Laygay Samarnon Series No.1 - "HA KAN INDAY" (Taft, E. Samar)

Of the very scant resources on published Samar folk songs, the song "Ha Kan Inday" is probably the only song published which I came across when I was an elementary pupil. The song, which is said to have originated from the town of Taft in Eastern Samar is actually a love song and serenade. Presumably, the version of this song which was reproduced in many music textbooks was from music books of former Bureau of Public School and Adult Education supervisor Salud R. Enriquez. Four other known versions of the song came from Tacloban in Leyte and the towns of Oras, Can-avid and McArthur, all in Eastern Samar. Dr. Jesusita Arteche, who recorded the Oras version claimed that there are many versions of the song texts, to this melody. Of the available versions of the song, the Can-avid version, collected by a certain Mr. A. Irasga has probably the complete text, with two more stanzas describing the singer's fondness to the the way Inday laughs and smiles and how she stands out of the many ladies of the place. The fourth stanza of the Can-avid version, is somewhat off to the serenade theme of the song because it moralizes on the good and fair relationship between siblings and the heavenly reward for having it. The Oras version is exactly similar to the Taft version shown below:

Igin-anod ako tubig nga kasul'gan

Ngadto ak' anuran han kan Inday hawan.

An kan Inday hawan kay mga bukaran

Dayon ko man buro nga pagtingisan.

Kamakurikuri ni Inday sangpiton

Bisan nagmamata diri gud nabaton

Natatapos na la an mga kansiyon

Diri gud nabaton kay di man higumaon.

Literal Transalation:

I was adrift on a swift current

And to Inday's garden I was carried to

Inday's garden was replete with flowers

I picked one up, to which I cried.

How difficult indeed to awaken Inday

Though awake, she doesn't respond

All my songs have been sung

No response still, especially to someone she don't love.

Source: Teaching Music in the Grades by Salud R. Enriquez (1966), pp. 134-135.

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