A SHORT NOTE ON THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF DR. HILARION TALAVERA SALVAÑA

A SHORT NOTE ON THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF DR. HILARION TALAVERA SALVAÑA by Mariel O. Mabuting - CPDO Staff/OST-THG Secretary 

Dr. Hilarion “Lolon” T. Salvaña is the lyricist of Tayabas City official hymn entitled “Tayabas, Lungsod Naming Mahal”. He is 80 years old and was born on October 21, 1939. He currently lives in Tayabas City. Dr. Salvaña’s father was a musician and guide in his musical journey. In his early age he became a choir member. He studied in Luzonian Colleges (now Manuel S. Enverga Universiy Foundation) in Lucena for his secondary education, took BSE in Mathematics in the same school, and finished his Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics and Doctor of Education at UP Diliman and Enverga University, respectively.

In the 1970s, Hilarion T. Salvaña became the Head of Mathematics Department of Luis Palad Provincial High School and later promoted to Assistant Principal. In 1984, he became the Planning Officer of the then DECS Division of Quezon, was promoted to Education Supervisior for Research and Evaluation, passed the Superintendent Examination, was promoted to Assistant Superintendent, and served in this capacity in Oriental Mindoro and later in DECS Division of Quezon where he retired in 1999. After retirement in government service he served as professor in College and Graduate School of Enverga University where he stopped teaching in 2010. Because of his perseverance and contribution to the field of education, he received awards such as Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan in 2014, Most Distinguished Alumnus of Enverga University in 1994, and Teacher of the Year Award in the early 1970’s.

According to him, “Mathematics and music are related through note duration measurement”. Along his journey being an educator, music is always with him. He wrote various articles, songs and poems and short stories in Pilipino. He was co-author of a textbook in Mathematics, published a book entitled “Mga Kuwento at Tula ni Lolon” and had it printed in more than a thousand copies which is still on sale at the Luis Palad Educational Foundation, all the proceeds of which was donated to the Foundation for its projects for the school and for students from poor families. He wrote other unpublished books, namely, “Mumunting Mensahe Mula sa Isang Layko”, “Mga Likhang Himig ni Lolon”, “Munting Aklat ng mga Lumang Awit” and a revised edition of “Mga Kuwento at Tula ni Lolon”. These books contain most of his literary works and musical compositions such as Landas, Oyayi, Bayani sa Bagong Panahon, Awit ng Salamin, Guro ay Dakila, Multiplication Song, Awit ng Paladian and Awit ng Pagtatapos, among others.  

In 2007, he wrote the song “Lungsod ng Tayabas” upon request of then Mayor Dr. Severina C. Nadres to have an official hymn because Tayabas was then newly converted to city. But years after that, Tayabas cityhood status was challenged by the Supreme Court. The composition had to wait sometime before the Cityhood of Tayabas was reinstated in the year 2011. Then, he asked for the help of former Councilor Lovely Reynoso in sponsoring a Sangguniang Panglungsod Resolution for the legislation of the hymn.

Through Dr. Salvaña’s ardent desire to have an official hymn for Tayabas City, he turned to the song “O Bayan Ko” which was composed by his father, Mr. Gregorio Salvaña, and with the lyrics written by him, which was entered into the contest for the search of a song to be the official hymn of the celebration of the 400 years of Tayabas in 1978. The song won the first place as judged by Mrs. Belen V. Obispo, Mr. Rustico Babat and Fr. Conrado Reynoso. When Tayabas regained its cityhood status, Dr. Salvaña made some revision on the lyrics and changed the title of the song “O Bayan Ko” to “Tayabas, Lungsod Naming Mahal”. This recent version of the song is more fitting and more appropriate. It was presented to the members of Sangguniang Panglungsod presided by then Vice Mayor Brando Rea in 2012.

Mayor Ernida Agpi Reynoso won the candidacy on 2016. Dr. Salvaña received the news from then Councilor Geronimo “Onie” Tabernilla that the proposal for the official hymn of Tayabas was heard once again in the Sangguniang Panglungsod regular session. They planned to pick a choirmaster who will make arrangement for the recording of the song and subsequent production of CD. They chose Mr. Lamberto B. Galleno who later approached Dr. Salvaña to discuss the arrangement of the song and made some adjustment for choral rendition.

In 2017, the disc with the recorded hymn was delivered to Dr. Salvaña. The final version of the hymn was first heard on the State of the City Address of Mayor Ernida Agpi Reynoso on July 14, 2017.

For all the Tayabasin to learn the song by heart as their solemn tribute to the City of Tayabas and its people is Dr. Hilarion T. Salvaña’s dream.

Digested from the transcript of interview with Dr. Salvaña conducted on March 22, 2018 at his residence in Tuason Subdivision, Brgy. Opias, Tayabas City. The interview was conducted by Mr. Necias Chavez Pataunia, City Planning and Development Officer.

February 4, 2020