Laygay Samarnon Series, No. 2 - "DI KA BA NAGSIRING?" (Hernani, E. Samar)

Estehanon folk songs on matters of love, courtship or even serenades are typically Waray Bisayan which, as described by Sugbo reveal the "images of kasakit (suffering), palooylooy (pity), and kuri (difficulty) on the part of the person in love." The song below, learned by Mr. Irasga from his grandfather, Tomas Corral who came from Hernani town fits the images mentioned by Sugbo. The raw or literal translation, here given, was from an unpublished manuscript entitled "Laylay han Kasanhi: The Songs of Samar Island" an aborted folk song book project with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, where our contributor - Mr. Irasga, was one of the author and researchers.

Di ka ba nagsiring, ha akon nagsaad?

Im' ak' uunungan halad an im kalag.

An im' kinabuhi, ngadto ha lubnganan

Di ngay-an tapuran, sugad la hin dampog

nga waray hi-uran.

Uunan-on ko la nga pagliaw-liaw

Nga makatambal la han mga kamingaw

San-o la kakulop, san-o man kaadlaw

Nga diri an luha, nga di gud an luha

ha mata manlugmaw.

Have you not told, have you not promised me?

That you will commiserate on my plight,

with your soul, with your life, as long as you live

I should haven't put my hope on you

For you're like a rain cloud which dissipated.

How will I ever comfort myself?

How will I ease this loneliness?

Should have it been yesterday, or tomorrow

That tears, yes, tears will fall no more.

Source: As stated above.

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CHUA-AY - Philippine Folk Song (Ifugao)

Chua-ay is probably among the most popular Ifugao folk song. This simple song first appeared in Emilia Cavan's book "Filipino Folk Songs" published in 1924. According to this book, Chua-ay is an "Igorot Wedding Song." Nonetheless, it became popular in the academe as the Ifugao "rice pounding song," and the pounding of the pestles are supposed to follow the rhythm of the song. How this sudden change of understanding came down to present-day Filipino students is not known. The song text translation below was taken from Cavan's book, p. "v." Man-child brave, man-child strong, For thee we call, oe!, oe! Brave to fight, strong to work, We bid thee come, oe!, oe! Carry rice from field to town, oe!, oe!

SI FILEMON - Philippine Folk Song (Cebuano)

This is among the most easily recognizable Cebuano-Visayan folk song. Thanks to Yoyoy Villame, this already popular song became even more popular especially to non-Visayan speakers. The comic song is about a fisherman named Filemon who went fishing in the sea. All he got was a small mudspringer ( tambasakan ), which he sold at a dilapidated market for 50 centavos ( kura ) each. His earning was enough to buy himself tuba wine.

DANDANSOY - Philippine Folk Song (Hiligaynon/Kinaray-a)

One of the most popular Philippine folk is this song about the parting of lovers. Dandansoy is the nickname of the man who is leaving his beloved in their place Payao. Early version of this song appearing in the American period music book - the Progressive Music Series - Philippine Edition states that this song originated from the town of Culasi in Antique Province and was reported by a certain Fortunata Masipok. The simple, yet lovely melody of the song truly have a universal appeal that it already have versions in many Philippine languages, primarily in the Visayan regions. The notation of the song below was taken from the thesis of Mr. Cainglet, available online. For classroom instruction purposes, only the first verse is given here.

FOLK SONGS FROM THE PHILIPPINES

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