Nonong Buencamino: The Accolades of Formation
The Ateneo has always been known for its ardent emphasis on a holistic education, wherein all students are to take an array of classes in the sciences, the social sciences and a majority of classes from the humanities. With its prestigious school publications, various organizations and of course the highly respected "Awards for the Arts," this clearly comes as no surprise. Of the many aspects of the humanities, music continues to be relevant in The Ateneo, and even beyond it. The recent decade has seen the rise of several musicians, both independent and mainstream, who started in the hallowed halls of the Ateneo. But their works are not restricted to being heard on the radio nor are they just for entertainment.
Many years before the rise of internet downloads and music streaming, the musical compositions of Ateneans could already be heard as the splash of drama and the overlay of ambiance in some of the country’s most iconic cinematic masterpieces. The last article for this series of current Ateneo alumni composers in the film and television industry features a graduate from the Ateneo Grade School in 1969. Dionisio Jose “Nonong” Buencamino Jr. is a multi-awarded composer and musical scorer who is recognized both locally and abroad. He is well-known for his scoring in the acclaimed film “Tanging Yaman” (Directed by Laurice Guillen). He picked up the award for Best Musical Score in the 2000 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) among the film’s eight other accolades for his scoring added more poignant elements and ambiance to the already heart-wrenching film.
His scoring works also include other local iconic films such as 1998’s historical biopic “José Rizal”( Directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya), starring Cesar Montano as the titular nationalist and genius. The locally and internationally acclaimed film cannot be named so without its numerous accolades, a good number of which were given to Buencamino. The theme song of the film that Buencamino composed called “Awit ni Maria Clara” won both Best Movie Theme Song categories in the 1998 MMFF and the 1999 Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards, respectively. Buencamino was also given numerous awards for his entire body of work in film scoring. Among these are Best Music Score in the 1998 MMFF, Best Musical Direction in the 1999 FAMAS Awards, Best Music in the 1999 Gawad Urian Awards, and Musical Scorer of the Year in the Star Awards for the movies that same year.
His earlier awarded works also include the 1993 biographical flick “Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story” (Directed by Laurice Guillen) starring Vilma Santos. It seems that even during this time, Buencamino already had a penchant for scoring films that were shrouded in darkness and drama, while sending the most profound message to its viewers. While most of his acclaimed films feature an A-lister if not an all-star cast, it seems that Buencamino is still more interested in the these films' storylines. Music, after all, serves as accompaniment. And a sad moment or a touching scene is made even more so with just the right music. Perhaps this was why he took home the 1993 Gawad Urian Award for Best Music for this film, the few first among several to follow of these awards for him.
A year after the magnanimity of “José Rizal”, Buencamino returned to score another Cesar Montano starred film, this time the indie bet “Muro-ami”( Directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya) in 1999. His compositions sync with the silent dread and mystery that enshroud the whole movie, centered around an abusive captain determined to destroy the ocean after losing his loved ones in a boating accident. For his work in this film, Buencamino took home the Best Musical Score award in the 1999 Metro Manila Film Festival.
In 2001 Nonong Buencamino won best musical score in the movie Bagong Buwan directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and also starring Cesar Montano. The cast also included his brother Noni Buencamino (another Atenean). The film won Best Original Theme song (“Walang Hanggang Paalam”) composed by his Ateneo Grade school batchmate Joey Ayala. Nonong was also the film scorer of Dekada ’70 realeased in 2002 under the direction of Chito S. Roño.
His work is also not monotonous in the sense that he only scores for films alone. His compositions are also heard live as backing to theatre. Most notable of these plays is Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Prinsipe ng Buwan," an interactive musical made for children in 2004. Buencamino scored for the whimsical two-act play that delved into very-much adult themes, to the accompaniment of the libretto of Tony Perez.
Overall, Nonong Buencamino’s career is a paragon of what an Atenean should be doing in their chosen fields. He takes on the best projects, which are not always blockbusters or "chick flicks." He scores films that shock and enlighten people about the social realities of the Philippines, and whether a project is about family feuds, destruction of the environment, or disease awareness, Buencamino has always been sure to hop aboard that train. Philippine Music after all, started with giving more meaning to one’s intentions, in either courtship or mourning. But sometimes, there are deeper and more urgent issues that need to be called to mind, and when a film is made that shed light on those issues, working on it becomes the more sensible option, even though it might not pay much. Buencamino has proved that one can do something ethical and still be recognized greatly for it.
Thinking of others and doing one’s best to enlighten people, is what matters most.
*This article was originally written on May 10, 2016
*Edited and published by Ron Medalla
*Movie posters taken from the interenet movie database website Sources: "'Prinsipe Ng Buwan' Onstage at CCP." Manila Bulletin. Highbeam.com, 14 Nov. 2004. Web. 5 May 2016. <https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-124708136.html>. "Nonong Buencamino." Hollywood.com. Hollywood.com, n.d. Web. 5 May 2016. <http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/nonong-buencamino-57543735/>. "Nonong Buencamino." Philippine Music Industry. Organisasyon Ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit, n.d. Web. 5 May 2016. <http://philippinemusicregistry.com.ph/main/artist/view/122>. Viray, Florencio. "Filmography: Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story (1993)." Star For All Seasons. Wordpress.com, 15 Nov. 2009. Web. 5 May 2016. <https://starforallseasons.com/2009/11/15/filmography-dahil-mahal-kita-the-dolzura- cortezstory "Nonong Buencamino Soundtrack." RingosTrack. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017. <http://ringostrack.com/en/artist/nonong-buencamino/2698>.