Potenciano Gregorio

Who is Potenciano Gregorio?

Potenciano Gregorio, often referred to as Potenciano Gregorio, Sr. was a Bicolano musician. He was the composer of Sarung Banggi, the most famous song in the Bikol language.

Potenciano Gregorio was born in what was then known as the town of Lib-og in the province of Albay in the Philippines. His parents were Narciso Gregorio and Canuta Valladolid. At an early age he learned to play the violin and was soon recognized for his talent. He subsequently learned to play other instruments such as the bandurria, the guitar, and piano. Later he started writing music for the local church by himself or in collaboration with his older brother Bernardo who organized the local band Banda de Lib-og. Potenciano later became the bandmaster of the same band until he joined the Philippine Constabulary Band in 1919.

It is claimed that Potenciano Gregorio composed Sarung Banggi when he was 17 years old. There are different versions as to how he composed this song. Hilario Balilo, the former town mayor stated that the composer wrote the music and lyrics of the song one night after hearing a bird chirping and the leaves rustling. He based this version on information he received from Justo Gregorio, a nephew of Potenciano. Resurrecion Gregorio, a grandson of Potenciano however claimed that the song was written during the 1897 eruption of Mayon volcano and initially the composer wanted to dedicate the song to his then fiancée Dominga Duran whom he later married.