Levi Celerio is a Filipino composer and lyricist, born on April 30, 1910 in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. He received a free education to the Academy of Music in Manila and became the youngest affiliate of the Manila Symphony Orchestra. He was a creative songwriter, with more than 4,000 songs to his acclaim including Filipino folk, Christmas, and love songs that are popular pieces, which many consider to be immortal.

Famous for being a lyricist, his songs treasure life; express nationalistic sentiments and complete grand philosophies. At one instance or another, no Filipino can miss the song or lyrics of Levi's Christmas songs namely Pasko na Naman, Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, and Misa de Gallo.

He is probably best recognized for being a leaf-player, an achievement where he was place into the Guinness Book of World Records.

He wrote a huge number of songs for local movies, which gained him the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Film Academy of the Philippines.

He was awarded as National Artist of the Philippines for Music in 1997. He died on April 2, 2002.

Jose Mari Chan (born March 11, 1945) is a Chinese Filipino singer, songwriter and businessman in the sugar industry. He was born in Iloilo City on March 11, 1945. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1967. He is currently Chairman and CEO of BISCOM, Inc. and A. Chan Sugar Corporation. He is also the Chairman and President of Signature Music Inc.

He first appeared on the local scene as the Host & Singer of a Television show called "9 Teeners" of ABS-CBN in 1966. His first single Afterglow was released in 1967. His first long playing album "Deep in My Heart (album)" was issued in 1969. In 1973 he represented the Philippines in the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo where his song "Can We Just Stop and Talk A While" went into the final entries.

In 1975 he moved to the United States for his sugar business and remained there for 11 years. In 1986, he went back to the music industry with the release of his album A Golden Change.

In 1989, he released his album "Constant Change". It was named Album of the Year by the Awit Awards, the local equivalent of the American Grammy Awards and reached the Diamond Record in terms of sales. It also sold in other Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

In 1990 his Christmas album "Christmas in Our Hearts" was released. It reached triple platinum status that same year, eventually earning the Double Diamond Record Award. His 2001 album "A Heart's Journey" won Album of the year in the Awit Awards.

In 2005 he composed "We're All Just One" as the theme song of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

In 2011, he released his 13th full length album, The Manhattan Connection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan

WORKS

ANG PASKO AY SUMAPITMusic: V. Rubi

Lyrics: Levi Celerio

Ang Pasko ay sumapit Tayo ay mangagsi-awit Ng magagandang himig 

Dahil sa Diyos ay pag-ibig. 

Nang si Kristo'y isilang May tatlong haring nagsidalaw 

At ang bawa't isa ay nagsipaghandog Ng tanging alay. 

Bagong Taon ay magbagong-buhay Nang lumigaya ang ating bayan 

Tayo'y magsikap upang makamtan Natin ang kasaganahan. 

Tayo'y mangagsi-awit Habang ang mundo'y tahimik 

Ang araw ay sumapit Ng sanggol na dulot ng langit 

Tayo ay magmahalan Ating sundin ang gintong aral 

At magbuhat ngayon Kahit hindi Pasko ay magbigayan!

Christmas in Our Hearts

By Jose Mari Chan

Whenever I see girls and boysSelling lanterns on the street

I remember the child in the manger as he sleepsWherever there are people

Giving gifts exchanging cardsI believe that Christmas is truly in our hearts

Let's light our Christmas trees for a bright tomorrowWhere nations are at peace,

And all are one in God

[Chorus:]Let's sing Merry Christmas and a happy holiday

This season may we never forget the love we have for JesusLet him be the one to guide us as another new year startsAnd may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts

In every prayer and every songThe community unites celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ

Let love like that starlight on that first Christmas mornLead us back to the manger where Christ the child was born

So come let us rejoiceCome and sing the Christmas carol with one big joyful voice

Proclaim the name of the Lord

[Chorus:]Let's sing Merry Christmas and a happy holiday

This season may we never forget the love we have for JesusLet him be the one to guide us as another new year startsAnd may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts

[Chorus:]Let's sing Merry Christmas and a happy holiday

The season may we never forget the love we have for JesusLet him be the one to guide us as another new year startsAnd may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts