Anything Under the Sun
Angel M. Magahum Sr.
(During the recent district fiesta of Molo, Iloilo City, Angel M. Magahum Sr. was honored as a writer and composer.)
One of the great Ilonggos in the vernacular literary-musical world is Angel M. Magahum, Sr. In the field of literature, his novel Benjamin, is the first ever in Hiligaynon which was also his very first work. This was followed by around 100 zarzuelas, dramas, poems and essays, and religious songs some of which were even in Spanish.
He had been editor of three papers in Iloilo: Ang Makinaugalingon published by Rosendo Mejica the largest existing Hiligaynon newspaper in Iloilo starting from 1913 up to the outbreak of the war, Cabuhi kang Banwa – published by Fr. (later Archbishop) Gabriel Reyes and Almanaque Panayanon – the only annual pamphlet in Hiligaynon which existed from 1905 up to the present.
Magahum was the only writer who also composed the lyrics of his zarzuelas of which the popular ones were Bumaliscad and Paya, Panimalay ni Cabeza Itoc and Anak nga But-anan.
In music, there is the now classic Iloilo ang Banwa Ko, the unofficial song of Iloilo. He composed it hastily because it has to sang to attract attendance to a silent movie the next day.
His other compositions were Bilong-Bilong, Ringkindingkinding, and Keriu-Keriu plus around 25 other songs.
A devout Catholic, he composed a Mass which was sang during the High Mass of Molo District Fiesta on July 26, 2008.
Magahum had studied at Colegio de San Jose and Jaro Seminary. He was married to Carmen Borromeo. One of his daughters is Simplicia, who became the first lady councilor of Iloilo City who married to Lt. Col. Francisco Offemaria.
Born in Molo on October 1, 1876, Angel Magahum Sr. died on November 28, 1931 at 68 years old.