IN COMING up with our list of the best composers of all time, one of our primary considerations was recall, or the ability of their songs to stay in the listener's memory. With the surge of new compositions everyday, it's difficult to come up with a hit song which can become a ''classic.''

We also considered the consistency and significance of the works as well as the significant impact on the listening public. Our citations in alphabetical order:

Abelardo was a prolific composer of the kundiman in the 1920s. His works ''Bituing Marikit''(included in his sarsuela ''Dakilang Punglo''), ''Kundiman ng Luha,'' ''Mutya Ng Pasig'' and ''Nasaan Ka Irog?'' had stirring, poetic lyrics which later evolved into movie theme songs.

His composition ''Naku… Kenkoy!" (1930) combines the fox-trot and waltz with humor. Used as a tribute to the komiks character, Kenkoy, it castigates Filipinos who embrace and flaunt their colonial mentality.

His works have continued to draw interest even after his death in 1934. Ryan Cayabyab rearranged his kundiman, "Mutya Ng Pasig," for Kuh Ledesma's concert and his "Cavatina" continues to be a favorite concert and recital piece of instrumentalists.

Freddie Aguilar made folk pop songs a staple on the hit charts in the 1970's. His song, "Anak" captured the international market while it struck an emotional chord with parents and children. It has been recorded in Japanese, Cantonese, Malay, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Italian, English and Dutch languages.

Aside from love ballads, ("Ipaglalaban Ko," "Kamusta Ka," "Minamahal Kita,") he draws sociopolitical images with his "Bulag, Pipi at Bingi," "Magdalena," "Estudyante Blues" "Katarungan," and "Olongapo."

Danny Javier, Boboy Garovillo, and Jim Paredes use humor in their singing and songwriting. They have helped push original Filipino music (OPM) with the urban sound and colloquial lyrics of "Pumapatak ang Ulan," "Mahirap Magmahal ng Syota ng Iba," "Salawikain," and "American Junk."

In the mid-'80s, they wrote a string of protest songs ("Hindi Ka Nag-iisa," "Tuloy ang Ikot ng Mundo," "Sasaya Ang Pilipinas," and "Piece of Peace") against the Marcos dictatorship, and Paredes' composition, "Handog ng Filipino sa Mundo," became a fitting tribute to the Edsa Revolution in 1986.

Joey Ayala's songs sing nature, humanity, and dying tribes and cultures in "Aguila, Haring Ibon," "Dabaw," "Manong Pawikan" and "Tabi Po."

Like Asin, Joey and his band, Bagong Lumad, supplies melodies and rhythms with the use of native instruments like the kulintang, bamboo flute and the hagalong.

Though his compositions are rich with ecological themes, the youth remember him for his humorous "Answering Machine" and moving "Walang Hanggang Paalam."

As the vocalist and frequent songwriter of the band, Eraserheads, Ely Buendia has created witty lyrics and catchy melodies. Occasionally, Raymund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro pitch in the songwriting.

"Ligaya," "Pare Ko," "With a Smile," "Sem Break," "Magasin," "Overdrive," and "Kailan" have transcended age and social class as students, kids, yuppies and ordinary folks mouth and relate to the unusual lyrics.

Buendia deals with unusual themes in his compositions, "Huling El Bimbo," "Hey, Jay," "Kaliwete" and "Alapaap."

Canseco worked as a journalist before he turned to writing songs after Martial Law. His composition "You're All I Love" became a hit after Pilita Corrales recorded it in 1965. In 1970, he translated the English lyrics into Tagalog to create the movie theme song, "Kapantay ay Langit."

Since then, he continued to make memorable movie theme songs like "Imortal," "Langis at Tubig," "Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan," "Paano Ba Ang Mangarap," "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin?" "Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit" and "Sinasamba Kita."

His ballads "Rain," "Kailangan Kita," "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo" and "Kastilyong Buhangin" tug at the heartstrings because they express true sentiments without being mushy.

Cayabyab had a flair for dramatic experimentation. He mixed jazz, Broadway and/or indigenous music in his compositions "Misa," "Maria Makiling" and "Kapinangan." While his pop songs "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika," "Tsismis" "Isang Awit" and "Paraisong Parisukat" mirrors the Pinoy's penchant for gossip, romance and songs.

His exceptional musicals "Katy!" and "Magnificat" were later recorded on compact discs and cassettes.

In the mid-'30s, Celerio wrote the lyrics for haranas like "Caprichosa," "Ang Tapis Ni Inday," "Dungawin Mo Hirang" and "Umaga na Neneng." But he is best remembered for the moving, emotional lyrics of "Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan," "Sapagkat Kami'y Tao Lamang," "Saan Ka Man Naroroon" and "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal."

Novelty songs like "Waray-Waray," "Pitong Gatang," "Alembong," "Ikaw Kasi,"Basta't Mahal Kita" and "Kalesa" owe their playful, sarcastically funny lyrics to him.

As the dawn masses before Christmas would not be complete without the lilt of "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit" and "Pasko Na Naman."

Cruz's compositions "Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi" and "I'll Never Ever Say Goodbye" respectively helped make Didith Reyes and Nonoy Zuñiga popular.

He also did the theme songs for the movies "Kung Mahawi man ang Ulap," "Maging Akin Ka Lamang," "Pahiram Ng Isang Umaga," and "Himala Ng Pag-Ibig." And his compositions, "Bituing Walang Ningning," "Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas," "Bukas Luluhod ang mga Tala" and "Oras-Oras, Araw-Araw" made their mark because the melodramatic progression of the ballads made Sharon Cuneta more accessible to the masses.

He has written more than 200 songs which have political, satirical or inspirational undertones. Among his notable works are "Kahit Konti," "Kung Sama-Sama, Kayang-Kaya," "Salamat Musika "and "Earthkeeper."

Together with Pepe Smith and Wally Gonzales, his compositions, "Ang Himig Natin," "Beep-Beep," "Panahon," "Sarap Ng Buhay" and "Laki Sa Layaw (Jeproks)" helped open the doors for Pinoy rock. His songs in the '70s expressed the growing angst of the youth in those turbulent times.

He paved the way for other rock bands like the Dawn, Color It Red, Binky Lampano, AfterImage, Introvoys and the Jerks to flourish in the 1990s.

Like the Apo Hiking Society, the band used colloquial language in its songs. It was led by Rene Garcia and had Ella del Rosario, Lorrie Ilustre, Dennis Garcia, Gina Montes and Mazo Diez as members.

They laced their songs with juvenile sentiments but they should be credited for creating the "Manila sound." Their love songs, "Ikaw Ang Miss Universe Ng Buhay Ko," "Pers Lab," and "Beh Buti Nga," were light, casual and devoid of mushiness, but evoked laughter and empathy from the listener.

Velarde combined provincial nostalgia and romanticism in his songs, "Buhat," "Dahil Sa Iyo," "Ikaw," "Lahat ng Araw," "Habang Buhay," "Minamahal Kita" and "Ikaw ay Akin."