Fernando Canon: Filipino Guitar Virtuoso and Patriot
Fernando Cano y Faustino (1860-1938) Sometime 1882, in a letter from Madrid to his family back in Calamba, Jose Rizal mentioned a "paisano" who will be their special guest in a dinner party at Antonio Paterno's place. The guest was none other than Fernando Canon whom Rizal referred to in the letter as "celebridad guitarrista" (celebrity guitarist) . Canon that time was beginning to be noticed in Madrid musical salons with his guitar performances. Rizal then continued: "dentro de algunos años quizás será el mejor en Madrid" -- In a few years he will perhaps be the best in Madrid. The celebrity guitarist was not really new to Rizal or even to the Mercado family-- Fernando Canon like Rizal was from Laguna, born in Biñan . The Filipino expats had really something to celebrate, , Canon was probably one of the first Filipinos (mestizo or Indio Filipino ) featured in some soirée intime in Spain-- (Unless we find articles mentioning Manuel Luna , in a b