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    Levi Celerio

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    Daisuke Inoue
    Levi Celerio was a prolific Filipino composer and lyricist who wrote over 4,000 songs. He is best known for being able to play music using only a leaf, which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Celerio wrote lyrics that celebrated Filipino culture and expressed national pride. In 1997, he was named a National Artist of the Philippines for Music in recognition of his significant contributions to the country's music.

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    Levi Celerio

    Uploaded by

    Daisuke Inoue
    1K views2 pages
    Levi Celerio was a prolific Filipino composer and lyricist who wrote over 4,000 songs. He is best known for being able to play music using only a leaf, which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Celerio wrote lyrics that celebrated Filipino culture and expressed national pride. In 1997, he was named a National Artist of the Philippines for Music in recognition of his significant contributions to the country's music.

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    Levi Celerio

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    Levi Celerio was a prolific Filipino composer and lyricist who wrote over 4,000 songs. He is best known for being able to play music using only a leaf, which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Celerio wrote lyrics that celebrated Filipino culture and expressed national pride. In 1997, he was named a National Artist of the Philippines for Music in recognition of his significant contributions to the country's music.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    1K views2 pages

    Levi Celerio

    Uploaded by

    Daisuke Inoue
    Levi Celerio was a prolific Filipino composer and lyricist who wrote over 4,000 songs. He is best known for being able to play music using only a leaf, which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Celerio wrote lyrics that celebrated Filipino culture and expressed national pride. In 1997, he was named a National Artist of the Philippines for Music in recognition of his significant contributions to the country's music.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Levi Celerio

    Levi Celerio (April 30, 1910 – April 2, 2002) was a Filipino composer and
    lyricist. Celerio was a prolific songwriter, with over 4,000 songs to his credit.
    He is perhaps best known for being a leaf-player, a feat for which he was
    put into the Guinness Book of World Records. In 1997, he was
    named National Artist of the Philippines for Music.

    Early life and career


    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!.

    Proclaimed as National Artist


    On October 9, 1997, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1114, President Fidel V.
    Ramos proclaimed him a National Artist for Music and Literature. His
    citation read that his music "was a perfect embodiment of the heartfelt
    sentiments and valued traditions of the Filipino."[2]

    Later years
    In his old age, Levi occasionally appeared in public, usually at a concert at
    the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He was also playing at a Quezon
    City bar from time to time.[3]

    Death
    He died at the Delgado Clinic in Quezon City on April 2, 2002, at the age of
    91, just two days after the death of a fellow National Artist, Lucio San
    Pedro (who wrote the music for Sa Ugoy ng Duyan). But his death was
    overshadowed by the death a few days earlier of the popular matinee
    idol Rico Yan, thus, his death was received with little public attention. He
    was buried with full military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (National
    Heroes' Cemetery).[3]

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