This Song Called Anak
image by: xiaohui.com
I had a short chit-chat with my Chinese colleague a few days ago during lunch time and the usual talk about our job changed when she told me she heard a Filipino song a long time ago and that the meaning of the song’s title was “child”. She told me that everytime she’d hear it played, she’d had goose bumps because of the lovely melody and the reality of what the song had to convey. I knew at that moment which song she was talking about and I remember I have it in my computer. I promised to give her a copy of the song later. It was just wonderful how she could still remember the song, “Anak” by Freddie Aguilar though it was a long time ago that this song was translated into different languages. Hubby likes most of Freddie’s songs, especially this one. I actually met some other Swedish husbands of my friends and they’re also impressed of Freddie’s music. In fact, I borrowed the cassette tape (with Freddie’s songs) of my friend’s husband a few years ago. Then hubby converted them into wave files that’s why I have Freddie Aguilar’s songs in my hard drive. I personally love all the songs of Freddie and I used to play some of them in my guitar when I was a teenager.
Click to play for your listening pleasure.
Anak by: Freddie Aguilar
No’ng isilang ka sa mundong ito, laking tuwa ng magulang mo.
At ang kamay nila ang iyong ilaw.
At ang nanay at tatay mo, ‘di malaman ang gagawin.
Minamasdan pati pagtulog mo.
Sa gabi napupuyat ang iyong nanay sa pagtimpla ng gatas mo.
At sa umaga nama’y kalong ka ng iyong amang tuwang-tuwa sa iyo.
Ngayon nga’y malaki ka na, nais mo’y maging malaya.
‘Di man sila payag, walang magagawa.
Ikaw nga’y biglang nagbago, naging matigas ang iyong ulo.
At ang payo nila’y sinuway mo.
Di mo man lang inisip na ang kanilang ginagawa’y para sa iyo.
Pagka’t ang nais mo masunod ang layaw mo, ‘di mo sila pinapansin.
Nagdaan pa ang mga araw at ang landas mo’y naligaw
Ikaw ay nalulong sa masamang bisyo.
At ang una mong nilapitan ang iyong inang lumuluha.
At ang tanong, “Anak, ba’t ka nagkaganyan?”
At ang iyong mga mata’y biglang lumuha nang ‘di mo napapansin
Pagsisisi at sa isip mo’t, nalaman mong ika’y nagkamali.
Category: Sensible Rants
About the Author (Author Profile)
Marlene is a teacher by profession holding a degree of Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. She works as a Mother Language Teacher in Sweden. She is a Filipina married to a Swede. She has been blogging since 2007 and she and her hubby own quite a number of websites.
It was a long time since I heard that song and now that I’m a parent it gives more meaning. Why the present writer don’t compose wonderful and meaningful pieces like Freddie Aguilar baka rap version na lang.
btw. the Maman scultured I posted is unfortunately isn’t in København. It was a taken a long time ago. But it was really beautiful.
God weekend! Is it trevlig helg in swedish (I understand helg as in held in danish, lucky in english ba?)
.-= Ana´s last blog ..World Kindness Day =-.
Ay, sayang naman. I’d love to take a look at the Maman.
Hehee, trevlig helg din sa yo. I understand Norwegian better than Danish, hehee.
I think Freddie’s song is dedicated to his nephew, Ivler. hehehe.
.-= Renz´s last blog ..How to Use Your Money Wisely =-.
in fairnesss, maganda naman talaga ang song na ito. it truly describes how parents love their children unconditionally. i heard it has a lot of translations and is well-known in other countries. astig!
Oo nga naman, at gustong-gusto talaga ng hubby ko ito. Pero di ko narinig ito sa ibang translation.
I love this song. I knew it by heart when I was a little kid and I still go around singing this song both in the English and Tagalog version though I totally ruin the pronunciation for the Tagalog version completely … hahaha!
.-= Nick Phillips´s last blog ..More Takes =-.
Never mind the tagalog version, hahaa! I found the english lyrics of this song but I couldn’t get it right to the tune. I go for my mother language when I sing this song.
just hear this song from you, and i love it..
anak? In malay(my language) anak is a child too..
Yes, yes! We have the same word for child. I’ve learned that we have some words in common.
The audio? You can download it at bearshare. Install the program first. Actually I have an MP3 of ANAK (English version). If you want I can send you the file.
I think there’s no problem with my audio if you tried to play it. Really, sure I’d love to hear the english version of the song. You can send it to my email.
No I didn’t understand the words but that did not stop me from enjoying it. Very nice arrangement.
.-= Daryl Campbell ´s last blog ..Jon Gosselin Sues TLC for $5 Million =-.
I’m glad you enjoyed it though.
Btw, thanks for dropping by.
Hi there,
As reading,this song is best but really saying that it’s not easy to understand me because of the communication language.
.-= Young Habits´s last blog ..Journey of 32 Years For Happy Life =-.
Thank you, but you can find the lyrics of this in English in the web.
I like the melody, but a pity that i do not understand what the meaning of the lyrics because do not know tagalog.
Btw, i understand anak because in Indonesia language also mean child.
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Dana, there’s an english version of this song. Just visit Sernan’s blog.
marunong ka pala mag guitara marlene
.-= Glenn´s last blog ..Get a FREE Website design & FREE Advertising worth P2,000 =-.
Konti lang, Glenn. Medyo matagal ko na ngang di napapatugtog gitara ko dito. Busy na ksi ang lola, hehee.
Yup, this song is indeed a classic, one of the best from a great musician ka freddie aguilar. This song was released in 1978, since then it has since spawned 54 covers in 14 other languages and still being translated… I also used to play this song on my guitar when i was in high school and i passed my finals after playing this in front of the class…
i still have a copy of the english version, check out my downloads/Mp3/Topsongs link. (extra plugging?) hehehehehe.. Thanks Marlene…
.-= sernan´s last blog ..Manny Pacquiao – Lord of the Rings =-.
Uy, thanks for the info. I didn’t know this song has been translated into that many languages. Really cool! Hehee, you play better that I do yata.
Guess what, I downloaded the song from your site right away. Thanks.
no problem… it has been years since i played a guitar, that was high school days… i can play but with no rhythms anymore…… hehehehehe
.-= sernan´s last blog ..Manny Pacquiao – Lord of the Rings =-.
So we’re both kulang na sa practice. My guitar here is just collecting dust.
Hi Marlene,
The music and melody is excellent however I unable to understand the language. You told the song is translated in several language. Do you have any English translation? If so, please add it too. I want to have it in my PC. Please, do this favor if possible.
Hi Arafat Hossain Piyada,
I’m glad you like the song. Fortunately I just got my english version at sernan’s site. He has a download page where the song can be downloaded.
Ito yata ang pinaka sikat na Pinoy song. I remember when I was still in the province at may mga bisitang foreigners na narinig kong kumanta nito. Ang cute nga kasi slang yung pagkakakanta nila. Sabi din hubby sikat daw sa Mexico ang kantang ito.
.-= Amor´s last blog ..Ganito ka rin ba mag English? =-.
O kitam, nakarating din pala itong song sa Mexico. Hehee, pero ang mga Swedish naman ay hindi slang pero nakakatawa pa rin.
I like the motion of the song.. but can’t understand the meaning much!
.-= S.Pradeep Kumar´s last blog ..9 Tips For Increasing Your Typing Speed =-.
Try the English version, you’ll understand it better, hehee.
Nice arrangement. Like the melody. For real, was it on 54 covers in 14 other languages and still being translated? Gott’a be down.
I don’t know exactly if it’s being translated more into different language now. But before when it was hot, I knew it was translated to Japanese and English.
Sa’n mo ba nakita itong post na ito at medyo matagal na ito.
aw…i dont get the words…but beautiful..tune. thanks for sharing.