Wrote lyrics for more than 4,000 Filipino folk and love songs.
Made the Guinness Book of Records for playing music using leaves.
Wrote lyrics for more than 4,000 Filipino folk, Christmas and love
songs, including many that became movie titles.
He was awarded the title of national artist for music and literature in
1997 by Philippines President Fidel Ramos, who cited the prolific
lyricist and composer for writing music "that was a perfect embodiment
of the heartfelt sentiments and valued traditions of the Filipino."