National Artist for Music Lucio D. San Pedro was honored during the National Arts Month (NAM) celebration in his hometown of Angono, Rizal.

Angono hosted the formal opening of the Luzon leg of NAM celebration.

The award was jointly given by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), which organized NAM, the Angono government under Mayor Gerardo Calderon, and the Diocese of Antipolo Committee on Liturgical Music.

The award was received by his family led by his septuagenarian daughter Soledad de los Santos during a ceremony in the San Clemente Church following a superb piano concert by the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music Keyboard Department professors.

De los Santos said she was the grateful for the award and the concert since it meant the compositions of her father continued to be revived and promoted.

Played during the concert were San Pedro’s “Aliwan,” “Sa Mahal kong Duyan,” “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan” (with Augusto Espino), “Ave Maria,” “Hayun ang Bituin” (with Levi Celerio), “Staccato Caprice” and “Ang Munting Tahanan. ”

“Ave Maria” and “Hayun ang Bituin” were impressively sung by soprano Ena Maria Aldecoa.

Works of other National Artists for Music—Antonio Molina’s “We Were Moonlight,” “Malikmata,” and Felipe Padilla de Leon’s “Iba-Ibang Kulay” and “Sayaw ng Igorot” —were also performed.

The NAM Luzon opening in Angono also included a tour of the Angkla Gallery, National Artist for the Visual Arts Francisco “Botong” Francisco’s house, and Blanco Museum.

There were also art workshops and an exhibit of works by Rizal artists at the Angono Municipal Gymnasium.–CONTRIBUTED