheaded the development of Philippine choral music; also promoted music education and adjudicated international competitions.

Ryan Cayabyab

(Music, Composer) Composed more than 400 songs and worked across jazz, pop, theater, and ethnic music; known for poetic yet accessible lyrics.

Da Coconut Nut

(Music, Song) A song by Ryan Cayabyab.

Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika

(Music, Song) A song by Ryan Cayabyab.

Nais Ko

(Music, Song) A song by Ryan Cayabyab.

Paraiso

(Music, Song) A song by Ryan Cayabyab.

Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang

(Music, Song) A song by Ryan Cayabyab.

Kailan

(Music, Song) A song by Ryan Cayabyab.

Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka

(Music, Song) A song by Ryan Cayabyab.

Misa

(Music, Composition) A work by Ryan Cayabyab incorporating ethnic musical influences.

Kapinangan

(Music, Composition) A work by Ryan Cayabyab incorporating ethnic musical influences.

Maria Makiling

(Music, Composition) A work by Ryan Cayabyab incorporating ethnic musical influences.

Rama-Hari

(Music and Dance, Two-Act Musical Ballet, 1980) A musical ballet by Ryan Cayabyab.

Katy! The Musical

(Music and Theater, Two-Act Musical, 1988) A musical work by Ryan Cayabyab.

Smokey Mountain

(Music, Pop Album, 1990) A pop album associated with Ryan Cayabyab.

One Christmas

(Music, Christmas Album, 1993) An album associated with Ryan Cayabyab.

Noli Me Tangere

(Music and Theater, Tele-sine Musical, 1995) A musical adaptation associated with Ryan Cayabyab.

Spoliarium

(Music, Three-Act Opera, 2003) An opera by Ryan Cayabyab.

Ignacio of Loyola

(Film, Film Score, 2016) A film-score credit associated with Ryan Cayabyab.

Larawan: The Musical

(Music and Film, Full-Length Musical Film, 2017) A musical film associated with Ryan Cayabyab.

Alice Reyes

(Dance, Choreography) Developed a distinctly Filipino modern dance idiom combining Philippine indigenous dance, modern dance, and classical ballet.

Leonor Orosa Goquingco

(Dance, Choreography) Known as the “Mother of Philippine Theater Dance” and “Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics”; blended ballet, folkloric, and Asian styles in original choreographies.

Francisca Reyes Aquino

(Dance, Research and Publications) Known as the “Folk Dance Pioneer”; researched Philippine folk dances and helped use folk dancing to teach young Filipinos about cultural heritage.

Philippine Folk Dances and Games

(Dance, Research Publication, 1926) Francisca Reyes Aquino’s thesis documenting local celebrations, rituals, sports, and folk dances for educational use.

Philippine National Dances

(Dance, Book, 1946) A publication by Francisca Reyes Aquino.

Gymnastics for Girls

(Physical Education, Book, 1947) A publication by Francisca Reyes Aquino.

Fundamental Dance Steps and Music

(Dance, Book, 1948) A publication by Francisca Reyes Aquino.

Foreign Folk Dances

(Dance, Book, 1949) A publication by Francisca Reyes Aquino.

Dances for All Occasion

(Dance, Book, 1950) A publication by Francisca Reyes Aquino.

Playground Demonstration

(Dance, Book, 1951) A publication by Francisca Reyes Aquino.

Philippine Folk Dances, Volumes I–VI

(Dance, Book Series) A collection by Francisca Reyes Aquino documenting and promoting Philippine folk dances.

Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula

(Dance, Choreography) Dance director of the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company; creatively developed and staged mountain, Spanish-influenced, Muslim, regional, and rural dances.

Singkil

(Dance, Choreography) A Bayanihan signature number choreographed by Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula, based on a Maranao epic poem.

Vinta

(Dance, Choreography) A dance staged by Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula honoring Filipino sailing prowess.

Tagabili

(Dance, Choreography) A dance staged by Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula depicting tribal conflict.

Pagdiwata

(Dance, Choreography) A staged dance by Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula that condenses a four-day harvest festival into a short performance.

Salidsid

(Dance, Choreography) A mountain wedding dance staged by Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula.

Idaw

(Dance, Choreography) A dance staged by Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula.

Banga

(Dance, Choreography) A dance staged by Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula.

Aires de Verbena

(Dance, Choreography) A dance staged by Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula.

Ramon Obusan

(Dance, Research and Performance) Researcher, archivist, documentary filmmaker, and dance artist who documented Philippine cultural life, dance, music, and costumes.

Vamos a Belen! Series

(Dance, Philippine Dance Tradition, 1998–2004) A dance series associated with Ramon Obusan.

Noon Po sa Amin

(Dance and Theater, Historical Presentation) A presentation of Philippine history through song, drama, and dance by Ramon Obusan.

Obra Maestra

(Dance, Collection of Dance Works) A collection of Ramon Obusan’s dance masterpieces.

Unpublished Dances of the Philippines, Series I–IV

(Dance, Documentation Series) A series by Ramon Obusan documenting Philippine dances.

Water, Fire and Life

(Dance and Music, Performance) A Philippine dance-and-music celebration of life associated with Ramon Obusan.

Saludo sa Sentenyal

(Dance, Cultural Production) A work listed among Ramon Obusan’s productions.

Glimpses of ASEAN

(Dance and Music, Cultural Production) Presents dances and music of ASEAN member countries; associated with Ramon Obusan.

Saplot

(Dance and Costume, Cultural Production) A Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group production featuring Philippine costumes in dance.