Posts Tagged ‘tagalog’

Has Original Pilipino Music Died?

For me Original Pilipino Music or OPM never died or whatever dying state some Filipinos who illusion it or as they trying to imply. Actually, it evolves and become revolutionary only from its one note tone into variety of music genre: ballad, jazz, rhythm and blues, pop, rock, and alternative.

OPM - Original Pilipino Music

Perhaps, these Filipinos who illusion when they said Original Pilipino Music have died is the arise of English Pilipino Songs in the Pinoy Music Industry to compete with foreign English songs in the music market or the absence of all Tagalog songs or the absence of proudly multi-language songs of Pilipino like Cebuano songs, Kapampangan songs, Visayan Songs, etc. in the music market.

Yeah, there is an absence of these kinds of songs in Philippine Music Industry as well as in the Pinoy music market today virtually, but any Pilipino composer could make it anyway in the music market if one composes like Cebuano songs or Kapampangan Songs. Actually, there are some songs like these in the music market today like the Kapampangan songs:” Atin Ku Pung Singsing” and “Oh Jo Kaluguran Daka”, which in fairness becomes a hit though it has Kapampangan lyrics.

The only problem why some Pilipino composers doesn’t preoccupied much of composing songs like pure Cebuano, Chavacano, etc. because sometimes they do not click on Pilipino masses and their investment in composing and making an album for such Pilipino songs does not have a good rate of return neither a breakeven profit.

Actually, the only thing that will make Original Pilipino Music or OPM succumb to death is if the composers do not concur to the present day music needs and preferences of modern day Pilipino by eliminating the English Pilipino songs in the music market and replace them with all Tagalog or multi-language Pilipino songs like Cebuano, Kapampangan, etc.

Philippine literature is vast, informative and entertaining. It is the literature associated with the Philippines and includes the legends of pre-historical and colonial legacy of the Philippines. These are written in both indigenous and Hispanic languages.
Most of the notable literary works of the Philippines were written during the Spanish period. Philippine literature is written in Spanish, Filipino (Tagalog), English and other native Philippine languages.
Compared to other Asian nations, the Philippines have very few artifacts that show proofs or evidences of Philippine literature or writings.

A script called Baybayin was used in Luzon when Spaniards settled in the islands in 1521. Also indigenous people in Manila and among other native groups in the Philippines wrote on bamboo and specially prepared Arecaceae palm leaves, using knives and pointed sticks as pens.

They were using the primitive Tagalog script which has basic symbols. That is easy to write and understand. Modern Filipino literature are award winning. Some literary works are being studied in schools and is part of the learning curriculum. Also some literary works have television, theater and movie adaptations.

Notable Philippine Literary Works:
ï    Biag Ni Lam-ang
ï    Doctrina Christiana
ï    El Filibusterismo
ï    Florante at Laura
ï    Ibong Adarna
ï    Noli Me Tangere
ï    Dekada ë70

The Philippines has many languages. The Philippines has a total of 171 native languages that are still spoken and used in the country. Such a small country but has so many dialects/languages.

Filipinos, refer to languages as dialects.

Believe it or not, Spanish was the original official language of the Philippines. Because for such a long time the Philippines was invaded by the Spaniards. And learning Spanish is mandatory at schools and universities during that time.

But after the independence of the Philippines, the national language of the Philippines has become Filipino or popularly known as Tagalog.

English, is also widely used in the Philippines. Since it’s a mandatory subject at schools and universities, up to now.

There are 13 indigenous languages in the Philippines with at least 1 million native speakers. They are:

1. Tagalog which is mainly spoken and used nationwide.
2. Cebuano, used in the Visayas area particularly in Cebu.
3. Ilokano, used in the Ilocos region (Ilocos Norte, Ilocus Sur, Abra etc.)
4. Hilgaynon, used and spoken in the western part of Visayas.
5. Waray-Waray, used and spoken in the provinces of Samar.
6. Kapampangan (Pampango), used and spoken in Pampanga located in Luzon.
7. Bikol (Bicolano), used and spoken in the provinces of Bicol.
8. Albay Bikol (Albay Bicolano), used and spoken in Albay, a province in Bicol.
9. Pangasinan, used and spoken in the Pangasinan area. It’s also known as “Pangalatok” to it’s native people.
10. Maranao, used and spoken in the provinces of Lanao (Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, etc.)
11. Maguindano, used and spoken in different parts of Mindanao.
12. Kinaray-a, used and spoken in Antique.
13. Tausug, used and spoken in Sulu.

There’s evidently a huge amount of dialectal variation among the languages of the Philippines. A good example of this variation are between Tagalog and Kapampangan. Because they are known to have very moderate dialectal variation.

But if you’re a tourist or someone who wants to settle and live in the Philippines, the best dialect to study and learn is Tagalog. Because it’s mainly spoken nationwide and is the national language of the Philippines. It’s easy to learn too, which is a plus.

Calamba Laguna Philippines

Perhaps most Filipinos already knew what’s in this place, yeah, it is the home place or birth place of Doctor Jose P. Rizal –the Philippines’ National Hero, A renaissance genius man. He is an artist, a doctor (ophthalmologist), a poet, a publicist, an engineer, a sculptor, a novelist, a teacher, a linguist who could speak 21 languages, and of course a martyr hero. Actually, his ancestral house at Calamba has now become a tourist attraction for those who visit Calamba Laguna Philippines where a memorabilia about him was on display. They call it Rizal Shrine.

Actually, his ancestral home was destroyed during World War II but was restored during the presidency of Elpidio Quirino, which is during 1950s.

However, it was not only Dr.Jose P.Rizal is the known hero that Calamba Laguna have produced, actually, there are still other four National heroes, namely General Paciano Rizal, Teodora Alonzo, General Vicente Lim, and Lt. Geronimo Aclan. Thus,an association have arise,that is the Calamba Association Of Northeastern USA,Inc. base on New York.This Calamba organization have established by the former residents of Calamba Laguna Philippines to promote Calamba Philippines itself and for the welfare and improvement of the lives of Filipinos in line with the heroic deeds of the national heroes which have sprouted from Calamba Laguna in the Philippines.

Anyway, what are other places of interest at Calamba Laguna Philippines aside from its hero’s zone area? At Laguna Philippines there are many resorts and hot springs you could visit, however, we will discuss them at my article Laguna Philippines. Calamba Laguna is only at the footstool of Laguna Philippines’s famous Enchanted Mountain –Mt. Maria Makiling,thus you could tread upon the Mt. Maria Makiling through Calamba Laguna. Moreover, Calamba has rich source of fresh clean water due to Laguna Philippines have many hot springs within its vicinity. Calamba Laguna has also hot springs at Laguna de Bay- the Wonder Island Resort.

Another place of interest at Calamba, is the St. John the Baptist Church. It has a beautiful ambience and most tourists attend mass on it. I remember, when I was a child we attend mass in it after we visit the Rizal Shrine. For it is said that on this church, Dr. Jose P. Rizal was baptized. Furthermore, at the front of Calamba Laguna Municipal Hall, there are a beautiful potted plants and flowers for sale that could awe your site.

Aside from Rizal’s memorial statue at Luneta Park, he has also another memorial statue at Rizal Memorial School at Calamba Laguna.

However, if you want to visit Calamba Laguna Philippines, it is only 53 kilometers away from Manila Philippines and lies at the southern terminal of South Luzon Expressway. And they say it is a gateway to many part of Laguna in the Philippines and to other adjacent cities and regions.

Calamba Laguna is the largest city of Laguna Philippines which largely are migrants from Manila Philippines and Tagalog regions of the Philippines, as well some religious groups and foreign tourists. Thus, it has many real estate businesses within its region.

Angeles City is located in the Northern part of Luzon. It is also called “The Heart of the North” and also as “The City of Friendship”.

Majority of the people in Angeles City, can speak Kapampangan (Pampango), which is the native language of Pampanga and Tagalog, which is the national language of the Philippines. But old people in Angeles City, most of them can only speak Kapampangan. Because they’re truly proud of their culture and heritage.

The biggest municipality in Angeles City is Balibago. Balibago, is also known as the melting pot of raises. One of the reasons why, is because people in Angeles City are the friendliest people in the Philippines (that’s what they say) and also the so-called “Red Light District” is located in Fields Avenue in Balibago, which attracts a lot of different people all over the world.

People from different countries frequent Angeles City, not because of the friendly people, but also because of the good food, and various party places located in Balibago and Angeles City.

But the reasons given above are not the only reasons why you can frequently spot foreigners in Balibago, Angeles City. Also near Balibago is Clark Air Base. Former Air Base of the United States. But when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991 the troops completely left Clark, because it was greatly devastated by the eruption.

Now, it is known as Clark Special Economic Zone. Where the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is located. It is named after one of the Philippines former presidents. Also located in Clark are several Duty Free shops, and outsourcing businesses which are popularly known as call centers, which helped the Philippines economic status in a great way.

Angeles City is a very convenient place too. It is highly developed and modernized but at the same time it still has a nice suburban feeling in it.

Churches, markets, parks, bus stations and malls are easy to access. Public transportation is available 24 hours, everyday. Manila which is the capital of the Philippines is just less than 2 hours away from Angeles City.

That’s why Angeles City, is truly a place worth visiting because it’s not only a great place to party, it’s a cozy city with a rich culture and proud of it’s old world heritage.