Pacifica Cultural Productions Inc. Production Organization

Executive Producer

Teodoro Valencia, more popularly known to fellow journalists and readers as Ka Doroy, was a Filipino journalist, columnist, and an acknowledged giant in Philippine journalism during the 1960s and 1970s. His column entitled, "Over a Cup of Coffee," published in the pre-Martial Law Manila Times and Daily Express newspapers, was considered a must read during those years.

Project Director

Dr. Herminio Velarde, Jr. had studied Medicine in the University of the Philippines Diliman and graduated in 1942. He specialized in the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary where he was a Junior Assistant but does the job of a Senior Assistant for the House Surgeon in the Ophthalmic Department of the said institution in 1953.

He. was a doctor but an artist as well, for his mother was the daughter of the Composer- Conductor of the Famous Zarzuela “Walang Sugat” and “Minda Mora”. So, during his younger days, Dr. Velarde, Jr. would escape his medical profession to sing on the radio live on- air with his best friend- cousin, Miguel Velarde, Jr.

He showed his passion for music not only in his love for singing but he actually did a few compositions for two known zarzuelas. In “Walang Sugat”, he composed “Kalayaan, Ipaglaban” and for “Minda Mora”, “Gunita”. Not forgetting the UP Hymn of his department.

Production Supervisor

Joji Felix Velarde is a well- known danseuse and once a prima ballerina, chorographer and a top fashion model. After her ballet studies with Madame Albeit and Totoy de Oteyza, she won the Alicia Markova Scholarship for ballet excellence and studied abroad at the Ballet Arts Studio at Carnegie Hall, New York, the Rambert Academy in London, with Karen Marie taft in Madrid and with Julia Barashkova and Vitale Fokine in New York.

She choreographed the first Filipino show at Lincoln Center in New York City—“Giting Kayumanggi” and local musicals directed by Fr. James B. Reuters. On TV, she had produced and hosted “Sights and Sounds of Pacifica” and “Joji”.

Stage Director

Daisy H. Avellana, is an actor, director and writer. She is renowned as a National Artist for Theater. Born in Roxas City, Capiz on January 26, 1917. She has elevated legitimate theater and dramatic arts to a new level of excellence by staging and performing in breakthrough productions of classic Filipino and foreign plays and by encouraging the establishment of performing groups and the professionalization of Filipino theater. Together with her husband, National Artist Lamberto Avellana and other artists, she co-founded the Barangay Theatre Guild in 1939 which paved the way for the popularization of theatre and dramatic arts in the country, utilizing radio and television.

She has starred in plays like Othello (1953), Macbeth in Black (1959), Casa de Bernarda Alba (1967), Tatarin. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Candida Marasigan in the stage and film versions of Nick Joaquin’s Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. Her directorial credits include Diego Silang (1968), and Walang Sugat (1971). Among her screenplays were Sakay (1939)and Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1955)

Musical Director

Miguel "Mike" Velarde Jr., is a composer, musical scorer and a movie actor.

He entered the University of the Philippines wherein he studied Medicine but did not finish his degree. He eventually pursued studying music. He financed his studies by working as a bus conductor after his father found out that he was not taking his medical studies seriuously. Dr. Antonio Molina and Ariston Avelino taught him his first lessons in harmony and composition. During this time, he enjoyed jazz and American popular tunes. He later got a job at a radio station wherein he was featured in programs such as "Sunrise Program" in the morning and "Stardust Program" at night. He then opened a jazz school and became song editor for the Philippines Free Press. Mike Velarde eventually went into writing Tagalog songs for the Filipinos wherein he later composed the song 'Ugoy-Ugoy 'Blues' which eventually brought him towards working with movies. He also had a jazz band named Mike Velarde's Jazztocrats. He later became the editor of the Literary Song Movie Magazine which was owned by the late Congressman Pedro Vera. During the Japanese Occupation, Mike Velarde began to write concertized arrangements of folk songs. He also became the musical director of the Avenue Theater and most of his arrangements became popular overtures.

Musical Score and Arrangements

Restituto Umali, better known as "Restie" Umali, is a composer and musical director whose main works are scores for motion picture.

He studied at the Jose Rizal College (JRC), wherein he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce. He was later exposed to 'pop' tunes during his performances with both the Mapa Orchestra and the JRC Band. He was a scholar of JRC for playing in the school band. He earned extra money doing band arrangements of various songs and pieces as well as composing short school songs. He also played double-basss professionally for radio programs and also for the dance orchestra of the Army and Navy Club. When World War II broke out, he began arranging for and conducting musical groups for stage shows and dance halls. He then took formal lesson in harmony, to broaden his musical horizon, under Felipe P. de Loen. He became a volunteer instructor teaching the double-bass at the University of the Philippines (UP). While at UP, he took up courses in composition and conducting. His mentors included Antonino Buenaventura, Bernardino Custodio, Lucio San Pedro, Ramon Tapales, and Lucrecia Kasilag. In 1957, he transferred to the UST where he handled chorus and instrumental and choral arrangement up to 1962. During this time, he also became a "ghost composer" that lasted for 14 years. In 1959, he eventually lost his anonimity and introduced himself as the musical director or movie scorer for the movie Cry Freedom. This set the path towards winning his first FAMAS award in 1964.

Lucio D. San Pedro is a master composer, conductor, and teacher whose music evokes the folk elements of the Filipino heritage. Cousin to "Botong" Francisco, San Pedro has produced a wide-ranging body of works that includes band music, concertos for violin and orchestra, choral works, cantatas, chamber music, music for violin and piano, and songs for solo voice. He was the conductor of the much acclaimed Peng Kong Grand Mason Concert Band, the San Pedro Band of Angono, his father's former band, and the Banda Angono Numero Uno. His civic commitment and work with town bands have significantly contributed to the development of a civic culture among Filipino communities and opened a creative outlet for young Filipinos.

 His orchestral music include The Devil's Bridge, Malakas at Maganda Overture, Prelude and Fugue in D minor, Hope and Ambition; choral music Easter Cantata, Sa Mahal Kong Bayan, Rizal's Valedictory Poem; vocal music Lulay, Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, In the Silence of the Night; and band music Dance of the Fairies, Triumphal March, Lahing Kayumanggi, Angononian March among others.

Col. Antonino Ramirez Buenaventura is a National Artist for Music was a renowned composer, conductor, and teacher. It was he who restored the Philippine Constabulary Band, reputedly the only military band that sounded like a symphony orchestra, to its former glory as one of the best military bands in the world. The band would later be renamed the Philippine Army Band.

Buenaventura promoted Philippine music by extensively using folk materials in his works. He recorded folk and dance music around the country with Ramon Tolentino and National Artist for Dance Francisca Reyes Aquino. Buenaventura composed the music and did the notations for the folk dances as researched by Aquino.

Production Consultant

Lamberto V. Avellana, director for theater and film, has the distinction of being called "The Boy Wonder of Philippine Movies" as early as 1939. He was the first to use the motion picture camera to establish a point-of-view, a move that revolutionized the techniques of film narration. Avellana, who at 20 portrayed Joan of Arc in time for Ateneo's diamond jubilee, initially set out to establish a Filipino theater. Together with Daisy Hontiveros, star of many UP plays and his future wife, he formed the Barangay Theater Guild which had, among others, Leon Ma .Guerrero and Raul Manglapus as members. It was after seeing such plays that Carlos P. Romulo, then president of Philippine Films, encouraged him to try his hand at directing films. In his first film Sakay, Avellana demonstrated a kind of visual rhythm that established a new filmic language.

Sakay was declared the best picture of 1939 by critics and journalists alike and set the tone for Avellana's career in film that would be capped by such distinctive achievements as the Grand Prix at the Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong for Anak Dalita (1956); Best Director of Asia award in Tokyo for Badjao, among others.

Avellana was also the first filmmaker to have his film Kandelerong Pilak shown at the Cannes International Film Festival. Among the films he directed for worldwide release were Sergeant Hasan (1967), Destination Vietnam (1969), and The Evil Within (1970).

Choral Master

Dr. Lois Florendo Bello is the founder of  Manila Concert Choir (MCC) in 1951, that has proven its mettle in the world of choral singing for the past fifty years. MCC continually recharges itself through second and third generation members who freely give of their time and energies to singing. It continues giving performances before all types of audiences ranging from the urban and rural poor, to church members, to the highest officials of the land.

Lyricist

Constancio Canseco de Guzman, acknowledged dean of Filipino movie composers and musical directors, grew up in Manila where he studied piano and composition under Nicanor Abelardo. He finished his BS Commerce degree at Jose Rizal College in 1928, and passed the certified public accountants board exam in 1932. He became the music director of movie production outfits like Sampaguita, LVN, Royal, Excelsior, Lea, and Tagalog Ilang-ilang. In 1948, his song “Ang Bayan Ko” and “Kung Kita’y Kapiling” bagged the gold medal at the Paris International Fair. The same song won for him the Awit Award for best Filipino lyricist.

Lighting (designs) and Technical Consultant

Teddy Hilado was the lighting director of The Philippine Cultural Center, and General Manager of Folk Arts Theater. Tainted by his association with President Marcos and his wife, he was replaced when Cory Aquino came to power. He is now an independent lighting engineer,  lighting not only theater, but architectural installations. He is also an actor, known for Dakpin si Pedro Navarro! (1963).

Production Manager and Stage Manager

Allan Vasquez Cosio (June 1941) has been a painter,sculptor, and a tapestry artist. He has done abstract paintings and is also a good portaitist in pastel. He has been largely influenced by Vasarely and Bridget Riley. He also drew inspirations from indigenous sources such as the Philippine banig (mat).

He is a prize winner for five consecutive years in the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) art competition in 1975-1979 and the Baghdad International Art Festival in 1986. He had also won the grand prize and a British Council study grant in the AAP competition

Assistant Stage Manager

Jimmy Asensio is a lawyer- professoer by profession, but he is a more theatre man by inclination. He is an actor, director, production- stage manager molded in one cast, working for drama, opera, ballet, radio, and television for different groups in English, Pilipino and Spanish.

Wardrobe Mistress

Ivi Avellana-Cosio is a Philippine painter, printmaker, and photographer. She is especially known for her Baybayin series of acrylic paintings on canvas and handmade paper that make use of indigenous motifs.

She is the daughter of 2 National Artists of the Philippines: Lamberto V. Avellana (film) and her mother being Daisy H. Avellana (theater). She was therefore encouraged in all her artistic undertakings as she was growing up, including writing stories and essays and acting on stage, radio, and television.

Avellana-Cosio received a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomas. She then went to the Philippine Women’s University for advanced courses, and attended the Contemporary Graphic Arts Workshop in Printmaking of Manuel Rodriguez Sr., a pioneer in Philippine printmaking. She began exhibiting her works in 1967. Since then her works have been exhibited in about 200 shows, including both solo and group shows. At times she has exhibited with her husband, painter and sculptor Allan Cosio. She has also won many awards and competitions including the Philip Morris Asean Award and the Araw ng Maynila Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award for Painting given by the City of Manila (1999)

Voice Consultant

Dalisay J. Aldaba was an Opera Singer, known as the great little butterfly in the Philippines. She was born on September 9, 1912, completed her piano course at the UP Conservatory of Music in 1936 and earned an Associate in Arts from the university in 1941. She obtained a Master of Arts in music, literature, and voice at the University of Michigan, USA in 1947. She was the director of the opera workshop and head of the Voice Department at the Philippine Women's University. Her singing debut was with the New York City Opera Company in the title role of Cio Cio San in Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

She founded the Opera Guild of the Philippines on December 22, 1969. The Manila Music Lovers Society named her the Opera Singer of the year in 1947.

Speech Consultant

Paraluman Aspillera, author, teacher, and newspaper journalist, specialized in the teaching of English and Tagalog. She was director of the Institute of Filipino Language and Culture at Philippine WomenAEs University and a professor of Pilipino and Philippine Literature at the Institute of Asian Studies, University of the Philippines. She wrote the popular daily column oYour Tagalog Column, o which appeared in the Manila Times, and authored many books and articles in both English and Tagalog. Mrs. Aspillera dedicated herself to promoting the national language and culture of her country through extensive travel in North America, Europe, and Asia, and served as executive secretary and director of the UNESCO-sponsored Akademya ng Wikang Pilipino.