Ilagan was a tiple (treble or soprano) and lead singer for a church in Bigaa, Bulacan. Because of Ilagan's talent, a parish priest in Bigaa, Bulacan brought Ilagan and his family to Manila. He became the singer for the Santa Cruz Church. In return, Ilagan was able to study at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila (now known as Ateneo de Manila University). Although not able to finish schooling, Ilagan became a member of a zarzuela troupe (theater performers) from Spain. During the Spanish–American War, the Spanish performers went back to Spain, but Ilagan maintained his liking for the zarzuela, and later pioneered productions of stage drama in the form of Philippine zarzuelas. His forty years of involvement in the field of zarzuela created the period known as the Golden Age of Philippine Theater.[1] In 1902, Ilagan established the Compania Lirico-Dramatica Tagala de Gatchalian y Ilagan, also known as Compania Ilagan, the first zarzuela troupe in the Philippines. Ilagan's zarzuelas have melodramatic, comic, romantic, and political qualities.[1]
