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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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!

ILI-ILI TULOG ANAY - Philippine Folk Song (Hiligaynon)

Ili-ili Tulog Anay is probably the most popular Filipino lullaby. Thanks to Prof. Prisicilla Venturanza Magdamo who was able to record this gem-of-a-song from a certain Maria Abitang in Bañga, Aklan. It was later published in her Philippine Folk Songs: Songs of the Visayas Vol. 1 (with piano accompaniment), Vol II (fakesheet style), and in Vol. III for chorus. And the rest is history. The short soothing song simply means: Ili-ili (a crooning word for babies) sleep awhile/ Your mother is not here,/ She went to the store to buy bread/ Ili-ili sleep awhile. The notation below was taken from a learning module available online.

Philippine Folk Song - LUBI-LUBI (Waray)

Lubi-lubi is a Waray folk song about the coconut ( lubi ). The song simply means that the Waray folks can enjoy coconuts in all the 12 months of the year. The Waray version of the song (also called Lubi-lubi Lingkuranay ) is about a dwarf coconut (probably an allusion to a small maiden) which a man promises not to climb, after all it was not that tall. The song proceeds the now famous enumeration of the months of the year. The succeeding stanza is a dialogue between a maiden and a suitor who is trying to win her "immature" heart which she likened to a young coconut ( silot ). The maiden warns the suitor to first seek the permission of her parents before even picking one silot. For those familiar with the song, the third verse, sung for the second part of the music can be sang: Kun waray sin abaniko/ Patay na inin lawas ko/ Lawas ko, ay, ay, madedesmayo/ San balhas nga dimasyado. ...

FOLK SONGS FROM THE PHILIPPINES

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