Philippines-Music and Society

In a third world country like my country-The Philippines, poverty is the cancer that slowly and painfully kills the society.

Due to poor governance and corrupt government officials, our country faces several problems. One is the scarcity of jobs. Another is the increasing number of homeless people. Along with that is the increasing population. Then we have high hunger rates, high mortality rates and high crime rates. People engage in prostitution. The lack of funding results to poor public utilities such as hospitals, schools, transportation, waste management, etc. Pollution is also a fast arising difficulty. And, people are leaving the country in search for better opportunities. “Brain Drain”

These hardships that I told you reflect on the music created by the people seeing it, feeling it or experiencing it. Some of the music’s purpose is to serve as an outlet for emotions and create a feeling of catharsis to the listeners, to instill hope and positive notion that this country might still have a chance to survive, to bring it to the attention of the government, to promote awareness and change, to touch the hearts of kind people who are able to help, etc.

Here are some examples of the songs:

This song is addressing issues about the environment

Here’s a link if you want to listen to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrolp2E0i9A

I'll just post the english translation of the song but if you want to read the original/filipino lyrics, here's the link: http://www.moron.nl/lyrics/asin/masdan-mo-ang-lyrics.html


“Masdan Mo and Kapaligiran” by Asin


English translation: The words are not rhyming anymore though

“Look at the Environment”

Dont you notice anything about your environment
The air is so polluted, and so our rivers.

Progress is not a bad thing
And that we've come so far
But look at our ocean
They had blue color,
But now its black

All the waste that we spread in the air
We shouldn't let it reach our heaven
So when we're gone,
We could still taste fresh clean air in heaven

I have only just one wish
I hope it rains when I die
I'll bring my guitar
So we all could just sing up in the clouds

All the children being born right now
Will they still breath fresh air?
Will they still have trees to climb up?
Will they still have rivers to swim in?

Why dont we stop and think
With whats happening with our environment
There's no wrong in development
As long as we dont destroy our nature

The day will come when all the free birds
Won't have any branches to land on
Look at our trees which use to be so strong before
They are now dying because of our carelessness

All the things that we have on this earth
Are gifts that we've recieved from God before we've even been born
We should take care of it and don't destroy it
Because we'll all just disappear if He decide to take it away from us





Here’s an example of a song addressing poverty.

This song is really pretty. It is sung by a pitiable child who in spite of his situation manages to see the world positively. Here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoTXEHR47Oo

Its lyrics are really in English.

“Paraiso” by Smokey Mountain. Translates as “Paradise”


Return to a land called paraiso
A place where a dying river ends
No birds dare fly over paraiso
No space allows them to endure
The smoke that screens the air
The grass that's never there

And if I could see a single bird
What a joy!
I try to write some words and create
A simple song to be heard by the rest of the world

I live in a land called paraiso
In a house made of cardboard floors and walls
I learned to be free in paraiso
Free to claim anything
I see Matching rags for my clothes
Plastic bags for the colds

And if empty cans were all I have
What a joy!
I never fight to take someone else's coins
And live with fear like the rest of the boys

Chorus:
Paraiso, help me make a stand
Paraiso, take me by the hand
Paraiso, make the world understand
That if I could see a single bird
What a joy!

This tired and hungry land could expect
Some truth and hope and respect
From the rest of the world




Here is another one pointing some things about the government and the society:

Link to the music video: This is a cool song by the way and it's just recent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB5jUZrnbpg&feature=related

Again, I just posted the English translation of the lyrics. If you want to read the Filipino lyrics, here's the link: http://www.soulcast.com/post/show/60897/English-Translation:-Tatsulok

"Tatsulok by Bamboo"

English Translation:

PYRAMID
(Bamboo)
(Original by Buklod)

Son, hurry, hurry up and run
Evade the bombs that are pointed at your head
Son now jump, fall down flat if necessary
Or else you may be hit by stray bullets


Son, listen up, don't stay out late at night
You might be mistaken for someone else and end up lifeless on the roadside
Son, do you know the beginning
Of all this strife that never seems to end?

[refrain]
Not red and yellow are the real opposing sides
Color and symbol are not the real reasons
Just as long as there are many who are being dragged down by poverty
And justice is just for the wealthy

[chorus]
As long as there's a pyramid and they are at the top
This conflict will never ever end
And what was once a little farm now is a graveyard
Son, do something, reverse this pyramid
Those who are poor like you, put them on the top

[repeat refrain and chorus]
[repeat refrain and chorus]
[repeat chorus]

This conflict will never ever end...



Here are some links of more songs you might want to listen to:

This is a patriotic song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ94mqRkCVc

Read the translation here:
http://www.soulcast.com/post/show/60901/English-Translation:-Noypi