Ilocano 103 (Cancion)

You're right! It's "Can-cion" with a "C" before the "i-o-n". In Tagalog "awit".
Growing up in a provincial household is listening to Ilocano songs (and occasional Frank Sinatra and Patti Page pieces) every Saturday morning.


If there are Ilocano readers in this blog, I'm sure they are familiar with "Mayyang" or "Pamulinawen". You can't miss the "Manang Biday" or the background music in almost every the Ilocano wedding reception where every guest or sponsor pin their paper bills (hundreds/thousands in Php or USD) to the respective dress and barong of the bride and groom. It's called "parwad". The song is "Dungdungnguen Kan To".






Photo from vacaranay.multiply.com



Dungdunguen kanto unay unay,
Indayonen kanto iti sinamay
Tultuloden kanto nalumanay
Pagamuanen inka mailibay

Apaman nga inkanto makaturog
Iyabbongkonto ta rupam daytoy paniok.
Tapnon dinakanto kagaten ti lamok
Ken maimasmonto't maturog.

*Annay, pusok, annay, annay,
Nasaem, naut-ut la unay.
Itdem kaniak ta pannaranay
Ta kaasiak a maidasay.

It tells about so much devotion/affection to a loved one which can be fatal. Not bad for a wedding song, eh! It's similar to  "Too Much Love Will Kill You". Even a lowly mosquito was mentioned. ("Tapno dinakanto kagaten ti lamok").Instead of mosquito repellant, a hanky is used to cover the face of the partner. They don't have "OFF Lotion" before. So if it's not dengue, a heart disease can put a toll for too much love. ("Annay pusok" - "Ouch my heart"). 




Christmas season in the Philippines starts in the first "ber" month and it's common to hear some Christmas tunes AM or FM. Love this Ilocano "Joy to the World".It's so funny. Lyrics talk about the joy of a person who loves to chew betel nut.Old Ilocano folks love chewing betel nut on pepper leaf with lime.  It's an alternative to smoking, I guess. Love it! (the song I mean)

Joy to mama
Gawed ken bua
Adda pay apog na
Ngalngalem ket ngalngalem
Ngalngalem ket ngalngalem
Samonto itupra
Samonto itupra
Kitaem, kitaem
Nalabbaga!

                                                                                       


photo from qwikstep.eu

I don't know if this is an accurate translation. (Joy in a concoction of betel nut and pepper leaf with lime. Keep on chewing. Keep on chewing. Then spit  it out. Then spit it out. Look! Look! It's red!) Haaayst! My translation is horrible.

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