FELIPE PADILLA

DE LEON
BIOGRAPHY
A Filipino music composer, conductor, and scholar.
He was known for composing different sonatas,
marches and concertos that reflect the Filipino
identity, and he was known for Filipinizing western
music forms. He was born to Juan De Leon and
Natalia Padilla on the 1st of May, 1912 in the barrio
of Papaya in Penaranda, Nueva Ecija.

He worked as an assistant conductor of the Nueva

Ecija High School Orchestra where he started
doing musical arrangements. In 1939, he
graduated with a music teacher's diploma, major in
conducting. He married Iluminada Bonus Mendoza
and had six equally gifted and musical children:
Felipe, Bayani, Tagumpay, Luningning, Magdangal
and Marilag. Finally, he died on the 5th of
December, 1992.

Noli Me Tangere (1957)

FAMOUS WORKS
Aside from his two opera masterpieces, Noli Me
Tangere (1957) and El Filibusterismo (1970),
which performed numerous times in the Philippines
and abroad, he has also made compositions that
are inspired by Filipino folk songs such as Mariang
Makiling Overture (1939), Maynila Overture (1976),
Ang Magtanim ay ‘Di Biro, and compositions that
reflect the Filipino identity such as Ako’y Pilipino,
Lupang Tinubuan, at Mabuhay ang Pilipino.

He is also commonly known for translating the El Filibusterismo (1970)

Philippine National Anthem from Spanish to
Tagalog. During the Word War II, he composed
“Payapang Daigdig” which encapsulates the
hope-filled spirits of the Filipinos in times of
strife. During the Japanese Occupation, he then
wrote “Tindig, Aking Inang Bayan”, and
composed the march “Bagong Pagsilang”
during the martial law. All of these songs aimed
to encourage nationalism within Filipino society.
He also organized the Pambansang Samahan
ng mga Banda sa Pilipinas (PASAMBAP), and
the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers (FILSCAP).

CONTRIBUTIONS TO
PHILIPPINE ARTS
During his time of living, Philippine Art has remained a
question for a lot of Filipinos after being influenced by
a lot of factors. The need to define what “Filipino” is
bloomed, and this inspired a call for action from artists
such as De Leon. From the Commonwealth Period up
to the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, his musical
compositions have become the full expression of the
sentiments and aspirations of the Filipino in times of
strife and peace throughout the ages of Philippine
history. Because of this, he received many awards,
one of which is the highest honour a Filipino artist can
receive: the National Artist of the Philippines (1997).
REFERENCES

Short Biography of Felipe Padilla de Leon. (n.d.).

https://filipinokundimans.blogspot.com/2013/11
/short-biography-of-felipe-padilla-de.html?m=1

Nolimetangereopera. (n.d.).
Nolimetangereopera. Nolimetangereopera.
https://nolimetangereopera.com/felipe-de-leon

Prezi, C. B. O. (n.d.). Felipe de León. prezi.com.

https://prezi.com/igwbw5g6ccsk/felipe-de-
leon/#:~:text=His%20two%20operas%2C%2
0NOLI%20ME,in%20the%20Philippines%20an
d%20abroad.

De Leon, Felipe Padilla. (n.d.). CulturEd:

Philippine Cultural Education Online.
https://philippineculturaleducation.com.ph/de-
leon-felipe-padilla/

Felipe Padilla de Leon on Philippines Stamps.

(n.d.).
https://topicalphilippines.com/People_Individual
s/deLeon_Felipe.html