My cousins Eagerness
...pine Philharmonic Orchestra backing them up - all under the vigorous, energetic, and excellent baton of conductor, Prof. Josefino Chino Toledo. In Lucio's day, also singing were the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the UP Concert Chorus, UP Singing Ambassadors with Ramon Acoymo as soloist and leading tenor Nolyn Cabahug rendering the hauntingly-beautiful "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan" (music, Lucio San Pedro, lyrics, Levi Celerio) and Ballet Philippines simultaneously dancing to Denisa Reyes' choreography. Paying tribute to Levi were CCP Chairman Baltazar Endriga and NCCA OIC and Undersecretary of Tourism Evelyn Pantig. Chairman Baltazar Endriga message (freely translated from the original Tagalog) reads in part: "I still remember when the nominees for the National Artist in 1997 was being tackled I said that Mr. Celerio was appropriate because he was known by every Filipino as the lyricist that showed the minds and feelings of the Filipinos… lyrics that are for a lifetime… "The Filipinos are becoming known to the whole world as people who love and are good in music. We can say that our music unites us as one nation specially the music and poems of Levi Celerio…" For her part Undersecretary of the Department of Tourism and NCCA OIC Evelyn Pantig observed that: "Much has been said about Celerio's musical and literary genius. He was a prolific composer and lyricist who has created thousands of songs that captivated and moved generations of Filipinos. His brilliance lies in the effortless way his creations, which have become an integral part of every Filipino's consciousness. Ka Levi was also a humorist, and a creative writer who lauded the value of ordinary things in everyday life. He seemed to effortlessly cross the creative barriers of each art, gaining the recognition and respect of his colleagues in the fields of music, literature and cinema." H.E., Mme. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's message read by Presidential Adviser on Cultural Affairs, Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani: "Levi Celerio is lyricist to an estimated 4,000 songs including classics such as "Sa Ugoy ng Duyan," "Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak," "Saan Ka Man Naroroon," "Sapagka't Kami'y Tao Lamang," "Pipit." It is also to him that we owe some of the best translations and lyrics of folk music from various regions; the Pampango "Ako ay May Singsing;" the Bisaya "Alibangbang;" the Batangueño "Subli," the Tagalog "Itik-Itik," among others. These compositions although exhibiting qualities specific to their region expressed shared pure consciousness and the simple joys of the Filipino people. "Levi Celerio helped to raise the level of awareness and appreciation of our culture." "Although Levi has left us, his songs will live on…" Others who paid tribute to Levi Celerio were National Artist for Visual Arts Napoleon Abueva, OPM (Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit) President Mitch Valdez, and President of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. George Canseco. Paying tribute to Lucio were ageless opera diva and also, the CCP Board of Trustee Irma Potenciano who not...