Alfredo Buenaventura, our new National Artist for music

After a long delay that was threatening to become more and more controversial by the day, the names of the latest batch named to the Filipino Order of the National Artist were made known last week. It is an impressive batch, a line-up that nobody, except perhaps for those candidates who lost, is likely to take issue with.

The only sad thing about this is that some of them are posthumous awardees. This means that they had already passed on and are not around to enjoy the honor being bestowed on them. There is nothing anybody can do about this situation. I just hope that the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), which is in charge of finding the honorees, will not take too long doing the job and catch the deserving while they are still alive and hopefully kicking.

This is why I am particularly happy about the selection of Dr. Alfredo Buenaventura as our latest National Artist for Music. I came across Buenaventura during a concert headlined by Dr. Raul Sunico with the Manila Symphony Orchestra last February, 2025. It was an event that featured the classical works of 20th-century Filipino composers.

Sunico performed three of those. The Piano Concerto No. 2, or the Maharlika from 1973 by Lucino Sacramento; the Piano Concerto in Bb Minor by Francisco Santiago from 1924; and Buenaventura’s Piano Concerto No. 1, also known as Celebration from 1976.

Celebration turned out to be a huge surprise. It was not Buenaventura’s usual output centered on native traditions and folk melodies. It was every bit western, very modern, totally exciting. The performance ended with a standing ovation that was every bit a celebration. I can say that the concerto rocked the Manila Metropolitan Theater and I became an instant fan.

An even bigger surprise was when Buenaventura, all of 96 years old, stood up from his seat in the audience to acknowledge the cheers. He was slim and dapper in his barong, sprightly in step and gestures and with a clear voice expressed his happiness and offered his thanks. He also mentioned that he had three more concertos at home just waiting to be performed. Now that he has become a National Artist, maybe that wish will happen soon.

Another thing that gladdens me is that Buenaventura, a composer, conductor and educator, is strictly homegrown. No Harvard or Julliard in his resume. He studied at the University of Santo Tomas, then at the Centro Escolar University. He also studied at the Gregorian Institute for religious music at the La Concordia College in Manila.

Buenaventura was the first and acclaimed organist at the postwar Manila Cathedral. He also taught music at Philippine Women’s University, St. Scholastica’s College and at the Centro Escolar University, where he served as dean of the Conservatory of Music for 30 years.

He has also studied and worked extensively on the improvement of the plight of the local rondalla, on marching bands and of course, our organ music.

Buenaventura has written 50 major compositions. Among these are operas, symphonic poems, chamber music, vocal works and concertos. Among his works are the opera Maria Makiling, the Violin Concerto in E Minor, also known as the Lakambini, the Mabuhay Symphony and the vocal work Bayan Kong Mahal. And I am again happy to say that these, plus others, are available on digital platforms.

The Order of the National Artist is the highest honor that a Filipino can aspire to in his country and while there are others equally deserving, I am glad this one went to Alfredo Buenaventura.

I have always thought that being able to beso-beso with National Artist Ryan Cayabyab is a privilege I enjoy. Now I can add to that “na nagmano ako kay Buenaventura at the Met.” Fan girl daw kasi.

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