Levi Celerio

BY HEINRICH ELY D. SIANGCO

Levi Celerio

 Levi Celerio was a Filipino composer who wrote over

4,000+ songs. Levi Celerio was recognized as a national
artist of the Philippines for music and literature in 1997
 He is also known for using the leaf as a musical instrument
which led to being recognized as the "only man who could
play music using a leaf" by the Guinness Book of Records.
This led to him making a guest appearance in television
shows recorded outside the Philippines.
Career

 Levi Celerio was a member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra but his stint with
the musical troupe ended when he fell off a tree and broke his wrist. He temporarily
worked as a comic illustrator and later decided to shift to songwriting.

 Prior to turning to songwriting, Celerio got involved in poetry and was a humorist
in the orchestra of Premiere Productions. He held high regard to the poet, Jose
Corazon de Jesus. However, his poems failed to gain positive reception and his
works were regarded as "lacking in style". Later in his career, he had Filipino
Palindromes and Take It From Levi, a collection of love poems he wrote published.
Songwriting

 Levi Celerio is credited for writing more than 4,000 songs, many of which are dedicated to his wife
and children. He wrote Filipino folk, Christmas, and love songs and some of his songs were used in
feature films.

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

 "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit", officially titled "Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon" is an
example of a well-known Christmas song by Celerio, which was the Tagalog version from the
original Cebuano song, Kasadya Ning Taknaa, by Vicente Rubi and Mariano Vestil. He also wrote the
Christmas carols "Pasko Na Naman" and "Noche Buena" with composer Felipe Padilla de León in
1965.
Early life and education

 Levi Celerio was born on April 30, 1910, in Tondo, Philippines to Cornelio Cruz and Juliana Celerio and was born to a poor
family. Celerio's affinity for music was a result of influence from his mother who is a harpist and a member of a church choir. He
was estranged from his father who is involved in the real estate and jewelry business. His father was never married to his mother.

 His mother encouraged him to be involved in music as a distraction from the squalid conditions of their neighborhood. Despite
this, Celerio became a close acquaintance of gang leader Asiong Salonga. At his mother's encouragement, Celerio started playing
the violin at age 11 taking lessons from a member of the Philippine Constabulary Band. Celerio later performed with the band as
its member while simultaneously attending Torres High School. It was during his high school years that Celerio learned about his
father.

 He also attended the Academy of Music Manila Conservatory of Music to study violin for two semesters. Then director
Alexander Lippay recommended him for a scholarship at the Academy of Music in Manila. He received scholarship and became
the youngest member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.