Francisco Santiago: Music of the Past Looking Toward the Future
By: Khyrus Santos, Dan Madrazo, Chello Gonzales
Ang bayan ko tanging ikaw…
This, of course, is the patriotic tune of Pilipinas Kong Mahal, usually heard in flag ceremonies across the Philippines. It is a proclamation of one's love for the nation, to serve its islands.
The melody, in particular, is fascinating. Something about it seems Filipino, as if it embodies all that is Filipino: bold, assertive, a bit of pathos, yet somewhat optimistic, as if looking towards the future of the Philippines.
It is not just something cultural that makes this melody so iconic, but there is an historical factor to it. This has been sung by our grandparents to our parents all the way to us. The melody has always been there, through the mid-20th century of Philippine history, and now the 21st century. It is remarkable how this tune has become emblematic with the idea of Philippine patriotism.
Now, who could have made this beautiful melody of the Philippines that was, is, and to be?
Most likely, if one were to ask you who wrote the music, many wouldn't know the answer.
Such is the current legacy of one of the foremost Filipino composers, Francisco Santiago, a Bulakeño from Santa Maria. Half a century ago, he passed away, and since then, it seems his name has faded to the annals of obscurity.
In undertaking this endeavor, the reporters wanted to learn of his life and works, his legacy, and the things done to promote his works. In the end, it just seems unjust that an important person like him would not be recognized. This article intends to mend this fault, and, while explaining the journey of the reporters to understand his legacy, will spread his name for ages to come.
In the beginning…
It all began with a house.
Such a house is common in the province, and would normally be unassuming, if not for the historical marker in front of the property. An historical marker in commemoration of Francisco Santiago, the Father of Kundiman.
If it were Luneta Park, people would look in awe, but in this house in the bustling Poblacion, no one even gives it a second look.
This is where the reporters first went. It really is the obvious choice.
Well, it was a dead end.
The owners of the house, a Mrs. Hermogenes and his husband Ernesto, are not related to the composer, and state that the composer never lived on the property. Rather, it was the land next to it that was his, given to his servant.
Despite this, they state that the day before the annual La Purisima Concepción Fiesta every February in Sta. Maria, his music would be played at their house; perhaps as a sign of respect, but it leads to misleading facts that the composer indeed resided there.
“Yung marker na yan, nandito na yan sa likod, makita mayroon lagayan. Inilipat nga yan,” Ernesto stated.
(That marker is now at the back, you can see where it once was. They moved it.)
That is the legacy of Francisco Santiago in a nutshell. Even his monument desecrated, not the least ounce of respect and renown left for him.
Of course, the next step would be to ask the municipal office of Santa Maria, Bulacan on this matter as well as their actions to promote him.
Interlude…
In the meantime, as a sort of intermission before the next act, the reporters began to ask around as to their knowledge on this musician.
It was exactly as the reporters knew beforehand. With the exception of the older generation, it seems that many people have not even so much as come across the name. Despite this, they do know his patriotic Pilipinas Kong Mahal.
This is nothing new. The article has said it many times how his name, while not being dragged to the mud, is like an underground artist known only to the niche of niches.
The reporters also deem it necessary to now put a sort of short biography, to better understand him.
Painting of Francisco Santiago in Hiyas ng Bulacan Museum in City of Malolos, Bulacan. Photo taken on December 12, 2023.
His parents never really approved of his musical inclinations, perhaps wanting him to find a steadier work.
Bukod sa pagtutol ng kaniyang mga magulang sa pag-aaral niya ng musika naging hadlang din ng panahong yun ang mga situation. Noong kailangan pa manood ng mga konsyerto sa mga tanghalan sa lungsod upang makarinig ng music” according to Dr. Sylvia Tomas Joaquin, former president of Bulacan Culture and Arts Council, proponent of Pamanang Kundiman ng Santa Maria in the documentary, “Himig ng Kasaysayan”, for the SINEliksik Bulacan Docu Special in 2022.
(Apart from his parents interfering with his musical studies, the times were also an obstacle. In those days, to watch concertos, one would look for concerts in towns to even hear music.)
In 1916, when the Conservatory of Music was opened in the University of the Philippines, he was taken in as a piano instructor. He got his degree in Piano in 1921, and Science and Composition the following year.
He would then go to the United States, obtaining a doctorate at the Chicago Music School in 1924, a first for a Filipino. Returning to the Philippines the following year. He would become director of the UP Conservatory of Music from 1930 until 1947.
Most of his music would be burned and lost during the Liberation of Manila in 1945.
In 1947, he was named Professor Emeritus by the University of the Philippines. He would die the next year, the 28th of September, 1947, and buried in the Manila North Cemetery.
Though most of the works that survive are mostly songs, he was known to have composed orchestral pieces, including a piano sonata in D-flat major, a symphony, and a piano concerto that was considered his masterpiece, though those works would be destroyed in the Liberation of Manila.
With the obvious observation more or less investigated and a few notes into his life discussed, it was now time to see the next actions of the government to promote this vanishing cultural figure, which seamlessly leads to the next act of this journey.
The Long Wait…
The Tourism Management Office in the Municipal Office was busy, as all government offices are. We were lucky to even get the time to talk to the Officer in Charge of the Office. This was a wait of nearly two weeks.
The fact of the matter is, promoting his life and legacy is on their agenda, as well as the promotion of one of Sta. Maria's brightest star, Jose Corazon dela Cruz “Huseng Batute”, the father of balagtasan. However, that agenda is for next year, as this year is for the promotion of dances.
They did show us evidence of their promoting his works, showing the reporters a pamphlet for a celebration of his life; a tribute of sorts that was held early this year in January.
Nevertheless, they did give us information. The removal was due to a complaint of “business obstruction”; how that made for an excuse to desecrate a sign of history is beyond comprehension.
An officer from the Municipal Tourism Office of Sta. Maria had this to say, “Sa ulo niya eh, ngayon nawala kasi ano yun nalipat, hindi naman nalipat ng location totally inusod lang kasi yung marker na yun nakapaloob siya sa isang property, yung may-ari ayaw ng may marker doon sa property niya so inusod niya.”
(On the bust, it's now lost because it was moved, not moved location totally, but because the marker was part of a property, and the owners didn't want that marker there so they moved it.)
They are also aware that less people seem to know him for the legacy he gave. They were surprised that we even tackled this in the first place.
Still, despite that, they did show that they were in the works to introduce him to the youth of this generation, even if it were the agenda next year. They were even willing to help us, perhaps seeing this as an opportunity to help spread his name to the youth.
In the end, they really cannot say much, but instead recommended us an expert in kundiman, a specialty of Francisco Santiago, a professor at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Maria.
Obviously, that is the next stop.
An abrupt halt…
This interview never came to be. Due to scheduling issues, the reporters were not able to obtain that main interview that would have made the article feel like it went full circle. With deadline constraints, we were forced to drop this notion.
Despite this major setback, the reporters solder on, and, on finally collecting ourselves, came to this conclusion that was within our view this whole time:
The legacy does live on.
It may not be obvious, but it really does. Most obvious is the use of that patriotic tune of Pilipinas Kong Mahal in flag ceremonies, but people still do sing his songs (Celeste Legaspi has sung some of his songs such as Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran, the founder of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit and Kuh Ledesma has also sung his songs which is Pakiusap) and play his pieces with the love and respect that come to each one of his surviving works. From concert halls to the endless land of the Internet where his recorded words are easily accessible.
Quite recently, in fact, a Filipina, Lizzie Bett Estrada, won the Bursary for Young Singers at the Royal Northern College in Manchester, England, and the song she sang was one of Santiago's: Ano Kaya Ang Kapalaran.
His life, was transformed into a short documentary entitled Himig ng Kasaysayan, Ang Historikong Yugto sa Buhay ni Dr. Francisco Santiago from Polytechnic University of the Philippines- Santa Maria Campus, which won the 4th SINEliksik Bulacan Docu Special in 2022.
His music has also been made available by the Discography of American Historical Records of the University of California, ensuring his immortality overseas.
His music and his themes of love that come with his kundimans are everywhere in every love song penned by a Filipino, though that musician may not be aware of his name in their lifetime.
His name may be forgotten among the modern Philippine consciousness, but his soul flows to each and every note a Filipino sings.
Paintings of historical figures in Hiyas ng Bulacan Museum in the City of Malolos Bulacan. Photo taken on December 12, 2023.
And it has been shown that the government is doing what they can to promote him, so one can be rest assured that he will not be easily forgotten.
His land is only the Philippines, and he lives on, as all music does across the ages. The name may fade, but the music remains, that music of an optimistic outlook, forever looking to the future while still being pulled to the past.
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