Hermogenes Ilagan (19 April 1873 in Bigaa, Bulacan – 27 February 1943) was a Filipino tenor, writer, stage actor, and playwright..
Hermogenes Ilagan
Hermogenes Ilagan (19 April 1873 in Bigaa, Bulacan – 27 February 1943) was a Filipinotenor, writer, stage actor, and playwright.
He was a descendant of Francisco Baltazar. His talent in singing made him popular in the field of theater arts.
Hermogenes Ilagan was a Filipino tenor, writer, stage actor, and playwright.
He became known as the Father of Tagalog Zarzuela and the Father of Philippine Zarzuela.[1]
Career
Ilagan was a tiple (treble or soprano) and lead singer for a church in Bigaa, Bulacan.
Because of Ilagan's talent, a parish priest in Bigaa, Bulacan brought Ilagan and his family to Manila. He became the singer for the Santa Cruz Church. In return, Ilagan was able to study at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila (now known as Ateneo de Manila University).
Although not able to finish schooling, Ilagan became a member of a zarzuela troupe (theater performers) from Spain. During the Spanish–American War, the Spanish performers went back to Spain, but Ilagan maintained his liking for the zarzuela, and later pioneered pro