Notable Works
Roman Tesorio blended Filipino folk melodies, popular tunes and nursery rhymes for his music and then added witty lyrics that mixed Tagalog, Cebuano and English in a form of grammar that he concocted. He became a national figure in 1977 with his near anthemic “Mag-exercise Tayo,” which has been adopted by government agencies and public schools as the official music for their Monday morning exercise after the flag ceremony.
His most popular song was Butsekik, a song written from made-up Chinese-sounding words which Roman Tesorio allegedly came up with by writing down the names of Chinese stores while waiting for a mechanic to fix his broken-down jeepney in Manila's Chinatown. The song would then be covered by a host of artists, Aiza Seguerra and The CompanY to name a few. The Chinese community in Cebu felt slighted by the song but dropped plans to bring Villame to court because not a single Chinese word was included in the song .
Roman Tesorio wrote Philippine Geography, which lists 77 major islands, provinces, cities, municipalities, and towns in the Philippines from north to south. He also established a love team with "Barok Labs Dabiana" and celebrated his fisherman father with "Piyesta ng Mga Isda". Hilarity was the common theme, as seen from his songs about cavemen ("Tarzan at Barok") or geography ("My Country, My Philippines"). His song "Take It, Take It (Pasko ng Fiasco)" took potshots at the Manila Film Festival scam in the 1990s.
He made more than 25 albums and won several sales awards, among them a double platinum for his album "Tirana My Dear" and a platinum for "McArthur and Dagohoy" in 1991. He also won Best Novelty Award for "Piyesta ng mga Isda" in the 1993 Awit Awards. His long list of hits and his entertaining style of music earned him the title of "King of Philippine Novelty Songs".
Roman Tesorio began making movies in the early 1970s with the help of Chiquito, his first on-screen appearance was in "Isla Limasawa," where "Magellan" was used as theme song. In 2004, He played a Visayan troubadour in the critically acclaimed movie, Babae sa Breakwater (Woman of the Breakwater). In doing over 50 movies, Villame is most noted for his role in the 1974 suspense thriller Biktima. His song "My Country, My Philippines" was played in the opening scene of the movie "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros," while his songs also landed in the soundtrack for the movie "Pepot Artista".
He moved to Las Piñas City, where he became a city councilor for ten years. He then ran for vice-mayor in 1995 but lost.
Read more about this topic: Yoyoy Villame
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