Dolores Paterno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dolores Paterno
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Portrait c. 1870 by Justiniano Asuncion
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Dolores Paterno e Ignacio
March 10, 1854 Santa Cruz, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines
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| Died | July 3, 1881 (aged 27) |
| Nationality | Filipina |
| Education | Santa Isabel College, Manila |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Known for | "La Flor de Manila" ('The Flower of Manila') |
| Style | Romantic |
Dolores Paterno e Ignacio (born March 10, 1854 – died July 3, 1881) was a talented Filipina composer. She is best known for her beautiful song "La Flor de Manila" (which means 'The Flower of Manila'). This song is also known as "Sampaguita."
Biography of Dolores Paterno
Dolores Paterno e Ignacio was born on March 10, 1854, in Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines. She was one of thirteen children in her family. Her parents were Máximo Paterno y Agustín Molo and Carmina Ignacio de Vera.
Dolores came from important and wealthy families. Her family was known for being "mestizo de sangley," which means they had mixed Filipino and Chinese heritage. Her brother was Dr. Pedro A. Paterno, who became a famous Filipino politician, poet, and writer. Many of her sisters were also very artistic. They were celebrated painters and jewelers. Their works were even shown in big exhibitions in Manila and the United States. Dolores was also related to the Asuncion brothers, including Justiniano Asuncion, who painted her portrait in 1870.
From a young age, Dolores loved music. Her parents sent her to the Santa Isabel College, Manila. This was an all-girls Catholic school run by the Daughters of Charity. There, she spent a lot of time learning to play the piano.
In 1879, when she was 25 years old, Dolores composed her only known song, "La Flor de Manila." She was inspired by the sampaguita flower, which is the national flower of the Philippines. The words for the song were written by her brother, Pedro Paterno. He based them on a poem that their mother had written with the same title.
Sadly, Dolores Paterno passed away at the young age of 27 on July 3, 1881.
La Flor de Manila Song
"La Flor de Manila" is a type of song called Habanera. This kind of music was very popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the Philippines. Today, it is seen as a classic Philippine romantic song.
The original words were in Spanish. Later, a famous Filipino artist named Levi Celerio translated the lyrics into Tagalog. The song has been performed by many groups. For example, an arrangement of the song was part of the Harvard Glee Club's performances when they visited the Philippines in 1961.
Students graduating from Centro Escolar University also sing "La Flor de Manila" as their final song during their annual Sampaguita Interlude. In 1974, a marching band version called "Sampaguita March" was released. This version is now the official inspection march for the Vice President of the Philippines. It has been used by past presidents and is currently used by President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.
See also
In Spanish: Dolores Paterno para niños
