Heber Gonzalez Bartolome (November 4, 1948 – November 15, 2021) was a Filipino folk and
rock singer, songwriter, composer, poet, guitarist,
bandurria
The bandurria is a plucked chordophone from Spain, similar to the mandolin and bandola, primarily used in Spanish folk music, but also found in former Spanish colonies.
Instrument development
Prior to the 18th century, the bandurria had a round ...
player, bluesman, and painter. His music was influenced by the "stylistic tradition" of Philippine folk and religious melodies. He was the founder of Banyuhay, a "
protest band" that carried the trademark sound of the ''
kubing'', a native musical instrument in the Philippines.
[ His compositions were described as a "unique synthesis of rock and blues, and Philippine ethnic rhythms".][ Bartolome's song "Nena" became a hit in 1977. His song "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy" ("''We're Filipinos''") was a finalist during the 1978 first Metro Manila Popular Music Festival.][Heber Gonzalez Bartolome]
Cultural Heritage, globalpinoy.com[
]
Biography
Bartolome was born in Cabanatuan City
Cabanatuan, officially the City of Cabanatuan ( fil, Lungsod ng Cabanatuan; ilo, Siudad ti Cabanatuan), is a 1st class component city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 327,325 p ...
in Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija, officially the Province of Nueva Ecija ( tgl, Lalawigan ng Nueva Ecija , also ; ilo, Probinsia ti Nueva Ecija; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Nueva Ecija; Kapampangan: ''Lalawigan/Probinsia ning Nueva Ecija''), is a landlocked province ...
, Philippines to Deogracias Bartolome and Angelina Gonzalez. Deogracias Bartolome was a pastor and violin and guitar maker, and a rondalla band leader while Angelina Gonzalez was a singer in the zarzuela. During his school days, Heber Bartolome was a member of the ROTC Band and the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus. Bartolome started his professional career in music in folk houses during the late 1960s.[Ramos, Neil]
Heber Bartolome on the warpath against FILSCAP
, 24 February 2010, mb.com.ph In 1973, Bartolome obtained the degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines
The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 2008 ...
. He was a professor of Filipino Literature at the De La Salle University
De La Salle University ( fil, Pamantasang De La Salle or Unibersidad ng De La Salle), also referred to as DLSU, De La Salle or La Salle, is a private, Catholic coeducational research university run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Chri ...
from 1981 to 1984. As a musician, he held performances throughout the Philippines. Abroad, he staged concerts in Australia and Europe. In 1993, he launched ''Mga Awit ni Heber'' ("''Heber's Songs''"), a collection of Bartolome's greatest songs. Apart from being a musician, Bartolome also exhibited artworks and was an active lobbyist
In politics, lobbying, persuasion or interest representation is the act of lawfully attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying, which ...
for the rights of Filipino composers.[ He was the founder of the UP Astrological Society.
]
Career in music
Bartolome's famous songs include "Pasahero" ("''Passenger''") (1977), "Almusal" ("''Breakfast''"), "Inutil na Gising" ("''An Awake Fool''") (1985), and "Karaniwang Tao" ("''Ordinary Person''") (1985). He was the songwriter of the tune for Bulwagang Gantimpala's ''Ibong Adarna'', a 1989 musical drama with a libretto
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major lit ...
written by Rene O. Villanueva.[ Bartolome was a former member and trustee of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP),][PEP: FILSCAP weighs in on Heber Bartolome copyright issue]
gmanews.tv, 2 March 2010. an organization in the Philippines responsible for collecting royalties for its members after holding public performances and for songs used on television and radio broadcast, movies and the like.[Concepcion, Pocholo]
Musicians’ group kicks out Heber Bartolome in money squabble
, ''Philippine Daily Inquirer
The ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' (''PDI''), or simply the ''Inquirer'', is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines. Founded in 1985, it is often regarded as the Philippines' newspaper of record. The newspaper is the most awarded bro ...
'', 25 February 2010. FILSCAP's responsibility of royalty collecting extends to members of foreign affiliates such as the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadca ...
(Ascap), Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong (CASH), and more than fifty other organizations.[
]
Death
Bartolome died on November 15, 2021. In a June 2021 interview, he had said that he was sick, but did not elaborate.
Discography
*''Katotohanan Lamang'' (Akasha Records, 1988)
References
External links
Official website
Heber Bartolome
on Facebook
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bartolome, Heber
1948 births
2021 deaths
20th-century Filipino male singers
De La Salle University faculty
Filipino folk singers
Filipino lobbyists
Filipino songwriters
Musicians from Nueva Ecija
People from Cabanatuan
University of the Philippines alumni
Male songwriters