Pamulinawen (folk song)

Pamulinawen is a popular old Ilocano folk song possibly from the pre-Spanish era.[1] It is about a girl with a hardened heart.[2] who does not need her lover's pleading.[3] It is about courtship and love.[4][5]

The term pamulinawen translates to "alabaster", a very type of stone.[6] It is used as the woman's name in the song, signifying her hardened heart.

Background

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The song Pamulinawen is perhaps the most well-known song in the Ilocos region of the Philippines that pre-dates the arrival of the Spanish in 1521. The scholar Leopoldo Yabes wrote in 1936 that it is actually possibly the oldest song still known from the pre-Spanish era.[7]

It is so popular that some have called it the "Regional Song of the Ilocandia" or the "National Anthem of the Ilokano".[8]

Translation

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Some scholars, including Yabes (1936), argue that there is no way for the lyrics to be adequately translated into English. Despite this, the approximate translation offered by scholars Danilo S. Alterado and Aldrin S. Jaramilla (2021) for the refrain is as follows.[9]

Lyrics in Ilocano language Translation into English
Pamulinawen, pusoc, indengamman,

Toy umas-asog, ag-rayo ita sadiam
Pamumutemman, dica pagintutulngan
Toy agayat, ag-rucnoy ita emmam.
Essem ti diac calipatan
Ta nasudi unay a nagan
Ta uray sadin ti yan
Disso sadino man
Aw-awagac a di agsarday
Ta naganmo a casam-itan
No malagipcan
Pusoc ti mabang-aran.

Pamulinawen, my love, please hearken to

Me who am sighing, cling to your graciousness
Kindly consider (my yearning), ignore me not
I who love you, who humble myself before your affability.
This, my obsession, I cannot forget
And your very illustrious name
Wheresoever I am
Whatsoever the place
I earnestly yearn
For your sweetest name
The moment I remember thee
My heart is comforted.

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The folk song was featured in Ryan Cayabyab's 15 track album titled Bahaghari, sung by Miss Lea Salonga.[10]

It has been performed and interpreted by different brass bands, orchestras and choral groups[11] in the Philippines.[12][13] The song was also performed as a traditional folk dance in festivals.[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ Yabes, Leopoldo Y.; Calip, José Resurrección (1936). A brief survey of Iloko literature from the beginnings to its present development: with a bibliography of works pertaining to the Iloko people and their language. The Author. p. 10. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  2. ^ The Ilocos Review. Divine Word College of Vigan. 1970. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  3. ^ Guayco, Marion Theodore. Comparison and Contrast: An analysis on Ilocano between American English and Manila Tagalog Wedding Songs. p. 2.
  4. ^ Patajo-Legasto, Priscelina (2008). Philippine Studies: Have We Gone Beyond St. Louis?. UP Press. p. 241. ISBN 9789715425919. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Culture buffs raise notes on PH regional folk songs". Manila Standard. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  6. ^ https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=16617
  7. ^ https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=16617
  8. ^ https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=16617
  9. ^ https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=16617
  10. ^ Alpad, Christina (December 15, 2018). "Lea Salonga sings in six dialects in new Cayabyab album". The Manila Times. The Manila Times. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  11. ^ Charm, Neil (14 May 2019). "Candon music festival mixes classical and pop | BusinessWorld". Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  12. ^ "pamulinawen mabuhay brass band - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  13. ^ Mapeh in Action I' 2008 Ed. Rex Bookstore, Inc. p. 75. ISBN 9789712350115. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Pamulinawen Festival". Vigattin Tourism (ARTICLES) - Philippines. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  15. ^ Silliman Journal. Silliman University. 1961. p. 30. Retrieved 21 August 2019.