Potenciano Gregorio

𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗢 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗢, 𝗦𝗥: 𝗕𝗜𝗞𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗢 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 "𝗦𝗔𝗥𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗚𝗜" (𝟭𝟴𝟴𝟬-𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟵)
Roland Gile A. Gregorio Jr.

Potenciano Gregorio, Sr. was a Bikolano musician and composer. He is best known for his work, the folk song “Sarung Banggi”. Gregorio was born on May 18, 1880 in Libog (present day Sto. Domingo), Albay. He was the youngest of the two children of Narciso Gregorio and Canuta Valladolid. At the early age of three, he learned how to play the violin and was considered as a musical prodigy. His first music teacher was Fr. Jorge Barlin, then parish priest of Libog, Albay, who later became the first Filipino bishop.

As Potenciano learned more about music, he began composing songs for his parish with his brother, Bernardo. Eventually, he took on the position of bandmaster of Banda de Libog. As a composer, he is credited for writing major compositions including "Pusong Tagub nin Sakit", "Hinoyop-hoyop nin Dios" and his magnum opus, "Sarung Banggi", which he had composed in 1910.

According to his nephew, Justo Gregorio, his uncle found the inspiration for writing the lyrics of the song “one night when the chirping of a bird and rustling of the leaves woke him up”. The song was dedicated for Dominga Duran, a woman who later became his wife. The song was first performed at the town fiesta of Guinobatan, Albay on August 15 of the same year. After its public debut, the song proved to be an instant hit among local serenaders and gained immense popularity throughout the Bikol region.

In 1919, Gregorio went to Manila to audition for the Philippine Constabulary Band. To showcase his musical talent, he played Sarung Banggi on the bandurria and piano. Gregorio’s ability to play several musical instruments impressed the bandmaster Col. Walter Howard Loving and upon learning that he was the composer of Sarung Banggi, he immediately accepted him as a member of the band. Afterwards, he was tasked with arranging the score for Sarung Banggi for the band, which performed his composition multiple times in 1920. The song became widely popular outside of Bicol and was often requested by the audience in Luneta to be played on Sunday afternoons until World War II.

In 1939, Gregorio was chosen to compete in the Golden Gate International Exposition in Honolulu, Hawai’i. However, his promising career got cut short when he contracted pneumonia aboard the S.S. President Pierce while en route to the event. He passed away due to his illness on February 12, 1939 in Honolulu. His remains were brought back in the Philippines and laid to rest at the La Loma Cemetery in Manila. In 2005, it was moved back to his hometown at the behest of his descendants and the residents of Sto. Domingo, Albay.

Gregorio’s composition left a remarkable legacy, not only in the Bicol region, but in the entire Philippines. The song’s popularity nationwide spawned an LVN film starring Rogelio de la Rosa and Mila Del Sol in 1947. It was also played during the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in June 1951. Carlos P. Romulo, a Filipino diplomat, was the President of the UN General Assembly during that period. Originally a love ballad, Sarung Banggi has now become a beloved Filipino folksong. Today, Sarung Banggi is synonymous with Bikolano culture, as well as putting Bicol in the music map of the Philippines.

References:
Amo, Celso and Suerte Felipe, Cecille. “‘Sarung Banggi’ Composer Finally Home.” Philstar.com. May 23, 2005. https://www.philstar.com/nation/2005/05/23/278768/145sarung-banggi1....

Banzuela, Raffi. Potenciano V. Gregorio Sr.: Bansay Bikolnon Biography Series, No. 2, Ateneo de Naga University Press, Naga City, Philippines, 2015.

Dolor, Danny . “Sarung Banggi: Bicol’s Love Ballad.” Philstar.com, June 14, 2020. https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2020/06/14/2020647/sarung-ba....

Remoto, Danton. “Alamin: Mga Kuwento sa Likod ng Awiting ‘Sarung Banggi.’” Balitambayan, April 19, 2018. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/content/650653/mga-kuw....

1. SaysayBikol #OTD #PotencianoGregorio #SarungBanggi

Source

• Baptismal Record
• Immigration Hawaii