Ruben Tagalog (October 18, 1922 – March 5, 1985) was a
Filipino actor and
musician
A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...
, famous for his works in the
Kundiman style. He was also one of the founders of the singing group
Mabuhay Singers. He is known as the ''Father of Kundiman''. He performed for the
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
ese during the
their occupation of the Philippines.
Later career
He first caught the attention of radio listeners in the 1940s when he hosted his own radio program, ''Harana ni Ruben Tagalog''. His baritone voice filled his songs ''
Ramona'', "O Ilaw", ''
Sayang
''Buruguduystunstugudunstuy'' is an album by the Filipino alternative rock band Parokya Ni Edgar, released in 1997 by Universal Records
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a D ...
'', ''Azucena'', and ''Nasaan Ka Ngayon'' with emotion. He revived danzas and balitaws like ''Nahan Kaya Ikaw'', ''Bakit Ka Lumuluha'', ''
Barong Tagalog'', ''Dalagang Pilipina'', and ''Caprichosa''. He was the first artist to record ''
Bayan Ko
"Bayan Ko" (usually translated as "My Country"; es, Nuestra patria, lit=Our Fatherland) is one of the most recognizable patriotic songs of the Philippines. It was written in Spanish by the Revolutionary general José Alejandrino in light of the ...
'' and ''
Ang Pasko ay Sumapit''. Tagalog is also known for
Harana or serenade songs such as ''Dungawin Mo, Hirang'' and ''Kay Lungkot Nitong Hatinggabi''.
In spite of his last name being "Tagalog", he was born in the city of
Iloilo in the
Visayas and thus was a speaker of
Hiligaynon or Ilonggo. He released at least two albums in the Cebuano language: "Ruben Tagalog Sings Visayan Songs" and a duet album with
Cebuana singer Nora Hermosa called "Duet in Visayan".
In the early 1950s, he became the first to popularise the Tagalog version of the 1933 Visayan Christmas carol "
Kasadya Ning Taknaa" as "Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit". The Tagalog lyrics were written by
Levi Celerio. He is also famous for performin
Panahon 'tang Nagdaan a kundiman composed by Ambrosio del Rosario.
Death
He died on March 5, 1985, in Orange County, California. He is laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial in California.
Legacy
Today, after Ruben's death, his legacy is also known as the Philippines Father Of Kundiman or ''Hari ng Kundiman'' (King of Kundiman) and the King of Ballads.
Awards
Popularity
His posthumous songs were featured on ''
Yesterday'' and ''
Remember When'' on
DZMM every Sunday, and also featured on ''Moonlight Serenade'' every weekdays the following mornings on DZMM.
DWIZ882 radio show 'Bella Filipina' (heard every Sunday evening) honored Ruben Tagalog's centennial for the entire month of October 2022, and continues to air his recordings of balitaws, danzas and novelties.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tagalog, Ruben
1922 births
1985 deaths
Filipino musicians
Male actors from Iloilo
20th-century Filipino male actors
Visayan people