A Memorable Folk Song (Thanks to Mom!)

Folk songs present the character and beauty of one's culture. In choral singing, folk songs are entitled as one of many categories in music festivals and choral competitions. Furthermore, choral competitions open the door to cultural exchange in the form of swapping and/or trading folk songs among the different choirs.

Rosas Pandan is one of the Filipino folk songs that's been around the world. When you go to YouTube for example, I've seen many non-Filipino choirs sing this song--choirs from Europe, the USA, and Asia. It's upbeat and catchy tone gives the audience a "wow" experience. It's final notes are sang in a grandiose blend of polyphonic harmony.

Personally, this song is special to me because of the one person whose love for singing has influenced and touched my life--my mom! My mom loves this song that every time I sing this with the choir, she's all smiles like her day has brighten up more than any other day. My mom was a singer before she got married. She told me that Rosas Pandan was one of the songs she used to sing in a competition. And she won that competition, so the song--apart from being enjoyable on its own--truly holds a special place in my mom's heart.

Cheers to mom and to all the mothers in the world! Here is Rosas Pandan.

CEBUANO VERSION:                                      ENGLISH TRANSLATION: (from this blog)
Ania si Rosas Pandan                                           Here is Rosas Pandan
Gikan pa intawon sa kabukiran                             Just arrived from the mountains
Kaninyo makiguban-uban                                     To be with all of you
Sa gisaulog nga kalingawan                                   To celebrate the fiesta

Balitaw day akong puhunan                                  This song is my livelihood
Maoy kabilin sa akong ginikanan                          An inheritance from my parents
Awit nga labing kara-an                                        A most ancient song
Nga garbo ning atong kabungturan                       The pride of our hill country

Dika ding dika ding dika ding                               Dika ding dika ding dika ding
Ayay sa atong balitaw                                          Hey!, our song
Manindot pa ug sayaw                                         Is still nice to dance to
Daw yamog ang kabugnaw                                  Like fog on a cold day

Dika dong dika dong dika dong                           Dika dong dika dong dika dong
Ayay usab si Dodong                                           Hey!, also the young man
Nagtan-aw kang Inday                                        He's looking at the young lady
Nagtabisay ang laway                                          His drool is falling

Ayayay ayayay ayayay                                         Ayayay ayayay ayayay
Aya-ay sa akong balitaw                                      Hey!, my song
Kanindot ba mosayaw                                          Is it nice to dance to
Daw yamog ang kabugnaw                                  Like fog on a cold day

Tigadong tigadong tigadong                                 Tigadong tigadong tigadong
Ayay usab si Dodong                                          Hey!, also the young man
Nagtan-aw kang Inday                                       He's looking at the young lady
Nagtabisay ang laway                                         His drool is falling