Named as a National Artist in 1987. Atang Dela Rama was a vaudeville star in the 30s. She is also known as the first Filipina actress and the Queen of the Kundiman and the Sarsuela.
She was known for her iconic rendition of Dalagang Bukid. She not only sang at major theaters like Teatro Libertad and Teatro Zorilla but she also performed in cockpits and open plazas around the country.
She was also a theatrical producer, writer, and talent manager.
She was also an advocate for the dominance of kundiman and sarsuela during the American occupation.
She sang kundimans and other Filipino songs in concerts around the world from Hawaii, San Francisco, and New York City, to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo, as part of her quest to bring Filipino culture to the world.
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