Bicolano Balitaw: Sarung Banggi -Mabuhay Singers (Rare vinyl copy)

"Sarung Banggi" is the most popular Bicolano folk song. Considered by many as a "Public Domain" folksong but a man named Potenciano V Gregorio is believed and credited by Bicolanos to be its real composer.

Potenciano was born on May 19, 1880 in Libog, Albay, Philippines. A violin prodigy, he composed this song at the age of 17 (1897). He is the leader of Banda de Lib-og that first played this song in public at the town fiesta of Guinobatan, Albay on August 15, 1910. When he auditioned for the Philippine Constabulary Band in 1919, he played this song in banduria and piano. He composed other Bicolano songs. Potenciano died in February 12,1939 at the age of 59 in a hospital in Honolulu after catching pneumonia aboard a ship on the way to compete in the Golden Gate International Exposition in USA. In June 1951, "Sarung Banggi" was sung in the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in Flushing Meadow, NY. Carlos P Romulo was then the President of the UN General Assembly.

There are different versions as to how Potenciano composed this song. Hilario Balilo, the former town mayor stated that the composer wrote the music and lyrics of the song one night after hearing a bird chirping and the leaves rustling. He based this version on information he received from Justo Gregorio, a nephew of Potenciano.

Resurrecion Gregorio, a grandson of Potenciano however claimed that the song was written during the 1897 eruption of Mayon volcano and initially the composer wanted to dedicate the song to his then fiancée Dominga Duran whom he later married.

Audio from a previously owned vinyl phonograph record ( "Philippine Music, A Salute to Expo '74, Mabuhay Singers, Juan Silos Jr. Rondalla", Villar Records MLS 5373, Mareco Inc. 1974). The name "FERIA" appeared on both sides of the LP and on the Album cover. Filipinos have this habit of putting their names on personal belongings they cherished, hence, damaging the appearance of the object. Unfortunately, Feria's family members sold this "cherished possession" to an antique shop.

SARUNG BANGGI*
(Bicolano Folk Song/Public Domain)
or Music & Lyrics by Potenciano V Gregorio (?)

I
Sarung banggi sa higdaan
nakadangog ako
nin huni nin sarung gamgam
sa lubha ko katorogan
bako kundi simong boses iyo palan

II
Dagos ako bangon si sakuyang mata iminuklat
ka'dtong kadikluman ako ay dagos nangalagkalag
si sakong pagheling pasiring sa itaas
simong lawog naheling ko maliwanag

III
Dagos kita bangon an sakuyang mata iminuklat
sa limpos na gayon mga mata ko itiningkalag
ngilinya man kami ngonyan ining simong mga bihag
sa limpod mo minaarang pagkaherak*

IV
Bako kundi kami kulang
niligtas mo kami
mga sakit pagkagaman hari kami pabayaan
at ta ngani sa herak mo minaarang *

(Repeat stanza 1 & 2)

NOTE: Stanzas 3 and 4 appears to be a Hymn of Supplication/Prayer to the famous Holy Virgin of Bicolandia, Our Lady of Penafrancia. The one seen from high above ("si sakong pagheling pasiring sa itaas") with a radiant face ("simong lawog naheling ko maliwanag") could also refer to the Lady of Penafrancia as she is placed high above the main altar of her magnificent cathedral and her face and crown is radiant with gold and precious stones. The lyrics "si sakong pagheling pasiring sa itaas, simong lawog naheling ko maliwanag" may also refer to the apparition by the Holy Lady of Penafrancia. Faces of ordinary people does not shine radiantly ("maliwanag") in the dark ("kadikluman") and you can see them at eye level and not by looking above the heaven ("pasiring itaas"). Likewise, you won't normally find a chirping bird ("huni nin sarung gamgam") or birds in the wild in Bicol or anywhere in the Philippines at night. The "sarung gamgam" could be an angel that usually accompanies the Holy Virgin during apparitions (angels do have wings like birds in traditional iconography!) and the "huni" should not be interpreted literally as a bird's chirping sound because it was later described as "simong boses iyo palan", a sweet or heavenly voice, not an ordinary sound made by an animal, which when heard will immediately raise anyone from his sleep in order to seek where that wonderful voice is coming from. The voice did came from heaven for as he gazed upward ("pasiring itaas") in the middle of the dark, he behold the radiant face of the Queen of Heaven ("simong lawog naheling ko maliwanag").

In my own opinion, this folk song could be an ancient sacred hymn to the Holy Virgin Mary of Penafrancia by the natives of Bicolandia sang in their own dialect (It should be noted that Pre-vatican II Catholic Church discouraged the composition of sacred hymns in the vernacular and from singing these church hymns using folk music). Well, this is only my opinion. The lyrics does not make sense as understood in the normal fashion and conflicting versions of the origin of the song by Potenciano's immediate family members should also be considered.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sarung Banggi
• Bicolano
• Bicol
• Penafrancia
• Balitaw

[DrChefPayatas]

Dikong parang gusto kong mag sarung banggi! kaso ala naman akong sarong!hehehehehe!maya na lang ako balik kasi mega gutom na ako as in para na akong patay gutom!wala pa yata si Miss Ningaskugon ha?ah alam ku na kasi me dinaramdam yun eh!katakut takut na gamut na nga hinatol ko gaya ng diatabs,lumuthil,dahun ng bayabasmpandang gubat etc!hayan kase!hahahaha

[philclassic]

@DrChefPayatas : Ganoon ba? As in na nuno.. etste..na-empatso si Ginang Ningaskugon? Painumin nyo ng "am" para gumaling :)

[DrChefPayatas]

@philclassic di na iipek dun ang AM!ang kilangan yata dun eh sangganakot na almirol at gawgaw o kaya naman eh yung pinakuluang tuod ng puno ng bayabas!ayaw daw yata tumalab ng basta dahun lang!tsk-tsk!yayain ku pa naman sanang mag sarung banggi eh!sayang talaga!sayang!asan na kaya yun?

[philclassic]

@DrChefPayatas: Almirol at Gawgaw? Ginawa mo namang labandera si Ginang Ningas Kugon eh Kaingera..este Nar-s yun (sideline lang niya pagniningas ng mga sukal ng talahib sa kagubatan di ba?). Asan na nga ba ang ating Nars? Ah baka busy sa pag-hula o pinapraktis yung pinadala ko sa kanyang piyesa sa piano ng "Hibik Ng Diwa"...mag-iisang buwan na yatang pina-praktis yun..inaantay ko nga ang video niya eh..

[felixbautista]

Have hailed this song as special in memory of my late mom. Thank you so much for your efforts in uploading it.

[philclassic]

@felixbautista : Wish I could translate the whole song. The lyrics on stanza 3 and 4 really appears to me as a Marian Supplication/Prayer hymn to the Lady of Penafrancia.

[tanlo94]

ok naman yong translation mo kasi di naman dapat literal ang gawin. But if I may add. LUBHA should be luba which means wari, higdaan is tulogan kaya lang parang di akma kun eto ang gagamitin. Panaginip is more appropriate translation of pangiturogan rather than pangarap. Most Bicolanos seems to be not familiar with the last 2 stanzas but it is beautiful. Dios mabalo pong marahay sa pag upload mo.

[philclassic]

I hope my Tagalog translation of the last stanza is correct ٩(-̮̮̃•̃)۶