Philippine Folk and Classical Music Revival: Sa Kabukiran (In the Countryside) and Other Songs

Compiled by Dr Abe V Rotor 

                                                         Painting by Fernando C Amorsolo  

Sa Kabukiran was a Spanish song that was translated into Cebuano. The famous lyricist Levi Celerio wrote Tagalog words for it, which were then popularized in a recording by Sylvia La Torre in the 1940's. It became such a hit that a movie was made with the title Sa Kabukiran in 1947. 

TAGALOG SONG LYRICS	ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Sa kabukiran, walang kalungkutan Lahat ng araw ay kaligayahan Ang halaman kung aking masdan Masiglang lahat ang kanilang kulay	In the countryside, there is no sorrow All the days are joyful When I look at the plants Their colors are all cheerful
Ang mga ibon nag-aawitan Kawili-wili silang pakinggan O aking buhay na maligaya Busog ang puso at maginhawa	The birds are all a-singing It's entertaining to listen to them Oh, my happy life My heart is full and at ease

Paruparong Bukid
Field Butterfly

Paruparong bukid na lilipad-lipad
Sa gitna ng daan papagapagaspas
Isang bara ang tapis
Isang dangkal ang manggas
Ang sayang de kola
Isang piyesa ang sayad

May payneta pa siya — uy!
May suklay pa man din — uy!
Nagwas de-ohetes ang palalabasin
Haharap sa altar at mananalamin
At saka lalakad nang pakendeng-kendeng. 

This song compares a certain woman to a mountain butterfly.

Santa Clara

Santa Clarang pinung-pino
Ang pangako ko ay ganito
Pagdating ko po sa Ubando
Ay magsasayaw ng pandanggo

Abaruray! abarinding!
ang pangako'y tutuparin!
Abaruray! abarinding!
ang pangako'y tutuparin!

Santa Clarang pinong-pino,
Ako po ay bigyan mo
Ng asawang labintatlo
Sa gastos ay walang reklamo!

Santa Clara
(English translation) 
To the very refined, Saint Claire
This is my promise
Upon reaching Obando Town
I will dance the pandanggo.}

To the very refined, Saint Claire
I pray that you grant me
Thirteen spouses all in all
To the costs, I won’t complain at all!

Filipino Folk Song  

Rice Planting
Planting rice is never fun
Bent from morn till the set of sun,
Cannot stand and cannot sit,
Cannot rest for a little bit.


Planting rice is no fun
Bent from morn till set of sun,
Cannot stand, cannot sit,
Cannot rest a little bit.

Oh, come friends and let us homeward take our way,
Now we rest until the dawn is gray,
Sleep, welcome sleep, we need to keep us strong
Morn brings another workday long.

Filipino Folk Song

Pandangguhan

I

Manunugtug ay nangagpasimula
At nangagsayawan ang mga mutya
Sa mga padyak parang magigiba
Ang bawat tapakan ng mga bakya
II
Kung pagmamasdan ay nakatutuwa
Ang hinhin nila'y hindi nawawala
Tunay na hinahangaan ng madla
Ang sayaw nitong ating munting bansa
III
Dahil sa ikaw mutyang paraluman
Walang singganda sa dagat silangan
Mahal na hiyas ang puso mo hirang
Ang pag-ibig mo'y hirap makamtan

Kung hindi taos ay masasawi
Mga pagsuyong iniaalay
Kung hindi taos ay masasawi
Mga pagsuyong iniaalay
IV
Halina aking mahal, ligaya ko ay ikaw
Kapag 'di ka natatanaw,
Ang buhay ko ay anong panglaw
Halina aking mahal, ligaya ko ay ikaw
Kapag 'di ka natatanaw,
Ang buhay ko ay anong panglaw
V
Kung may pista sa aming bayan,
Ang lahat ay nagdiriwang
May letchon bawat tahanan,
May gayak pati simbahan
Paglabas ni Santa Mariang mahal,
Kami ay taos na nagdarasal
Prusisyon dito ay nagdaraan,
Kung kaya't ang iba'y nag-aabang
May tumutugtog at may sumasayaw,
Mayrong sa galak ay napapasigaw
Ang pista sa bayan namin ay ganyan,
Ang saya'y tila walang katapusan.
(Ulitin ang I)

(English Rough Translation) I
The musicians have began
And the maidens dance
Seems to be destroyed In the tramp
To each trample of the wooden shoes
II
If you look is so amusing
The refinement were not missing
Really admired by the people
The dance of our small country
III
As of you muse Pearl
Nothing as beautiful as to the east sea
Dear beloved jewel your heart
Your love is hard to attain
If you are not sincere is perish
Affection offered
If you are not sincere is perish
Affection offered
IV
Come my dear, you are my happiness
When I do not not see you,
My life is dreary
Come my dear, you are my happiness

When I do not not see you,
My life is dreary
V
If there is feast in our town,
Everyone is celebrating
There are letchon in every home,
There is decoration in the church
The release of Saint Mary dear,
We is sincerely praying
Here Procession is passing,
So the others waiting
There are playing instruments and dancing,
There are shouting to the delight
The feast in our town like that,
The happiness seems endless.
(Repeat I)

Ilocano Folk Song

 Manang Biday

            

Manang Biday, ilukat mo man

’Ta bintana ikalumbabam

Ta kitaem ’toy kinayawan

Ay, matayakon no dinak kaasian

Siasinnoka nga aglabaslabas

Ditoy hardinko pagay-ayamak

Ammom ngarud a balasangak

Sabong ni lirio, di pay nagukrad

Denggem, ading, ta bilinenka

Ta inkanto ’diay sadi daya

Agalakanto’t bunga’t mangga

Ken lansones pay, adu a kita

No nababa, imo gaw-aten

No nangato, dika sukdalen

No naregreg, dika piduten

Ngem labaslabasamto met laeng

Daytoy paniok no maregregko

Ti makapidut isublinanto

Ta nagmarka iti naganko

Nabordaan pay ti sinanpuso

Alaem dayta kutsilio

Ta abriem ’toy barukongko

Tapno maipapasmo ti guram

Kaniak ken sentimiento

Philippine Songs

Mabuhay Singers

Halina't Umawit Album

1       Lawiswis Kawayan

2       Leron Leron Sinta

3       Carinosa

4       Aking Bituin

5       Chit-Chirit-Chit

6       Kataka-taka

7       Sinisinta Kita

8       Paruparong Bukid

9       Halina't Magsaya

10     Tugtuging Bukid

11     Sarung-Banggi

12     Sa Libis Ng Nayon