The Sociological and Educational

Significance Of Selected Cuyono Folk Songs

Edna Imelda Fernandez Legazpi
Fe TriaFernandez
Palawan State
University
[email protected]
Lying southwest of Luzon, like a closed umbrella pointing to Borneo, is Palawan. Its
geographical location is such that it has retained its mystic and unique ethnic groups along with their
culture in the form of song, music, and dance. Cuyo, the old island capital of Palawan, is rich with its
own folksongs. These songs have been handed down vocally from generation to generation. Only lately
have efforts been made to record them in more permanent form, with the hope that this most cherished
cultural possession of the Cuyono people will not be forgotten. At the same time, some new Cuyononcomposed songs have become popular that they have taken on the status of folk songs. This paper is an
attempt at cultural revival, preservation and propagation of the rich musical culture of Cuyo, Palawan.
Folksongs are one of our most cherished cultural possessions they are expressions of peoples
faith, joys, sorrows, hopes, and aspirations. This paper aims to present the folksongs representative of
the culture of Cuyono people, categorized as: A) Songs Children Love to Sing B) Occupational Songs
C) Love Songs D) Songs for Wakes and Vigils E) Songs for Fiestas, and F.) Composed Folksongs.
On its broadest level, this study aims at choosing songs for educational use, as instructional
material for elementary and high school. It takes cognizance of the educational and sociological
implications of the songs, from which children acquire rich ideas and information, as they absorb the
most authentic characteristics of the Cuyono people, ground their understanding of their own culture,
develop skills in literary appreciation, and awaken the dignity of labor, service to and love of country
which are essentials in a democratic society.
In the shortened version of this major study, the authors will present and discuss one song
from each of the categories given above and two very popular composed folksongs.
I. SONGS CHILDREN LOVE TO SING
Not all songs appeal to everyone. Each song befits and interests a certain level or group.
In this particular collection, the following song has been noted to have attracted particular attention
of children with ages up to twelve. It is easy to sing and it has a catchy and lively tune.

TARINGTING

TRANSLATION

Taringting paglayog don

Taringting fly away now

Ay ikaw tataeban den,

For the high tide will soon come,

Pagsot sa liyangliyang

Enter the eaves

Sa batong malinanglinang.

Among the smooth stones

DISCUSSION POINTS:
TARINGTING is a kind of bird that is usually found in the seashore during low tides. Its color is
white, with long beaks and long. slender legs. It is a familiar sight in the Cuyo seashore, especially during
sunset.
Children, as well as adults love to relax and unwind in the beach after a long, tiring day . It
speaks
of their love of nature, particularly of the ocean.

II.OCCUPATIONAL SONGS
Cuyo is a place where people have different occupations. As the song suggests, fishing is a
popular work among Cuyo folks.
LAYANG PASYAK

TRANSLATION

Ako mi layang pasyak

I have a fishnet with shells as the

panambantambam mi pamalanak,

weight,

Porabil ako mapilak kong

I use it for catching tamban and

naga solong don ang dagat.

banak
Before I throw the net,
I wait for the tide to come in.

DISCUSSION POINTS:
Fishing is one of the main occupations in Cuyo. This song speaks of the fishermans use of his
fishnet in catching tamban and banak two popular kinds of fish in Cuyo. The song depicts the
traditional practice of using the fishnet to catch fish with shells as the weights around the fishnets.

III. LOVE SONGS

After harvest time, when village swains come from the mainland of Palawan for a well earned
rest after bringing home cavans of palay, they find no definite task to do. They are sure of their daily rice
and go to the sea for their viand.
As a form of entertainment, they meet in the barrio plaza and play ball games like volleyball
and sipa play dama, or simply chat and share adventures among themselves.. On these occasions, they
also compose songs and serenade their lady loves.

NAPOPONGAO AKO

TRANSLATION

Napopongao ako sa akeng korsonada

I am lonely for my loved one,

Pira ren ka bolan ara ko nakikta

I have not seen her for months.

Iwanen ta lamang ang dagat madalem

What can we do, the sea is deep,

Dian den da nga lagi akeng kamatayen

Danger of death is eminent.

DISCUSSION POINTS:
The song is a sentimental love song that depicts the longing of a man for his loved one. Because
of Cuyos geographical location, it is difficult to travel frequently out of the island since not many
passenger boats ply the route of Cuyo going to the other parts of Palawan, or even to Manila. For a long
time, there was only one passenger vessel that went to Cuyo, then to Iloilo and back to Puerto. Otherwise,
one has to wait for any fishing boat that may take in passengers when they happen to pass by Cuyo. This
is the sentiment of the man who has not seen his lady love for quite a while because of his inability to go to
her as often as he wants to. A classic example of man versus nature since man cannot overpower the
vastness and danger that lurk in the depths of the ocean separating Cuyo from mainland Palawan.

IV.

SONGS FOR WAKES AND VIGILS

When someone dies in the family, relatives and friends come and keep vigil. After burial,

prayers for the soul of the faithful departed are continued for nine consecutive nights. Singing games are
played after the prayers to comfort the grieving family.

KUERDAS DE LA BORDON

TRANSLATION
( THE BIG CORD )

Kwerdas de la bordon ang singsing papanawen

The big cord let the ring go round

Sa raina prinsisa palibotliboton

Around the princess, let it go around.

Kwerdas de la bordon ang singsing

Big bordon cord, let the ring go

Sa raina prinsisa palibotliboton.

around
Around the princess, let it go around.

DISCUSSION POINTS:
This is the native version of DollarDollar. The ring is transferred around from hand to hand
as the song is sung. At the end of the song, the IT catches the holder of the ring. Punishment is in
the form of song, poem or rhyme rendition.
This particular practice shows the typical Filipino spirit of finding something humorous or
funny amidst the grieving process thus, helping to alleviate the pain of losing ones loved one even
momentarily. The game provides a break to the otherwise gloomy or sad atmosphere of the wake or
vigil. It symbolizes the happy attitude of Cuyonos and their ability to rise above their grief.

V.SONGS FOR THE FIESTA

Among the first towns to be Christianized in Palawan is Cuyo. Up to the present, the
peoples religious fervor is still incomparable. Each barrio has its own patron saint and observes its own
fiesta or feast in commemoration of the particular saints birthday or death anniversary.
The town itself, embracing all barrios has its own patron saint. Saint Augustine, whose feast
th

day is celebrated every 28 of August. This is a time of rejoicing where people of the Catholic religion
come to attend mass, join or witness the procession. There atati or people whose faces are painted
black with soot or indigo representing the blacks or colored people with whom St. Augustine
worked with and converted to Christianity. These are the leaping innocents and sinologs with
sticks, masks of coconut sara and banana or coconut leaves that serve as decorations around
their bodies. They all jump and leap in rhythm to the beating of drums. There is also the comedya
or moro in their resplendent costumes of
kings, queens and princesses. The dancers and chanters glorify the deeds of Saint Augustine as
the foremost church doctor and intercessor.

SAN AGUSTIN PALARAN

TRANSLATION

San Agustin palaran patron sa diang tegbengan

St. Augustine, the fortunate

Basi kita kaloyan, iligtas sa kakurian

Patron Saint of this days celebration

Dayawen tang dayawen ang ateng

May we be blessed kept safe from

mal nga patron,

harm

Basipa kita librien sa kakorian bawien

Let us praise and praise our

beloved patron saint
May we be kept safe from all harm.

DISCUSSION POINTS:
As reflected in the song, the traditional Catholic practices are truly evident in the lines and
other related activities honoring the patron saint. The interplay of Catholic and even medieval
practices are seen and felt.
Cuyo has enjoyed more than 380 years of being a Christian municipality seeds planted by the
Augustinian Recollect brothers

almost

four

centuries ago. The peoples religiosity is very much

evident in their daily lives.

VI.

COMPOSED FOLK SONGS.

Between the folk song and the so called art song stands what is known as the

composed folk song. Certain composers are so thoroughly imbued with the spirit of their people
and with their creative musical idiom, that their own original creation become so beloved and so
generally used among the people, that they achieve the status of a traditional folk song.
The composed folk song crystallizes within the span of a single career and through the medium
of a single personality what it might take generation of spontaneous growth to achieve. The composed
folk song of a nation are as much a part of its national lore as the pure folk songs in that they are actually
used as much by the people.
The two composed folk songs of Mr. Jose and Mrs. Fe Tria Fernandez have become very popular
in Cuyo Island. Their popularity has spread as far down south and north of Palawan. They have become a
part of the Music lessons, both in elementary and high schools in the province of Palawan.

A. CUYO BALITAW

TRANSLATION

Sa kapupuroan maambeng

Its a happy time in the islands

Kung masanag ngani ang bolan

When the moon is shining bright

Mga bata ig ma nga malam

Young and old alike go strolling to the

Naga parasiar sa pantalan

wharf

Ma nga solteros ig daraga

Young men and women play the guitar and

Naga gitara magkaranta kadai sara

sing.

Mi sara maambeng andang leba

Everyone is happy.

Pagkasanag ngani dayong parakon

When morning comes they go to the fields

Sa oma, magkaingin, magsaripsip

To cut trees, clean the fields and burn them

Magpaligid kong mainit,

When the day is hot

Maluto ron ngani ang paray sa bukid

When the grains ripen on the

mountain Dayon sandang parantek

They harvest them and make pinipig.

Maglelebeklebek,
Amos kamo mga tangay

Come my friend, lets dance awhile

Masaraot saot kita nay

Lets forget our weariness, lets rest

awhile Lipatan tateng kapilay, magpanari anay

Now that the rice is ripe let us rejoice!

Dading loto roang paray, kita magkalipay

Let us not mind our efforts.

.Indi tay panombaien, ateng kabedlay.

B. MANIG PANGISDA

THE FISHERMAN

Kung nasasalep den adlaw,

When the sun is setting in the west

Sa dopit kasasalepan

Slowly one by one the bancas come sailing

naga aramatamat oroli ang ma nga

home

Baroto kasaplan

Still faraway they are seen by the

sails Maraye pa sanda nakikita nagalalayag

Children and wife all await them.

Layag den da, ma nga bata ig asawa

Nagaelat kananda

Matama ngani ang dawi,

When there is abundant catch,

Durong kaambeng nga nagaoli

They are happy when they go home

Sigurado ren ang panggatang

They are sure of money for rice

Sa sera ara ren y bali

For viand, they do not mind.

Basta mi lelegeblegeben

As long as there is something to broil

Asta mi kikilawkilawen.

And for kilawin

Maambeng ang magbarata

The family is happy and light are their

Magan andang leba

hearts.

Tuladan lamang sanda,

Its just they way they are,

Nga mga manig pangisda

Though its a tiresome job

Mapilaypilay nga pangita

And the heat is certain,

Mainit pa nga ara doadoa

Light the winds or strong they may

Malinaw ig maderes man,

be

Ang dagat ay papakunan

The sea is a sure place to go

Tenged maman dnedang ing alinan

For it is the source of all

Pangabui nga tanan.

That gives them food and life.

DISCUSSION POINTS:
Its a common sight in the Cuyo seashores to see wives and children waiting on the male
members of their household to bring home the days catch. This song depicts the simplicity of the Cuyono
life, the life of the common Cuyono people who are dependent on the bountiful catch from the sea. The
simple joys that they show like having enough for their days viand is a reflection of their ability to make
do with what they have. Even their taste in food is simple as long as there is vinegar or even table salt to
accompany their broiled fish are welcome sight in their table. The family members will relish these with
gusto.

REFERENCES
Fernandez, Fe Tria, Re pre se nt at iv e Pal awan Fol k Songs As A nal y zed: The i r Soc i ol ogic al
and
E ducat ional Impl ic ati ons, an Unpublished Thesis, Holy Trinity College , 1988.
Fernandez, Jose T. and Fernandez, Fe Tria A Compi l at i on of Cuy ono Songs . (
Manila, 1975 )
Fernandez, Jose T. and Fernandez, Fe Tria. Mga Karant aen sa Pal awan . ( Puerto Princesa City,
1988. )

The preceding document was presented at the Tenth

International Conference on Austronesian Linguistics (10ICAL).
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