Lopez Memorial Museum celebrates the birth month of National Artist for Music and Literature Levi Celerio with “Off the Ground: An Afternoon of Music, Poetry and Visual Arts” on April 27, 4-6 p.m.
Celerio (1910-2002) was a prolific lyricist and composer, with over 4,000 songs to his credit. He wrote a number of songs for local movies, which earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award from Film Academy of the Philippines. He also made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the only man who can play music with a leaf.
His lyrics celebrated life and love and were deeply rooted in nationalism. Among his popular pieces are Christmas carols “Pasko na Naman,” “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” and “Misa de Gallo.” His love songs include “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” “Kahit Konting Pagtingin,” “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal” and his folk songs include “Ang Pipit,” “Tinikling,” “Tunay na Tunay,” “Itik-Itik,” “Waray-Waray.”
“Off the Ground” features Soprano Elainne Marie Vibal, who will sing selected songs by Celerio and will be accompanied by a quintet of music scholars from Orchestra of the Filipino Youth. High Chair poets Raymond John de Borja, Marlon Hacla and Franz Joel Libo-on will be reading verses from their latest books, “They Day Daze,” “Glossolalia” and “Humigit-Kumulang,” which will be launched during the event.
The museum’s latest exhibition, “Grounded,” juxtaposes works of guest contemporary artists Alma Quinto, Goldie Poblador, Josephine Turalba, Toym Imao, Eric Zamuco, Barbara Hlali, Khaled Hafez and Ahmed El Shaer with works from the Lopez Museum collection, such as those of Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Fernando Amorsolo, José Joya, Nena Saguil.
The event is co-produced by High Chair, a nonprofit small poetry press.
Admission is free. Lopez Memorial Museum is at G/F, Benpres Bldg., Exchange Rd. cor. Meralco Ave., Pasig City. Call Fanny at 6312417.