BEAUTIFUL BICOL

Cagsawa Ruins: A Memorial for A Tragic Past

A lone church bell tower rises in the landscape with Mt. Mayon dominating the horizon behind it. This scene is famously depicted in many postcards throughout the Philippines. The bell tower is what remains of the Cagsawa town, about a few minutes ride from Legazpi City. When Mt. Mayon erupted in 1814 it engulfed the whole town in fiery lava. The people fled to the church but were unable to escape the lava flows. Only the church tower remains from this 19th century town to serve as a memorial for a tragic past.

Bicol is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. Bicol is known to be the home of the famous Mount Mayon, a volcano with a perfectly shaped cone. Bicol is situated in the southern most part of the island of Luzon. This region has many things to offer to tourist such as natural attractions, fine dining and delicious cuisine and the rich cultural and historical heritage of Bicol.

Bicol hs beautiful scenic and enchanted views that includes beautiful beaches, world-class diving sites, centuries-old churches and religious relics, famous landmarks and many historical places. Visitors and tourist will enjoy a range of leisure and recreational activities like diving, snorkeling, swimming, or trekking. The beaches of Bicol including the exotic Sogod Beach in Bacaycay, offer ideal conditions for beach activities.

Embarcadero de Legazpi, Bicol’s premier lifestyle and commercial hub sitting on a 5.1-hectare prime waterfront property at the heart of this city is expanding into a high-end destination for thrill and adventure seekers.

The Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Church at Sta. Maria Hill, Daraga, Albay is a historical edifice which was built in March 1773. The existence of the church is of great importance not only to Daragueños, but also to the devotees of the Nuestra Señora de la Porteria from other places.

The comprehensive restoration was done after 238 years to protect from further deterioration. The restoration work for the front and right wing facade was made in coordination with the National Museum and National Historical Institute, and its fund was sourced from the NationalCommission for Culture and Arts with counterparts from generous parishioners.

Efforts are being made to preserve this historic church. The white color that you can see is now lime coating (protective covering). This will protect the facade from exposure to the elements and course of further deterioration.

LAGALAG NA ISIP

INTRO:

Lagalag na isip na nadidikloman

Nin medya de piras na naglatao-latao

Inatong sa gulpo nin pananambitan

Maliwas na lawod nin kalipongawan.

Madangog man lugud an linugo-lugo

Nin sarong empeles tawong dispresyado

Na digdi kan aldao kan pagataliko mo

An boot ko isip perming desperado

Nangorog na sana kan madangog ko na

An mga pamalay simo ginibo na

Ano pa man ako nanaray-saray na

Nin pagpapalinaw kan sakong konsiensia

Nangorog na san kan madangog ko pa

An premerong tawag simo ginibo na

Nanaguing prisipio kan sakong paghelang

Nanaguing biktima sakong pagkagadan.

Kan saimong pagpuli sa saindong harong

Na ika bubulsan kan saya mo azul

Na mapasimbahan ika kakasalon

Bubulsan man ako nin tonikang ginggon

Na nasa kabaong ako ilolobong.

Kon esta momento de su kasamiento

Kan sangkuban ka na nin velo sa payo.

Madadangog mo man an misa response

Asin an kantada, officio divino.

Kan saimong pagluwas puerta nin simbahan

Kampana, musika, ika tutugtugan

Maluwas man ako pag dudublasan

Sacristan, kantores sako maantabay

Kan saimong pagpuli sa saindong harong

Balakid na tano ika dadalawon

Maagi man ako nasa kabaong

Na ihahatod sa kampong mapungawon.

Dungawa, dungawa ining nagaapod

Simong hinanioga sakong palamagon

Nin misa responso ultimong rekierdo sakong pagkagadan.

This song originated from the province of Camarines Sur. It is about a man who felt very depressed because he left of the woman he loved deeply. He had done his best to win her back but she ignored it. She already loves someone else and is about to marry him. This event in his life brought him anguish. He became suicidal due to this painful experience.

Man has to undergo heartaches when he allows himself to be love. He cannot escape this kind of emotion because it is part of life's complexities. Some people tend to lose hope because of a failed relationships. It makes them feel weak and miserable. It affects their emotional and mental well-being. They become drug dependents, chain smokers and alcoholics.

Bikolanos as part of the Philippine society also believe in preserving their lives. Their strong faith in God helps them surmount heartaches and depression. Therefore, ending one's life is not a remedy to their failures in love.

POBRENG KAMUGTAKAN

This song came from the province of Camarines Sur. It is about a person considering his present condition as lonely, being imprisoned with problems and struggles in life. The speaker considers himself in the state of great distress. He is regarding his present situation as pitiful because of the sufferings, problems, and circumstances he has in life.

Duman sa samuyang pobreng pagkamugtak

Igwang uminamyong mahamot na burak

Sakong pinagsusog asin pinaghanap

Yaon palan digdi ika namumugtak

Ika palan Ninang ang pinagsasabi

Na bagong sumubang na komika digdi

Bulan ka kun aldao, bituon kun banggi

An dai ni sana pag-eeklepse.

Mageklepse baga an bulan o aldao

Asin kon dumiklom sabungan sulnupan

Asunto del Amor ika guminikan.

Kun ako may sala, buktaki nin pina

Basta bakong labi maagad ko sana

Na minsan presohon ilo kong persona

Ilaog sa karsel bugtaking kadena.

Mayo, akong iba na pinaglalaom

Mahawas sa karsel na orog kadikloman

Mata mong mapungay ako mo dungawon

Ilo kong persona simong gawagawon.

Everyone wants to have a peaceful living. Man's action all tend to be a search for happiness and contentment. The song reminds the people that there are circumstances that will test their strength in dealing with and finding solutions to problems. The song gives the Bikolano listeners a positive view on the problems encountered day by day, and for him not to consider himself as pathetic and pitiful. By trusting in God, difficult undertaking, will be easier to take which will lead to contentment and happiness of individuals.

HARANA

INTRO:

Bago man lamang ihigda mo an pagal na lawas mo

Tabi man kadangoga ining sakuyang harana

Bago man lamang ipikit mo an saimong mata

Ipagirumdom ko an nakaagi tang duwa. 

Sa sirong kan magayon na kalangitan

Enot kong nahiling ang saimong kagayunan

Sa kumpas kan mahamis na musika

Duwang puso nagkasabot sa ngaran nin pagkamoot...

...ad lib...

Sa tahaw nin hardin itinanom punong pagkamoot

Ogmang daing ti'gan ang satuyang nanamitan

Sarong banggi sa higdaan nakadangog ako

Garo awit nin gamgam, sarong boses nin aki palan.

Poon saro, naging duwa, ngonian tulo na kita

Sarong sadit na pamilya dai nang hahagadon pa

Sa panahon na may problemang sinkusog nin bagyo

Ika an kaibahan, yaon pirming masasarigan.

Bago man lamang ipahingalo mo an pagal na lawas mo

Tabi man kadangoga ining sakuyang harana

Bago man lamang ipikit mo an saimong mata

Ibalon mo sa pagturog, sarong hadok nin pambalos.

Pabalon ko sa pagturog mo

Sarong hadok na pamabalos.

....ad lib..

"HARANA" is a Bikol love song that is about a man who wants his wife to listen to his harana (serenade). Throughout the song, he wants her to reminisce the time when they were just starting to build a romantic relationship. This song was composed and sung by the band named Isla. Members of the said band are residents of Virac, Catanduanes.

TAGA BIKOL

This song depicts that people of Bicol are truly charming because of their simplicity of character and modesty of customs. Mayon Volcano is a symbol of the Bikolano's beauty, which is beyond compare. This song was collected from Catanduanes by Lilia Realubit.

TAGA BIKOL

Babaeng taga Bikol

Yan ang Bikolana

Marhay an ugali

Pirmi pang maogma

Marhay maki-ayon

Marhay na amiga

Sakong nagimata

Pagka Bikolana

Lalaking taga Bikol

Apod Bikolano

Sa pakikiiba-iba

Hihidwaon nindo

An boot mahuyo

Marhay na amigo

Sakong nagimatan

Pagka Bikolano

An samong dagang tinubuan

Makawili-wili digdi sa sirangan

An Bulkan Mayon 'yan an kabagay

An Bikolana dai maaapi sa kagayonan

(An Bikolana dai maaapi saan man na lugar.)

INA

Mothers are loving and caring. They are considered as the light of the home. Also, they play an important role in molding a child's character and values. They guide and lead their children to the right path as they grow up. They give unconditional love and willing to sacrifice in order to provide them a good life. They would always do their best to provide their children with all their needs. Moreover, they do not like to see them suffer from pain or sickness. These qualities are also evident in Bikolano others.


"Ina" is a song that came from the province of Camarines Sur. It tells a story of a mother. It was noon time when she went home for lunch. She knocked at the door but nobody opened it for her. Then, she went down the house and cried very hard upon knowing that her child whom she love and took care of left her alone. She was hurt by what her child did.

Kaso sarong odto oras nin pagkakan

Nasa sa lamesa gabos na pinggan

Sumakat an ina kuring kagutoman

Pininto an puerta dai binuksan.

Humilig an ina, inang nagtatangis

An luha sa mata namimirisbiris

Pagtontong sa daga tumingag sa langit

Makatios lugud kaidtong manga sakit.

Haen ka aki ko sakong pinadangat

Sa aldaw na banggi kia kong saklolo

Hilinga na sana an sosong sinosohan

Gatas na naghale gikan sa daghan ko.

ONRA NIN DARAGA

This song gives advice to women not to believe everything that men says to them and that women should take care of themselves and keep their chastity.

Ining azucena nin rosal

An rosa mistika iyo an kabagay

Iyong kapareho mga kamahalan

Nin sarong daraga na may kabinian

Onra daraga malinaw sa kristal

Mahalagang muta digdi sa kinaban

Kaya maninigong sukat pag-ingatan

Ta tibaad baga mapahamak onrang mahalaga

Padres de pamilya makadamay pa.

Kaya dae nanggad sukat maniwala

Na minsan isaksi langit asin daga

Minsan anong hamis nin mga panuga

Laomon mo iyan puros sana daya.

Sa hamis nin taramon dilang litrado

Dai ka kaiyan maniwalang gayo

Dai ka kaiyan maniwalang gayo.

This song speaks of women who are modest and chaste. The speaker says that chastity is considered as a precious gem in the world so women have to take care of it. He also warns them not to be deceived by the sweet words being said to them by men since allowing themselves to be fooled might ruin their being pure and chaste. The song came from Camarines Sur.

SALAMPATING GUMINARO

This is a song about a man who felt lonely because the dove that he tamed flew away from him.

Salampating Guminaro

Guminaro dahil saco 

Ano daw an kinamundo

Ta naglayog nin harayo.

Luminayog paibaba

Napaturo si sacong luha

Naging salog, naging sapa

Naging danao na dacula.

Hala cang salampati ca

Madacop ca nin iba

Ilalaog ca sa hawla

Sa hawlang may seradura

Salampating liya-liya

Tuminugdon sa kristiya

Pag-abot ni Senyor cura

Kuminantang Aleluya.

"Salampating Guminaro" is one of the Bikol songs used in courtship. It originated from the province of Albay. This song is about a dove that was tamed by the speaker. However, the dove suddenly felt sad and flew away. After a while, an untamed dove came and it perched on the sacristy. It sang Aleluya when the parish priest arrived.

In every man's existence there is always an instance of sorrow. He experiences frustrations, disappointments, heartaches, failures, and pain which makes him feel sorrowful. But he tries to conquer all these trials. In relation to the song, the speaker had a broken heart for he was abandoned by his beloved. He felt hopeless until he met another woman could mend his wounded heart.

Bikolanos are resilient. They can easily get back on their feet and face life anew with more hope. They do not cling to their sorrowful experiences, instead they find ways to move on. They managed to cope with the changes and to stand up from where they had fallen. Hence, they believe that life is not solely consisting of hardships and trials but also of happiness and joyful moments. Then know that after those crying situations there is a brighter tomorrow that lies ahead of them as long as they have faith in God.

INI AN POON NIN SAKIT

This song talks about a person who leaves his beloved to seek for fortune in a far place. His departure is the beginning of his suffering and worries. He could not think of how much loneliness he would feel the moment he leaves. Saying goodbye to the person he loves seems to be difficult for him. Meanwhile, he said that his leaving would be worthless if he will not find any luck and that he is not certain when he would die because of having a poor life. This song is from Albay.

Ini na an poon nin sakit

Tiempo nin paghadit

Sa paghali cong mapait

Mundong dai maisip

Tahaw nin kadagatan

Haros kalipungawan An balon co sa paglacao

Luha sa puso ko gikan

Adios o namomotan co

Ica co ay dae babayaan

Ta con dae nin palad

Ining paghali co ngonian

Porque soy in digno

Ining pobreng buhay

Di co naaraman

Con aco ngaya magadan.

SI NANAY, SI TATAY

This is a song which is about a child's deep gratitude towards his parents for all the sacrifices they have done. This is a song from Camarines Sur which is about a child giving great regard for the debt he owes his parents from the day he was born on earth. No one could nurture a child better than the mother herself. Through her, children are present in this world and that thing cannot be paid by any monetary amount. The love, care and concern shown to the child from the day he was born are exceptional that parents do not ask for anything in return.

Bikolanos have profound respect for his parents, as shown through their gestures. One practice was never to pass in front of another without bending the knee and obtaining permission which was done by raising the hand near the face. Actions of each member of the family determine the value of discipline gained from their parents.

Si Nanay, Si Tatay 'di ko babayaan

Balakid na buot an sakuyang utang

Si pagdara sako nin siyam na bulan

Gatas kong sinuso 'di ko mabayadan.

Ay Nanay, Ay Tatay

Kung ako maghali, hihidwaon mo'ko sa gabos mong aki

Makukuha ka man nin makakasangli

Dai maka-arog kan sakong ugali.

Ay Nanay, Ay Tatay

Kung ako maraot, pugutan nin payo ibuntog sa laod

Kung makahiling ka nag-aanud-anod

Ay Nanay, Ay Tatay, sapuda man tolos.

SARUNG BANGGUI

This song is a famous Bikol song composed by Potenciano V. Gregorio in 1910, a native of Albay province. This song was first publicly played in Guinobatan, Albay on August 15, 1910 on the occasion of the town fiesta. This is the most popular Bikolano song in the country.

SARUNG BANGGUI

Sarung Banggi (It was one night)
Sa Higdaan (while in my bed)
Nakadangog ako(that I heard)
Nin huni nin sarong gamgam (the lonely chirping of a bird)

Sa luba ko katurugan,(I thought I was dreaming)
Bako kundi (But, no…)
Simong boses, Iyo palan (twas your voice, most certain)

Dagos ako bangon (at once, I arose)
Si sakuyang mata iminuklat (my sleepy eyes, I opened)
Kadtung kadikluman (through the darkness)
Ako ay nangalagkalag (I looked around)
Kasu ihiling ko si sakuyang mata sa itaas(And when I raised my searching eyes)
Simong lawog nahiling ko, maliwanag (your face I saw, glowing)

Kadtung kadikluman, Kan mahiling taka (When in the dark, I saw you)
Namundo kong puso, tulos naugma (my lonely heart found happiness, swiftly)
Minsan di nahaloy, idtong napagmasdan (that sight, ever so briefly though,)
Sagkod Nuarin pa man, (Until eternity,)
Dai ko malilingawan (I won’t forget, ever)

Magpoon na ika sakuyang namutan (Since, to you in love I fell)
Ako nakamate nin kaginhawahan (I felt sweet relief soothing)
Pati an puso kong tagub kapungawan (my empty heart, in loneliness fill)
Ngunyan burabod na nin tunay na kaogmahan (now a spring of true happiness, overflowing).

The song tells about what the speaker thought that he heard something similar to the real sound he heard from his bed until he saw the face of his beloved just before him. Throughout that night, he remained awake and cannot forget the scene that brought gladness to his sad being. As the composer of the song awakened that night by the simple noise produced by the chirping birds, he desired that the woman he loves and who brings joy to his longing heart will stay. It is natural for humans to feel lonely whenever they miss their loved ones specially their special someone.

The song conveyed about being lonely, seen in the anguished cry of a a man longing for a woman in love's bondage. The speaker after being fascinated by a woman can no longer forget her image.

Sarung Banggui has captured the hearts of song lovers of the Philippines not only among Bikolanos. The feeling of loneliness is depicted in the lines that caught the listener's sentiment. it is important that emotion is being touched and affected by the song in order for the reader or listener to perceive the underlying messages the song portrays. the song expresses the love of a man towards a woman that results in the creation of a beautiful song that is being valued, not only by folks of region 5 but also of the Filipinos throughout the country.

Some of the Bikol songs:

* Sarung Banggui

* Si Nanay, si Tatay

* Kudut-kudutan

* Salampating Guminaro

* Ini an Poon nin Saki

* Kulibangbang

* Onra nin Daraga

* Ina

* Taga Bikol

* Harana

* Pobreng Kamugtakan

MUSIC LOVERS

          Filipinos by nature are music lovers. Their songs are crafted in a unique style which made them distinct from other people. The Filipino people consists of many regional groups. Bikolanos are one of these groups who have developed their own taste of music. They have created their own taste of music. They have created their own songs that showcase their feelings, values and sentiments as a people. They use songs to express and to reveal the magnificent richness of their imaginative thoughts. This shows that Bikolanos indeed have a great passion for music. Most Bikol songs mirror the culture of the Bikolanos. They reveal themes that show the unique characteristics of the Bikolanos as a people.

BENEFITS OF LISTENING MUSIC

- relieves emotional pain

- reduces stress

- music is good for the heart and lungs

- makes us well-rested

- music increases socialization

- heightens spirituality

- expresses our emotion

STIRRING OUR EMOTIONS

Music makes connections between our head and our heart - between our cognitive, intellectual being and our affective, or emotional state. Often, music can influence our psychomotor such when music makes our heartbeat accelerate, give us grose bumps or make us teary-eyed.

The emotions expressed through music encompass a range that extends well beyond what most of us experience in a normal day, perhaps even in our lifetime. Different people have different taste and various types of music have many ways of leaving an impact on someone. It can be relaxing, angering, soothing, energizing and many more.

Everytime I feel bad, disappointed or even if I'm happy, I always find myself listening to music trying to express my present feeling of the situation that helps me cope and calmly respond to the unacceptable predicament that I have no control of. Sometimes, music makes me cry. Depending on my emotions and moment I used to listen to it. Sometimes listening music makes me feel relieved and take away my stress.And sometimes I tend to reminisce the past memories that happened in my life just by relating to the song I'm listening. Whenever I feel stress, I usually played my favorite songs and then I could relax myself while sleeping. It is my way of expressing myself and my feelings also whenever I'm inlove, whenever I feel bored and when I'm lonely because it helps me create a tranquil space so I can free my mind and heart even for a while.

MUSIC

Music can be described as the language of the soul. Everyone loves music. And Pinoys are the one of the greatest music lovers in the world that is why we have so much exceptional music talents. But other than expressing ourselves and showing our talents, music has been considered as a way to improve our general health and well-being. Listening to music (whatever genre it may be) has positive effects on people of various ages. It can influence our physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being. It also improves our quality of life.

I believed that music is one of the greatest pleasures in life. It has the power to command our attention and inspire us. It speaks to our spirits and to our inner feelings. It provokes thoughts about the mysteries of life, such as why we exist, the vastness of the universe and the purpose on earth. Music reaches deep in our nature to console us, to reassure us and to help us express who and what we are as human beings.