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These liner notes accompany the CD's you've gotten. VERY informative.....

I. Filipino Music Harana Ni Ruben Tagalog
(LP from of Aaron Paragoso) Harana Ni Ruben Tagalog VLP No. 4032 Villar High Fidelity Records ca. 1960

1. O Ilaw [Folk Song] - Ruben gets our “harana” off to a good start with a familiar song that’s being sang (sic) on the hills and plains all over the Philippine countryside.

2. Dungawin Mo, Hirang [S. S. Suarez] - Another favorite song for serenading is this one which is full of deep longing. Whenever the sun goes down, when the deep-tanned country lads serenade their loved ones with their venerable guitars...you can almost always hear them singing this meaningful lovesong.

3. Sa Ginta Ng Dilim [C. De Guzman] - “In the middle of the night,” so the lyric goes, “I always sing to you.” Words such as these have survived the years and have become an integral part of Philippine serenading.

4. Mutya Niyaring Puso [S. S. Suarez] - Ruben does a bit of confessing here as he sings lustily to his sweetheart whom you can almost picture now, looking out of the window, with her soft, dark tresses forming a protective cape ‘round her shoulders.

5. Kay Lungkot Nitong Hating-Gabi [S. S. Suarez] - Not a single star in heaven, our troubadour laments, not even a moon, and he is sad, “Would you peer out of hiding and fill my heart with joy and happiness?” he sings.

6. Paraluman [C. De Guzman] - Guitar intro accentuates the tender feelings of our serenader, making him bolder and bolder every minute. The maiden, now awakened, now radiant with thoughts of a new-born romance, casts a meaningful eye on the man and his guitar.

7. Awit Ko’y Dinggin [T, Maiquez] - Fearful lest the woman at the window should go back to the warmth and comfort of her bamboo bed, our troubadour begs that she opens her window a little bit wider and listen, please, a little longer?

8. Natutulog Ka Na Ba, Sinta [composer not listed] - And as the night begins to lower and the night-birds slowly disappear, Ruben winds up his serenade with fervent guitar-strokes and a quivering voice that says, “I love you, yes, I do.”

Ruben Tagalog has always been a hit whenever he’s called to sing before a microphone on the stage and radio, or on TV. That’s probably because he’s got a styling that’s smooth as silk, relaxed and easy-going, but mostly because he can sing. So we’ve asked this handsome troubadour to give us a list of familiar lovesongs he’d likely sing to his lady fair on a moondrenched night. We thought it would be ideal for this new album of serenades, having been dubbed unofficially the :king of kundiman’ for many years and, b the look fo things, will hold that enviable position for many years to come. We present, with great pride, therefore, a hi-fidelity recording of 8 beautiful songs designed for serenading in “Harana Ni Ruben Tagalog.”

II. Visayan Songs Nora Hermosura
(LP from of Aaron Paragoso) Visayan Songs Nora Hermosura VLP-4043 Villar Records ca. 1960
Leopoldo Silos & his Symphonette
Rob's comments: Such profoundly sad music, extremely sentimental, very lachrymal...

1. Ikaw [Gibbs Cabaral] - A lachrymal ballad from the South that is delivered in the penetratingly expressive vocal power of Nora Hermosura, ably supported by the many-stringed orchestra.

2. Kon Imong Talikdan [Gibbs Cabaral] - A sweeping string intro paves the way for Nora’s doubting heart that someday “you’ll turn away from me.”

3. Gug-Ma [Balds Gonzales] - A fast-tempoed romance about a universal subject - love.

4. Kamiñgaw Sa Payag [Mingoy Lopez] - Our pretty chanteuse is worried about her happiness ...warbling in such a manner that her emotional warmth will touch you.

5. Wala’y Kalipay [Borromeo Lou - G. Lou] - A change of tempo and a change of mood as Nora displays her peppery charms in this lilting Visayan favorite.

6. Gi-Ampingan [ Balds Gonzales] - Drifting along with the strings, Nora performs like the popular favorite she is - gifted with an amazing control of voice.

7. Saksi Ang Langit [Balds Gonzales] - Nora now indulges in stylized singing: crooning. However, she doesn’t stray from the love-theme of this “heavenly” song.

8. Gi-Uhaw [Gibbs Cabaral] - A warming ballad from the Visayas displays the singing virtuosity and great talent of this 24-carat Villar discover (sic) - Nora Hermosura. It’s all about a girl’s thirst for love.

Nora Hermosura 0 A Villar discoery - sings the cream of the Visayan hit parade with the saem disarming ease and tenderness that catapulted her to nationwide fame and popularity. The new Nora Hermosura album is a wonderful surprise indeed in the sense that, ever since she hit the platter horizon by storm, the chanteuse has been “romantically linked” with Tagalog love songs. We are proud to say here that the versatile songstress feels at home in either Tagalog or Visayan melodies. For the many who had the wonderful privilege of hearing Nora sing on Villar-Mabuhay labels, this vocal album of Visayan songs will be a welcome item in their collection of Nora Hermosura records. And Nora has found the very special Visayan songs of love with a warm,simple, and unadorned delivery. There is no question in our mind that this album of endearing native melodies, as sung with a Visayan accent by one of Villar’s headline favorites, will win more encomiums for the pretty-faced and talented “chanteuse with love-light in her voice” - that’s Nora Hermosura

III. Sylia La Torre Sings (Vol. I)
(LP from of Aaron Paragoso) Sylvia Sings (Vol. I) Sylvia La Torre with Leopoldo Silos & his Orchestra VLP-4005 Villar Records ca. 1960
Rob's comments: There seems to be 3 recording periods represented here - Sylvia as 1] a young student,  2] as a young adult and 3] as a matron. Voice style  and quality varies accordingly.

1. Waray-Waray [J. Silos, Jr.] The first song you will hear Sylvia sing on this record is Waray-Waray, now inseparably linked with her name forever. A rollicking native song by Juan Silos, Jr., Waray-Waray (literally, Nothing or None) is a novelty number - a harmless satire in song about the girls from the provinces of Leyte and Samar who are nicknamed, “Waray Waray”.

2. Cariñosa [Folk Song] It is followed by the most enduring Filipino folksong-and-dance, the loveable Cariñosa, which is part of the Philippine tradition.

3. Dahil Sa Iyo [M. Velarde, Jr.] Dahil Sa Iyo (Because of You), by the versatile composer-artist-director Mike Velarde, Jr., features one the best Sylvia La Torre vocals: intimate, completely natural, from-me-to-you singing.

4. Bituin Marikit [N. Abelardo] Nicanor Abelardo’s Bituin Marikit follows, and irresistible kundiman which is something of an ode to a distant, beautiful star.

5. Ang Kasing-Kasing Ko [J. Silos, Jr. - L.Celerio] Another novelty tune by Sylvia La Torre is Ang Kasing-Kasing Ko (My Heart), which is the first dong on the flipside. This bright-faced number was written by Juan Silos, Jr. With some refreshing cute lyrics by Levi Celerio.

6. Tinikling [Folk Song] Another time-honored folksong-and-dance takes its place in Sylvia La Torre’s repertory with her rendition of Tinikling, that very popular Filipino folk song which is danced with two bamboo poles.

7. Ikaw [M. Velarde, Jr.] Then there is that encore for Mike Velarde, Jr. In the song Ikaw (You), which he wrote long before the war but is still very much a current hit by reason of its sentimental lyrics and irresistible melody.

8. Basang Sisiw [F. Perez] Sylvia La Torre’s progream in this collection winds up with a specialty, the delightful kundiman by Facundo Perez, Basang Sisiw (Wet Chick).

This collection of Sylvia La Torre’s Filipino Song favorites, rich (sic) orchestrated by Leopoldo Silos, will bring you life-long listening enchantment.

Sylvia La Torre’s recording debut with Villar Recores (Mareco, Inc.) Was not too long ago....But so instantaneous was the appeal of this versatile young singer and artist that it made this album’s release a necessity. The originality of her distinctive vocal style may now be enjoyed throughout its full scope in the eight Filipino song favorites of this collection. Born in 1933, Sylvia La Torre’s artistic inclinations and present popularity nay be traced back to her parents whoa re renowned artists of the Philippines themselves. Her mother, Leonora Reyes, a soprano, was the country’s queen of kundiman (native love songs) during her best years. Her father, Olive La Torre, is among the Philippines’ ablest movie directors today. As far back as Sylvia can remember, no day has gone by without a song; in fact, her day begins and ends with a song. At two, she used to stand on a chair or soap box and at the top of her voice, render songs which nobody had ever heard of. But she never really took singing seriously until the age of five, when she sang on the stage during an amateur contest where she won first prize. After that, Sylvia decided to make singing her career. When the Second World War broke out in the Philippines, there was an acute shortage of motion pictures which eventually led to a boom in the stage show clique. The last two years of the war found Sylvia in show business when, at the age of nine, she started to carve a name for herself as a stage songstress. The war over, Sylvia La Torre continued her studies but she found time to sandwich between her school hours, her radio shows and USO work which consisted of entertaining soldiers in camps and hospitals. After High School, Sylvia took up voice culture at the Conservatory of Music, University of St. Tomas. When the motion picture companies started grinding their cameras again, producers and directors who were looking around for new and young talent lost no time in signing up Sylvia La Torre, who has had some fifteen motion pictures to her credit, To allow more time for her studies, Sylvia has limited herself to two radio shows a week, - one of them being the popular Elizalde Family Hour where she is both radio singer and actress - and a heavy recording schedule with Villar records. For this album, Sylvia La Torre has chosen favorite Filipino songs. They are tender, happy melodies we have all grown to love, and to them she adds the special, satisfying quality that always wins her audience’s acclaim. It is delightfully refreshing to listen as Sylvia La Torre sings Filipino song favorites.

IV. Sylia La Torre Kundiman
(LP from of Aaron Paragoso) Sylvia Sings Kundiman with Leopoldo Silos & the Villar Symphonette VLP-4022 Villar Records ca. 1960
Rob's comments: There seems to be 3 recording periods represented here - Sylvia as 1] a young student,  2] as a young adult and 3] as a matron. Voice style  and quality varies accordingly. This LP's songs represent her "matronly" period, methinks...

1. Pakiusap (Request) [F. Santiago]

2. Nasaan Ang Aking Puso (Where is My Heart [Nicanor Abelardo ]

3. Mutya Ng Psaig (Muse of the Pasig) [Nicanor Abelardo ]

4. Pahiwatig (Lamnet) [Nicanor Abelardo ]

5. Paglingap (Emotion) [J. Buencamino]

6. Nasaan Ka Irog (Love where are you) [Nicanor Abelardo ]

7. Ano Kaya Ang Kapalaran (What is My Destiny) [Liner lists De Jesus, but LP lists F. Santiago]

8. Madaling Araw (Dawn) [F. Santiago]

Kundiman - A simple yet heartwarming song that strongly express the serene Malayan sentiment of the Filipino melodies that have been hummed and sung throughout the centuries., re-echoing the pulsating heartbeat of the brown, fertile Philippine earth, lastingly beautiful as the Mount Mayan.

Mayon - the name is full of exotic music. The very sonances are laden with the slower tempoed life of the people in these provinces at the foot of “the world’s most perfect cinder cone.” Truly worth going through half the world to see! Looming large over Legaspi City in the Southern Luzon province of Albay, Mount Mayon has the beauty of a lissome woman - a woman such as the so many who may be found in any of the Bicol provinces, famed throughout the rest of the beauty-worshiping Philippines as having the most beautiful Filipinas! Yet - the beauty of Mayon is more than mere surface pleasingness. Mayon’s is the lethal beauty of a shimmering Toledo sword or a wavy Moro fris. Mayon is a not-too dormant volcano. As the smoke lazily curling around the apex of the cone reminds those who pass her witha casual glance from out the window of a train or a plane. Deep rumbles shake the countryside and ashes shower on the golden maroon of waving sugarcane as now and then the lovely lady stirs in uneasy sleep. The casual tourist in one of the many resort cottages dotting the approach-slopes of Mayon will see the beauty. But only the sensitive admirer will feel the threat inherent in her beauty...as with any lovely woman of spirit.

V.  Mabuhay Singers (sing Kundiman)
(CD from Hawaii State Library) No Liner Notes were available

1. Maligayyang Araw
2. Pandangguhan  (I did not place this on CD for space reasons)
3. Bakya Mo Neneng (Believe it or not, I know this one from my days with Robin Sebala and Julia Escalona..)
4. Leron Leron Sinta (A classic song about a clumbsy boyfriend)
5. Kung Akoy Mag-aasawa
6. Bakasyon (literally,"vacation")
7. Tingnan Natin
8. Antipolo
9. Ligawan
10. Lulubog Lilitaw
11. Arimunding-Munding
12. Balut (you go figure...)
13. Magtanim Hindi Biro (A classic folk song about the travails of rice-cultivation...)
14. Anihan
15. Paru-Parong Bukid
16. Dalaga Sa Bundok
17. Lawiswis Kawayan
18. Halina SA Kabukiran
19. Tiririn-Tiririn
20. Fiesta