The Filipino Kundiman: 2015

Monday, 28 September 2015

The Ancient Filipino Writing System: Baybayin

I was first briefly introduced to the ancient Filipino writing system known as Alibata in one of our Kasaysayan classes in UP. Never had the chance to explore it at all... but recently, I stumbled upon a site that teaches how to write Baybayin. I am curious to know whether Alibata and Baybayin are one and the same....the sites I checked say they are the same. But, I remember seeing Arabic-looking symbols for Alibata. I hope to find the time to look into this deeper....

Chart from nordenx.blogspot.com

In the meantime, here are some sites I found on Baybayin.

http://www.mts.net/~pmorrow/bayeng1.htm

http://nordenx.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-in-baybayin.html

Philippine Heroes

Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal: A Biographical Sketch
BY TEOFILO H. MONTEMAYOR
Read more here: http://www.joserizal.ph/bg01.html

JOSE RIZAL, the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race, was born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). Both his parents were educated and belonged to distinguished families.

His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an industrious farmer whom Rizal called "a model of fathers," came from Biñan, Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a highly cultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and prudent mother," was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila. At the age of 3, he learned the alphabet from his mother; at 5, while learning to read and write, he already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of which revolves on the love of one’s language. In 1877, at the age of 16, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of "excellent" from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas, while at the same time took courses leading to the degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the Ateneo. He finished the latter course on March 21, 1877 and passed the Surveyor’s examination on May 21, 1878; but because of his age, 17, he was not granted license to practice the profession until December 30, 1881. In 1878, he enrolled in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas but had to stop in his studies when he felt that the Filipino students were being discriminated upon by their Dominican tutors. On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain where he continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid. On June 21, 1884, at the age of 23, he was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and on June 19,1885, at the age of 24, he finished his course in Philosophy and Letters with a grade of "excellent."

Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia, he mastered 22 languages. These include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog, and other native dialects. A versatile genius, he was an architect, artist, businessman, cartoonist, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, and theologian.

In the hope of securing political and social reforms for his country and at the same time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the greatest apostle of Filipino nationalism, published, while in Europe, several works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his daring book, NOLI ME TANGERE, a satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy, was published in Berlin; in 1890 he reprinted in Paris, Morga’s SUCCESSOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS with his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a civilization worthy to be proud of even long before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil; on September 18, 1891, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, his second novel and a sequel to the NOLI and more revolutionary and tragic than the latter, was printed in Ghent. Because of his fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and clerical officials, Rizal provoked the animosity of those in power. This led himself, his relatives and countrymen into trouble with the Spanish officials of the country. As a consequence, he and those who had contacts with him, were shadowed; the authorities were not only finding faults but even fabricating charges to pin him down. Thus, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago from July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892 on a charge that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia who arrive with him from Hong Kong. While a political exile in Dapitan, he engaged in agriculture, fishing and business; he maintained and operated a hospital; he conducted classes- taught his pupils the English and Spanish languages, the arts, the sciences, vocational courses including agriculture, surveying, sculpturing, and painting, as well as the art of self-defense; he did some researches and collected specimens; he entered into correspondence with renowned men of letters and sciences abroad; and with the help of his pupils, he constructed water dam and a relief map of Mindanao - both considered remarkable engineering feats. His sincerity and friendliness won for him the trust and confidence of even those assigned to guard him; his good manners and warm personality were found irresistible by women of all races with whom he had personal contacts; his intelligence and humility gained for him the respect and admiration of prominent men of other nations; while his undaunted courage and determination to uplift the welfare of his people were feared by his enemies.

When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26, 1896, his enemies lost no time in pressing him down. They were able to enlist witnesses that linked him with the revolt and these were never allowed to be confronted by him. Thus, from November 3, 1986, to the date of his execution, he was again committed to Fort Santiago. In his prison cell, he wrote an untitled poem, now known as "Ultimo Adios" which is considered a masterpiece and a living document expressing not only the hero’s great love of country but also that of all Filipinos. After a mock trial, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and of forming illegal association. In the cold morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal, a man whose 35 years of life had been packed with varied activities which proved that the Filipino has capacity to equal if not excel even those who treat him as a slave, was shot at Bagumbayan Field.

http://quotesgram.com/jose-rizal-quotes/

Useful Filipino (Tagalog) Phrases

English: Filipino:

Thank you. Salamat.
Salamat po. (with respect, esp. when speaking to the elderly.)

What is your name? Ano'ng pangalan mo?
Ano po ang pangalan niyo? (with respect, esp. when speaking to the elderly.)

My name is ____. Ang pangalan ko ay _____.
Ang pangalan ko po ay _____. (with respect, esp. when speaking to the elderly.)

How are you? Kumusta? or Kumusta ka?
Kumusta po kayo? (with respect, esp. when speaking to the elderly).

Thursday, 24 September 2015

Nahan (Where?) Music Sheet

As requested by a friend, here's the music sheet for Nahan.
Music by: Ernani J. Cuenco
Words by: Levi Celerio

Nahan Page 1

Nahan Page 2

Nahan Page 3

Download the Nahan Music Sheet (PDF file) here.

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

Southeast Asia on the Piano by Charisse Baldoria

May I invite you all to support a project by a good pianist friend of mine who is launching her 2nd CD which features Southeast Asian music.

For the first time, a CD album will gather together piano pieces inspired by gong-chime ensembles (gamelan) from Bali, Java and the Philippines, including a world premiere recording of Philippine National Artist Ramon P. Santos' Gong-An suite for piano.

Performed by Charisse Baldoria, the album was created to develop appreciation for the beauty and richness of Southeast Asian music and culture.

The music was written by composers from the Philippines, Europe, the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, for solo piano, two pianos, and a trio with violin and percussion.

Find out more about this project here.

New Posts in Kundiman Music Sheets

Hi everyone! Thank you for visiting my simple site that aims to promote Filipino music, art and culture. I hope you have gotten some useful information on Filipino composers and have enjoyed the music from the sheets provided so far...

I have recently posted some sheets which I think you might like. Click on Kundiman Music Sheets to get the music sheets for the songs below.

Dahil Sa 'Yo (Because of You)
Ang Langit Sa Lupa (Heaven on Earth)
Ang Una Kong Pagibig (My First Love)

Thanks and enjoy the music! :)