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!

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FOLK SONGS FROM THE PHILIPPINES

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