Background
Bartolome was born in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija, Philippines to Deogracias Bartolome and Angelina Gonzalez.
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Heber Bartolome
Edit ProfileCareer
His music was influenced by the "stylistic tradition" of Philippine folk and religious melodies. 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 "Tayo"y Mga Pinoy" (We"re Filipinos) was a finalist during the 1978 first Metro Manila Popular Music Festival.
Deogracias Bartolome was a pastor and violin and guitar maker, and a rondalla band leader while Angelina Gonzalez was a singer in the zarzuela. Bartolome started his professional career in music in folk houses during the late 1960s.
In 1973, Bartolome obtained the degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines. He was a professor of Filipino Literature at the De Louisiana Salle University 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 for the rights of Filipino composers.
Bartolome"s famous songs include "Pasahero" or "passenger" (1977), "Almusal" or "breakfast", "Inutil na Gising" or "an awake fool" (1985), and "Karaniwang Tao" or "ordinary person" (1985).
He was the songwriter of the tune for Bulwagang Gantimpala"s "Ibong Adarna", a 1989 musical drama with a libretto written by Rene O. Villanueva.
Achievements
Membership
During his school days, Heber Bartolome was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps Band and the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus.
