dedicated to the heroes and martyrs born of the Mamasapano battlefield

        Julian Makabayan by Lutgardo Labad (translation by blog admin with apologies.) (By this time, readers and viewers might have noticed that the site has a playlist that’s updated daily based on a countdown to events. We’re playing this song, Julian Makabayan by Lutgardo Labad —

 

dedicated here to all the people’s warriors who watered the Mamasapano battlefield with their blood, many of whom were sons of farmers and workers.)

      (The lyricism of the song renders it difficult to translate without committing sacrilege,  please accept my apologies)

Isinilang ka sa batis ng karalitaan
you were born of the river of hunger and want
Pinaghele ka sa awit ng bundok at parang
slumbered with the lullaby of the hills and the flatland
Duyan mo’y malamig na lupa
you were cradled by the cold, dark earth
Lupang pugad ng kahirapan
you were nestled by the poverty of the dirt

Lumaki ka sa pag-inog ng tagtanim at tag-ani
you grew up and rolled with the cycle of sow and reap
Inaruga ka ng inang magsasaka
you were loved by a mother who worked and tilled
Kinalong ka ng amang dugo ang pinunla
You were sheltered by a father who bled and seeded
Sa dibdib ng lupa
Sowed and nurtured the bosom of the earth

O Julian di ka malilimutan
Julian, you will never be forgotten
Pagkat ika’y anak ng bayan
you are our son, the warrior of the motherland
Buhay mo’y aming aawitan
We sing this ode to your life and times
Itatangi hanggang kamatayan
We honor you till the end of time

Kalaro mo ang kapwa mo paslit na kasama
you frolicked with children like yourself,
children of the earth
Na sa paglaki’y matutulad sa kanilang ama
children who will inherit their parent’s debt
Mababaon sa utang
will be buried in their parent’s debt
Sa panginoong mayayaman
to the wealthy lords of the fief

Pilit mong inunawa ang abang kalagayan
You struggled to learn why you were born poor
Pilit mo itong pinagtiisan
You struggled to work and endure
Ngunit nang maglaon ikaw na rin ang sumigaw
But when your bough broke you fought and screamed
Saan nga bang kasukdulan
When will too much abuse end
Saan nga bang kasukdulan
When will too much abuse end

O Julian di ka malilimutan
Julian, you will never be forgotten
Pagkat ika’y anak ng bayan
you are our son, the warrior of the motherland
Buhay mo’y aming aawitan
We sing this ode to your life and times
Itatangi hanggang kamatayan
We honor you till the end of time