Manila dads honor Celerio, San Pedro

The Manila City Council unanimously approved a resolution giving due recognition to the late National Artists for Music and Literature Levi Celerio and Maestro Lucio San Pedro for their valuable contribution to Philippine Arts and Music.

All the members of the City Council present in last Tuesday’s session supported the resolution authored by Councilor Lou Veloso of the City’s Sixth District.

Celerio, an inventor of novelty music who had written nearly 4,000 songs, passed away on April 2. He also landed in the Guinness Book of World Records for his talent in making music out of non-musical media such as saws and plant leaves.

San Pedro, on the other hand, who received the Republic Heritage Award in 1962 for his symphonic poem "Lahing Kayumanggi," died on March 31.

"We have to pay the highest tribute to memories and the life-long contributions of the two late national artists," said Veloso, an actor-turned politician. "Let’s us give credit where credit is due. They contributed a lot to Philippine Music and Arts," said Councilor Kim Atienza of the City’s Fifth District in supporting Veloso’s proposal.– Cecille Suerte Felipe