Alice Doria-Gamilla
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Alice Doria-Gamilla (born 20 September 1931)[1]: 77 became remarkable for her composition of "A Million Thanks to You" using her original piano arrangement in 1960. The song was later on recorded by "Asia's Queen of Songs", Pilita Corrales which hit the millionth mark in sales which was a first in the Philippine recording history. It eventually became the signature song of Pilita's longest-running musical show on television, An Evening with Pilita. It was later recorded by Bobbi Martin of the Jackie Gleason Show in the United States under Coral Records. The song was such a big hit, it was recorded in 7 different languages after.
Born in Nagcarlan, Laguna, Philippines, Doria-Gamilla could play the piano by ear at the age of three. Afterwards she was given formal instructions when she was six. She was raised in an atmosphere of music teaching by her mother (Socorro Plantilla Cuento), father (Santos Montañano Doria) and elder sister (Consuelo Cuento Doria).[1]: 77
She completed Elementary Teacher's Certificate at the National University. She first worked as a critic teacher for two years at the Elementary Department of National University. She became the pianist of the Division City schools of Manila, and a demonstrator and choral conductor of teachers and children's group.
As a new discovered composer in 1964, she was featured as a pianist playing her own compositions in The Television Filipinesque Show in Channel 3 sponsored by Northern Motors in coordination with Music Promotion Foundation of the Philippines. Another composition she made which was to become as popular as "A Million Thanks to You" was her "Sa Lahat ng Oras".
She took up Bachelor of Science in education and graduated as Magna Cum Laude at the National University, Manila, in 1965. She continued her music studies at the University of Santo Tomas and majored in piano under Professor Bernardino Custodio. She took up further studies in composition under Professor Felipe Padilla de Leon.
To date, she had composed more than 300 published and unpublished, recorded and unrecorded songs. She appeared in various concerts for socio-civic organizations, radio and television shows both in the Philippines and in the U.S. Doria-Gamilla received numerous awards and citations in the musical arts sector. But she considers as her crowning glory when she was bestowed the "Gintong Ina" award for the musical arts sector in 1982. She was a member of the board of trustees of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers FILSCAP for many years.
Awards and honors
- Best Drama Television Series Citation (as author-composer of the dramatic story "A Million Thanks to You" 1964
- Featured as one of the four (4) selected women composers at the Tinig ng Kababaihan concert, 1975
- Certificate of Appreciation, University of the Philippines College of Music, 1975