National Artists Lucio San Pedro and Levi Celerio, In Pace Recquiescat. The voice of the Filipino sounded richer because of them, but their poetic genius were clearly borrowed from divine minstrelsy. The Land is poorer for the twin losses, but the legacy of greatness will outlive them here. Our ears will be ever full with their songs.


SA UGOY NG DUYAN

Music by Lucio San Pedro
Lyrics by Levi Celerio

Sana'y di magmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni Inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'y nasa duyan

Sana'y di magmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni Inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'y nasa duyan

Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing
Ang bantay ko'y tala
Ang tanod ko'y bituin
Sa piling ni Nanay
Langit ang buhay
Puso kong may dusa
Sabik sa ugoy ng duyan mo Inay
Sana narito ka Inay

Sana'y di magmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni Nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni Inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'y nasa duyan

This song was the collaboration of masters San Pedro and Celerio. I feel as if it were a recalling of the oyayi (the Filipino lullabye). As the child recalls the love of his mother, persona weaves around himself a cradle of music, a song doing honor to the lullabyes, the genesis of all music that would ever issue forth.

We will not forget the womb of our own music despite the din of the world. We are the children of such art. The masters are dead. Long live the music.