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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/george-canseco.webp" alt="George Canseco was born on April 23, 1934 in Naic, Cavite" />
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(George Canseco)
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His music has become part of the ground on which Original Pilipino Music stand on. Most of his songs were interpreted by the country's ace balladeer, Basil Valdez, whose career as a solo artist took fortunate turns when he recorded "Ngayon at Kailanman" in 1978. The songs 

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"Kapantay Ay Langit",
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"Ikaw",
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"Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan", 
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"Paano",
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"Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas", 
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"Hanggang sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan", 
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"Hiram", 
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"Kahapon Lamang" and 
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"Dito Ba?"
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are but a few of Canseco's around 300 compositions, all defining what classic hits should be.





Born George Masangkay Canseco, he studied at the Naic Elementary School and Jose Abad Santos high school. He then finished journalism at the University of the East even worked for the Philippines Herald and Associated Press where he was an editor. While working, he still played his own music until film producer and Vicor Music owner Vic del Rosario discovered him along with cousin Orly Ilacad. The composer went on to work as vice president of Vicor Music in the 60s and 70s. 


Aside from being a journalist, he also worked part time as a scriptwriter for the Manila Broadcasting Company and news director at Eagle Broadcasting. 


Canseco began devoting himself into writing music when Martial Law broke out in 1972, seeing that press freedom was being contained in that time. It was during this period when Canseco was commissioned by former Philippines First lady, Imelda Marcos, to compose the national tribute hymn, "I Am a Filipino" (Ako Ay Pilipino).


Meeting Del Rosario proved to be the event that would turn his life around as Canseco wrote for the Megastar Sharon Cuneta the song "High School Life" and "Langis At Tubig" in the 1980s. The producer's faith in Canseco's craft had never worn out as Canseco was even able to fill in lyrics for other composers like Willy Cruz, Homer Flores and Ryan Cayabyab, thus he went further from his own compositions and joined expert hands with other composers throughout his time.


Canseco's songs caused some of our most talented performers to rise to fame. With songs hitting where it really hurts or loving where there's already love, Canseco's songs defined a part in the lives of Regine Velasquez, Zsazsa Padilla, Pilita Corrales, Dulce, Kuh Ledesma aside from Basil Valdez and Sharon Cuneta. Canseco's last recorded love song made its way to Martin Nievera's 2002 album.


His manner of writing songs was as unusual as his gift as he can draw bittersweet emotion from some imagined experience, play it over and over his head before he would form melodies on paper. Unlike most masters of music, Canseco did not train in formal schools of music. Instead, he self studied piano and learned to interpret, write and compose notes at a very early age. His parents weren't into music as well. His father Jose Canseco was a doctor while mother Cerafina, a mathematician. Canseco was the youngest of three children.


Canseco became the president of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers or FILSCAP in 1973. 


He won by a landslide in 1988 as a councilor in the fourth district of Quezon City.


His very first composition was "I'll Never Be Yours" followed by "You're all I Love." He translated the latter into Tagalog which became the theme song for the Eddie Rodriguez movie "Kapantay Ay Langit," the song that brought Canseco to immense popularity.
From there, Canseco wrote.


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"Rain," 
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"Kailangan Kita",
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"Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo",
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"Kastilyong Buhangin", 
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"Dito Ba", and 
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"Langis At Tubig".
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From Canseco's pen came eternal Original Pilipino Music. Most of which interpreted by the country's ace balladeer, Basil Valdez, whose career as a solo artist took fortunate turns when he recorded "Ngayon at Kailanman" in 1978.


In movies, Canseco became musical director for films like "Burlesk Queen", "Pagputi ng Uwak, Pagitim ng Tagak", "Atsay" and "Miss X;" and wrote the most unforgettable movie theme songs in "Kapantay Ay Langit" (which was named best theme song in 1971).


The following compositions all won best theme songs for Canseco from the FAMAS awards:


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"Imortal" (for the 1989 Metro Manila Film Festival)
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"Langis At Tubig" (1980)
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"Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan" (1982)
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"Paano Ba Ang Mangarap" (1983)
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"Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin" (1984)
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"Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit" (1991)
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Other songs that earned him best theme trophies are "Hiram" and "Sinasamba Kita."


His english track "True Love Came Too Late" was named Awit Awards song of the year in 1984 while Dulce's rendition of "Ako Ang Nagwagi, Ako Ang Nasawi" bagged the grand prize in 1979 at the World Song Festival in Hong Kong. Afterwhich, "Ngayon," another song interpreted by Basil Valdez earned the grand nod from Likha Awit Pambata Songwriting Contest and Artistic Achievement Award at the Pacific Song Contests in Sydney, Australia.


George Canseco, who is said to be the grandson of Don Telesforo Canseco the first caretaker of the historic Casa Hacienda de Naic, died of complications from liver disease and lung cancer on November 19, 2004 in Manila.


(Compiled and submitted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/harvey.poblete" target="_blank" class="news_link" title="Credit">Harvey Blanco Poblete</a>)

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Source:
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http://en.wikipilipinas.org/
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http://lutongcavite.blogspot.com/
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http://www.globalpinoy.com/
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Los Angeles Times Obituaries, November 22, 2004
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April 23, 1934: George Canseco was born in Naic, Cavite