The radio has certainly been my best company whenever I am bored in Philippines. The presence of Internet Radio has certainly made listening to the radio much easier! I can listen to any channel I want and switch a channel with just a click of the mouse, so convenient! Here are some websites where you can enjoy Internet Radio as well. Simply click on the names below!
Filipinos are big on love ballads! As mentioned in the earlier post, the music most identified as truly Filipino is the kundiman, a passionate romantic ballad. With their love for love ballads, there has been an increase in the number of Filipino artist singing such songs. One good example is Christian Bautisa. Here are some facts about him:
Birth name: Christian Joseph Morata Bautisa
Date of birth: October 19, 1981
Occupation: Singer, actor, model
How his career started: A finalist in reality show 'Star In A Million", winning 4th place in the competition in 2003. After the contest, he signed a contract with Warner Music Philippines and launched his self-titled album 'Christian Bautisa' which became multi platinum.
Famous songs: 'The Way You Look At Me', 'Invincible' and 'Hands to Heaven'
I found out that the Spanish had a large part to play in Filipino music today. They introduced Western instruments such as the guitar, violin, and piano to Filipinos, which soon became part of Filipino tradition. One particular instrument is the rondalla, which is common in the rural areas! This musical instrument is used as an accompaniment for many of the Spanish influenced dances!
However, the music most identified as truly Filipino is the kundiman, a passionate romantic ballad form with much pathos that originated during Spanish colonialism as well! The emotionalism of the kundiman may have allowed Filipinos to express their love of country while circumventing Spanish repression of all nationalistic sentiments. But even the classic, sentimental songs of unrequited love were transformed into revolutionary meanings in the late nineteenth century, through the use of metaphors about enslavement, oppression, and the martyrdom of nationalist heroes; some songs offered more overt political messages. It is no wonder Filipinos are such romantics!
Bayan Ko (My Country) in Pinoy Pop form is a very famous song amongst Filipinos, understanding from my Filipino peers that it became famous amongst protestors of Marital Law in early 1980s after Ninoy Aquino's assassination on 21st August 1983. It was aired on Radio Veritas and voiced by a Pinoy Pop music star. Freddie Aquilar had given new interpretation to the traditional kundiman and is said to be the unofficial anthem of Philippines!
Originally composed as a poem by Jose Corazon de Jesus in 1929, it thrived among workers, peasants, guerrilla forces and student activists. During the Marcos dictatorship, this song was sang as a song of protest and was particularly useful to the masses who could be hauled to jail for any imagined or intentional insolence against Ferdinand Marcos.
I fell in love with the song the moment I heard it and had to search for the lyrics to sing along with Freddie Aguilar! With such beautiful lyrics and melody, it is no wonder that Filipinos have such deep feelings towards the song!
Here are the lyrics of the song:
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.
(My Philippines land of gold and flowers love bestowed beauty and grace upon her. But her modesty and comeliness attracted the foreigner who held her in bondage and despair.)
Ibon mang may layang lumipad kulungin mo at umiiyak bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag ang di magnasang makaalpas! Pilipinas kong minamahal pugad ng luha ko’t dalita aming adhika makita kang sakdal laya! (My beloved Philippines land of my tears and sadness our fervent yearning is to see you completely free.)
Welcome to Our Pinoy Passion where I bring you through an incredible journey around The Philippines. Sit back and enjoy everything about its beautiful culture and sights and so much more!