Anastacio Mamaril: Forgotten Pride of Pangasinan

Anastacio Mamaril: Forgotten Pride of Pangasinan

I am trying to listen to a random YouTube video on "forgotten Filipino songs" to help me relax and fall asleep when the host mentions a name that keeps me wide awake instead. Among those he lists as forgotten is "Cha-cha No. 1" by "Pangasinan pride" Anastacio Mamaril.

The mention instantly brings me back to the time when my grandmother frequently listened to vinyl records to relax or while doing chores at home, with cha-cha numbers by Anastacio Mamaril and His Orchestra among those frequently played on the phonograph. That's how I got to know the music artist, but it never occurred to me that he was a Pangasinense and that he had original compositions too.

The sudden interest has me doing a quick Google search for any info about him. Alas, although there is a host of video recordings of his orchestra pieces, all I get are sketchy data on his background, with not one decent article.

Who was Anastacio Mamaril exactly? Where was he from? (I am hoping he is from my hometown because there are a number of Mamarils here.) Since he used to be a superstar, he must have been written about widely?

But a search result only yields this: Known as the "Trumpet King of the Philippines," Anastacio (Asiong) Mamaril, was both a composer and arranger who released around 300 recordings in various music labels. "Mamaril’s rise to popularity started when he joined the Ylaya Orchestra. In 1954, he formed his own band, Asiong Mamaril and His Orchestra," so apparently he evolved into a band leader from being a soloist. "Among his more popular releases are 'Cha-Cha No. 1' and 'Haba-Haba Cha-Cha.'" Among other intriguing titles are the equally humorous because unexpected ones: "Pinoy Cha-cha," "Manang Biday Cha-cha," "Barkada Cha-cha," "Macho Cha-cha"... It was very Pinoy of him to make a halo-halo of disparate cultural elements.

I next find a memorial website that was ostensibly created in memory of one Anastacio Mamaril, 88, born on January 22, 1917 and passed away on August 2, 2005. But other than that info, there is nothing more.

Another search result is a research paper on Bicolano music artists contending that Mamaril was a mere second fiddle to the real trumpet king, a Bicolano artist who unfortunately did not record his works.

Another result is only accessible through a paywall.

I am not satisfied with the scanty information, so I repeat my search the next day. At last, I find a Tagalog entertainment article on Philstar, a substantive one, but still no info as to his roots.

Ernie Pecho, in his column, "Kwentong Showbiz," relates in a glowing account that Mamaril was indeed a local trumpet king for over five decades, but that he passed away at the age of 87. Moreover, he was dubbed as the "Harry James of the Philippines," because he was one of the finest trumpet and wind instrument players and an excellent bandleader too, with his orchestra becoming famous both in the Philippines and in various countries across Asia and America. "In Japan, he even shared the stage with the Rhumba King, Xavier Cugat," he states.

"During his prime, nightspots featuring Mamaril and his group were highly sought after. He produced numerous dance albums released by almost all record companies in the Philippines ...which featured nearly all ballroom dance sounds."

"Mamaril was also called the 'King of Latin Beat' for his exceptional skill in playing cha-cha, samba, pachanga, rhumba, and tango music." His live concerts here and abroad sold out at high ticket prices.

"During his era, he was the most in-demand instrumentalist along the nightclub row on Dewey (now Roxas Boulevard). The most luxurious gatherings required the presence of the Anastacio Mamaril Orchestra. Back then, no grand occasion was complete without Anastacio Mamaril and his orchestra."

I remind myself that just because you can't Google something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. For all you know, stacks of information are gathering dust in some forgotten basement or growing mildew inside a library.

But it is sad that a cultural phenomenon of such stature would almost have nothing on his personal background in the age of digitization and oversharing, not even a token Wikipedia item or Facebook post.

It is mortifying how one can be a superstar in his day and be quickly forgotten in another.

Anyone know where he was from? Anything more about the man himself and not just his works?

References:

https://www.discogs.com/artist/3162919-Anastacio-Mamaril

https://www.sysoon. com/deceased/anastacio-mamaril-237?srsltid=AfmBOooZ-Zub9kw94Q7jSJzhIdLT6ixtUzy7i39K6YKQ3X_hK-YzFdzs

https://pure.aber. ac. uk/ ws/portalfiles/portal/10396442/The_Bicol_Dotoc.pdf

https://www.philstar. com/ pilipino-star-ngayon/showbiz/2005/08/07/290337/dingdong-klik-sa-lolo-ni-karylle