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
tap the “play arrow” (if on mobile device, pls click “Listen in browser”) on the soundcloud pod below:
“Farewell” by Dr. Jose Rizal (Original, untitled, written on the eve of his execution):
for the worldwide audience: the following audio post embedded below, is an English translation of excerpts of the poem – with apologies to all writers who have translated this before; I tweaked the common English translation (which was like trampling on holy ground — apologies) in many parts, (but making an effort to retain the essence behind every line of the original) — but please accept my apologies. Music and Filipino translation by Joey Ayala arrangement by Ronnie Quesada, performed by Joey Ayala and Ang Bagong Lumad, used here non-commercially for academic purposes. (apologies for the technical glitch towards the middle of the rough recording, this was a first cut, I could not render it again because my voice has been cracking from the weather). This podcast plays automatically. It starts with Joey Ayala’s song “Ultimo Adios” based on Jose Rizal’s poem … (for the other half of the global audience, i put an English translation, with apologies)
