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.