José Mossesgeld Santiago

In October of 1926, he made his debut in the United States at the Steinway Building in New York. That same year, he was signed on by the Columbia Phonograph Co. (now known as Columbia Records) for the recording of Filipino folk songs. He was the first Filipino (of only two Filipinos as of 2022) to sing at the Teatro alla Scala (La Scala) in Milan when he performed during its 1931 - 1932 season.

References:

1) https://greatsingersofthepast.wordpress.com/2016/11/02/jose-mossesg...

2) The Philippine Republic; 1926; p 14

3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_de_Manila_College_Glee_Club

Photo courtesy of Rico Mossesgeld as attributed by Pablo A Tariman; ‘Thy Womb’ special award bolsters Venice connections of Filipino artists; 09 September 2012; https://ph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/thy-womb-special-award-bo...

The Mossesgelds are of German heritage. Their ancestor(s), described as "mestizos de alemán" eventually settled in Bulacan after arriving from Europe.

Reference: Leyenda e historia del chabacano de Ermita (Manila); Mauro A. Fernandez; página 37; UniverSOS, Revista de Lenguas Indígenas y Universos Culturales; 2012

As a footnote, the premise is that the surname was, for some time under the Spanish colonial government (and for a number of years into the American period), "Mossesgeld Santiago / Mossesgeld-Santiago" because of compliance with the 1850 Claveria edict.

Encyclopedia of the Philippines: The Library of Philippine Literature, Art and Science, Volume 9: Builders of the New Philippines (1936, p. 571-572, Images 281-282)

Cornejo’s Commonwealth Directory of the Philippines (1939), by Miguel Cornejo (p. 2113-2114)

Marriage certificate with Dolores Andrada

Marriage to Isabel Llewellyn

1930 United States census

Death certificate

Death register