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”Certain it is that ballads have been written about
Zamboanga City, and songs have been sung of it,”
writes David Potter in “Sailing the Sulu Sea:”
Songs and music constitute the most developed phase
in the cultural life of the Zamboangueño. They have
been known far and wide, and sung through memory by
everyone in Zamboanga.
One of the most popular of these songs is No Te
Vayas de Zamboanga. This was composed by Juan
Cuadrado, Sr., a Spaniard who decided to stay in
Zamboanga after the Spanish troops left the country.
He later married a Zamboangueña with whom he bore
several children. According to the old-timers of the
city, this song was composed among the taverns which
Cuadrado used to frequent. There was no real
intention to write the song, for Cuadrado was not a
musician. But when the heart was full, then it was
only music that could express its real feelings. The
song was popularized when a Colonel Loving placed it
down in music. The words of the songs goes this way.
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NO TE VAYAS DE
ZAMBOANGA
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No te vayas, no te
vayas de Zamboanga
Que me puedes, que me puedes olvidar
No te vayas, no te vayas, ni me dejes
Que yo sin ti, no puedo estar
No llores, paloma mia
No llores que volvere
No llores que en cuando llegue
Paloma mia, te escribire
English versión (translated, unfortunately, in
the reverse, ACN)
Don’t you go, don’t you go to far Zamboanga
Where you may forget your darling far away
Don’t you, oh don’t you, for if you leave me
How can I, without you stay?
Oh weep not, my dear Paloma
Oh weep not, for I’ll return
Oh weep not my
little darling
I shall remember and I shall yearn. |
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CHAMPAKA |
Another popular song is Zamboanga Hermosa which
praises the beauty of the women of Zamboanga. The
song originated in the pre-war era, but it was only
during the later part of the 1930’s when it was made
popular by Matias Ranillo, Sr.,(a Dipolognon)
Governor of Zamboanga Province. Later, a Cebuano
Vod-a-vil show director, Borromeo Lou, popularized
it. A Zamboangueño
well-known local write and poet in Spanish who wrote
the lyrics was Vicente Orendain.
The following
are the lyrics of Zamboanga Hermosa
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ZAMBOANGA HERMOSA
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Zamboanga Hermosa,
preciosa perlita
Orgullo de Mindanao
Tus bellas dalagas son las que hermosean
Tu deliciosa ciudad
Flores y amores que adornan tu jardin
Eres la imagen del bello eden;
Zamboanga hermosa,
preciosa perlita
Orgullo de Mindanao |
A much earlier song, composed during the Spanish
regime is Leal y
Valiente Villa de Zamboanga.
The songs of Zamboanga are not limited to Spanish
songs. There are also native songs of the Tausugs,
Subanon, Badjaos, Samals and Yakans. Most of these
songs reflect their way of life, religion, customs
and traditions.
The following song is a popular Tausug song entitled
Ligaya. It tells about the love of a Moslem
youth to Ligaya, a Zamboangueňa. However, due
to his religion, marriage between them was not
possible for Ligaya was a Christian. So he laments
over the impossibility of marriage between them,
resorting to hanging himself with the handkerchief
at the well which his sweetheart left.
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Ligaya
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Zamboanga ini
haupu
Budjang in nakahipu
Dalling, dalling, hani
Asal ko sugusku
Ligaya
In malingkoy kaka
Masidulgan
Chorus:
Ka panaw dayang subu-subu
Ha tubing nag sahbu
Dalling, dalling, hani
Bangkaw biya maka subu
Ligaya
In banghad ko hangibu
Masiduldangan
Panyu-panyu dayang biyaning
Siya sablay ha ringding
Dalling, dalling, hani
Tumaka mo liyanding
Ligaya
Naagaw sinduga-ing
Masiduldangan
Paanyu-panya dayang kasamba
Iya anud ha suba
Dalling, dalling, hani
Si kasi ko kan ka-ka
Liogaya
Translation:
Zamboanga is small
But full of beautiful girls
My love, my love, honey
I have already chosen
The beautiful one is mine.
Chorus:
While strolling at dawn
I met her at the well
If you’ll ask me
My love
My dowry is one
Thousand
A yellow handkerchief |
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