A Factual Error on "Bayan Ko" (multiply post, Aug 6, '09 2:20 PM)

The Philippine Star's August 4 issue had its banner story with the title "Yellow Confetti, Laban signs back" in which a paragraph read: The crowd then sang “Bayan Ko,” which was first heard during the 1986 EDSA People Power uprising. (emphasis mine)

A factual error at its finest, indeed. The news writer and the news editor did not bother to verify if the song was really first sang during that time.

If I remember it right, the song "Bayan Ko" was written by Jose Corazon de Jesus (Huseng Batute) and put into music by Constancio de Guzman. And these two witnessed and fought the American occupation of the Philippines. Therefore, the song is a protest about the prevailing situation of the country then. And this was first sang by the late Honorata dela Rama, the 1989 National Artist for Film and Theater, in anti-imperialist rallies, balagtasans, and opera houses. She was considered the best voice you'll hear then.

Here is the lyrics:

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas
Lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda't dilag.
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad
Kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang di magnasang makaalpas!
Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luha ko't dalita
Aking adhika,
Makita kang sakdal laya!

We all know that the song became an anthem of the anti-Marcos movement. And there's no problem with that. Because the song emphasizes that freedom is what we all aspire as a nation. During the 1970s, Freddie Aguilar recorded the song as pakikiisa to the people during that time. As an artist, he knows what the country needs then. In Edsa 1, the people had spoken and acted. And the dictator was toppled as a result. If Huseng Batute meant it right, bayan means "the people" as in his Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag/ Ang di magnasang makaalpas. Meaning, it is the people who will act for their freedom. They are their own messiah.

Edsa 1 was the people's uprising. Edsa is the people. The people is Bayan Ko.

Tags: cory aquino, activism, revolution, edsa, freedom, huseng batute, kasaysayan, bayan ko, constancio de guzman

http://lvbamante.multiply.com/journal/item/36

8 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded

delete reply istillbelieve wrote on Aug 6, '09 Kaya pala nagtagal sa Internet ang prinsipe... ;p

delete reply karlc wrote on Aug 7, '09 korek, diba tinuturo yan sa grade school? hmmm

edit delete reply lvbamante wrote on Aug 7, '09 karlc said korek, diba tinuturo yan sa grade school? hmmm hindi yata. ang nasa utak ko noong elementari ay EDSA theme ito. high school ko naman nalaman na luma na pala itong "Bayan Ko." sa kolehiyo ko nalaman na kinakanta na pala ito noon pa. ewan ko lang ngayon.

delete reply reuelmolinaaguila wrote on Aug 7, '09 Mainam na punto... pwede kang mag-respond on line sa dyaryong yan.... may mekanismo sila sa pag-correct ng datos.

edit delete reply lvbamante wrote on Aug 7, '09 nakapagpadala na po ako kanina lang. maraming salamat.

delete reply kenikenken99 wrote on Aug 7, '09 shet.. error nga. buti hindi sinabing orig yun ni ka freddie. hehehe

delete reply kenikenken99 wrote on Aug 7, '09 lvbamante said In Edsa 1, the people had spoken and acted. And the dictator was toppled as a result. If Huseng Batute meant it right, bayan means "the people" as in his Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag/ Ang di magnasang makaalpas. Meaning, it is the people who will act for their freedom. They are their own messiah. Edsa 1 was the people's uprising. Edsa is the people. The people is Bayan Ko. yeah! :p

delete reply marchofthepigs wrote on Aug 8, '09 Hahahaha! ang bobo. XD