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 The raw or literal translation, here given, was from an unpublished manuscript entitled "Laylay han Kasanhi: The Songs of Samar Island" an aborted folk song book project with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, where our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.

Comments

Laygay Samarnon Series, No. 4 - "AN IROY NGA TUNA" (Samar-Leyte)

Scanning through my collection of Philippine folk song books, I find it easier to find samples of songs which express pride of one's ethnicity, especially, the noteworthy virtues of each people group's maidens/womenfolk: industrious, beautiful, socially-accomplished, good example, modest, peerless, and so on. Folk songs like the Babaeng Bikolana, the Kapampangan Ing Manai, the Tagalog Ang Dalagang Tagabukid and Lulay ; the Waray An Marol (featured earlier in this blog's series, No. 3) , the Ilocana a Nadayag and the Daragang Taga-Cuyo of Palawan all take pride in the prime qualities of their womenfolk. However, our love for the Filipinoness outside our own ethnicity is rather rare in the themes of our folk songs. That could be safe, probably, to presume that there could be a lot of folk songs which embody the ardent love for one's place of origin: a town, a province, an island, a region or an island group; however, for folk songs with theme of love for our country co...

ATIN KU PUNG SINGSING - Philippine Folk Song (Kapampangan)

This Kapampangan folk song has among the most easily recognizable melodies as it was utilized for the popular Tagalog nursery rhyme Ako ay may Lobo (I have a Balloon). This song is about a girl who lost a gem-stoned ring ( singsing ) which she inherited from her grandparents. As a consolation to whoever is that man who finds the ring, her heart will be his.

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

Search This Blog