Perhaps you already heard of the US artist Black Eyed Peas. One of the singers there is Apl, a proud Filipino. He made an adaptation to this song which is an Asin Original. Asin, in english means Salt, is an OPM group. I would like to refer to them as an institution of OPM singers or band.
I used to hear a lot of their songs when I was still little. My mom's brother love to play their songs in his guitar. He is an excellent guitar player. That was the moment I got so oriented with this Band. I heard a lot of their songs and found them to be really "nationalistic". I could almost identify myself to them. They have song about nature, about meaning of life, the eents in our country and a lot more.
For this blog entry, I want to share with you what their song means by giving you a rough translation of the lyrics that follows.
I just want to say this kind of song reminds me of the old days, my childhood days, the day when I was still vulnerable yet so full of conviction to uphold and respect nature more than anything else.
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Translation of the song:
Balita (News)
By Asin (Salt)
Ako’y may dala-dalang balita galing sa bayan ko (I brought with me a news about my country)
Nais kong ipamahagi ang mga kuwento (I want to share the stories)
At mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa lupang ipinangako. (and the events happening in my promised land)
Ang lupang pinanggalingan ko’y may bahid ng dugo (The land I came from was tarnished with blood)
May mga lorong di makalipad nasa hawlang ginto (There are birds that can't fly, inside a golden cage)
May mga punong walang dahon (There are trees without leaves)
Mga pusong di makakibo (Hearts that cannot move)
Sa mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa lupang ipinangako. (With the things happening in the promised land)
Mula nang makita ko ang lupang ito (Eversince I've seen this land)
Nakita ko rin ang munting apoy sa puso ng tao (I also saw the tiny fire in the heart of the people)
Binatukan ng mga kabulukan (Stoned with crap or garbage)
Hanggang sa lumago (Until it blossomed)
Ngayon ang puso’y may takot sa lupang ipinangako. (Now the heart is with fear in the promised land)
Lapit mga kaibigan at makinig kayo
Ako’y may dala-dalang balita galing sa bayan ko
Nais kong ipamahagi ang mga kuwento
At mga pangyayari nagaganap sa lupang ipinangako
Dati rati ang mga bukid ay kulay ginto (Before, the fields are color gold)
Dati rati ang mga ibon singlaya ng tao (Before, the birds aare as free as the people)
Dati rati ay katahimikan (Before, it is silence)
Ang musikang nagpapatulog sa mga batang (is the music that brings to sleep our children)
Walang muwang sa mundo. (Who are innocent)
Ngayon ang lupang ipinangako ay nagsusumamo (Now, the promised land is begging)
Patakan niyo ng luha ang apoy sa kanyang puso (Drop tears to the flame in its heart)
Dinggin niyo ang mga sigaw ng mga puso ng tao (Listen to the shouts of the heart of its people)
Kung inyong dadamhin kabilang sa inyo. (That if you're going to feel it, is one of you)
This is a local dialect's translation of the first stanza, i think this is Bisaya, a dialect widely used in the Visayas
Duol mga kaigsuonan ug paminaw kamo
Duna koy dala nga mga balita gikan sa banwa ko
Gusto ko nga ipahibalo ang mga istorya
Balita - Asin
Close enough but the translation is too literal to convey the real essence of the song, but what can we do english is not adequate enough to capture it...
By the way just a correction lang po,
the line "binatukan ng mga kabulukan"
should be "ginatungan ng mga kabulukan". Salamat po...
The last four (! you forgot one) lines are in two dialects spoken in Mindanao. The first two are in Hiligaynon/Ilonggo (also spoken in IloIlo), the last ones in Binisaya/Cebuano.
Duul mga kaigsuunan nugpaminaw kamo
Duna koy dala nga mga balita gikan sa banwa ko
Gusto ko nga i pahibalo ang mga istorya
Nga nagagahitabu sa banwagisa na to.
The last one needs a correction.
Yes, it's a mixture of Binisaya/Cebuano and also Hiligaynon.
The lyrics are:
Duul mga kaigsuunan ug paminaw kamo
Duna koy dala nga mga balita gikan sa banwa ko
Gusto ko nga ipahibalo ang mga istorya nga
Naga kahitabo sa banwang gisaad nato.
English:
Come brothers and sisters (brethren) and listen,
I have news from my hometown (better is homland).
And I want to tell you about the stories
that happen in the land of promise (Mindanao).
I'm from Germany, Binisaya is not my mothertongue, but I think this translation is okay (it's not a direct translation, but better to get the feelings the song creates)