Every time I remember the recent killings in Maguindanao, it hurts a lot. It's as if a person's life were that cheap, that worthless, that it didn't matter. It hearkens back to our past. Every time we think that we have achieved a precarious balance in making peace on this island, something happens that reminds us how close that past still is, how near the surface the barbaric customs of not so long ago.

I thought the Mindanao depicted in the songs of Asin in the 1970s was beginning to fade. Has it?

The song "Bayan kong Sinilangan" was written by Saro Banares, who came from Koronadal, South Cotabato. Though it mostly refers only to one place, the song could just as easily refer to the island and its past.

The song "Balita" on the other hand is perhaps more familiar to people as its chorus was sampled by the Black Eyed Peas for its "APL Song." After over 20 years, suddenly it has garnered fresh meaning in the light of recent events. Sh*t. Still hurts.

Bayan Kong Sinilangan
(Asin)

Ako'y isinilang sa isang bayan ng Cotabato
Kasing gulo ng tao, kasing gulo ng mundo
Dahil 'di magkasundo sa relihiyon at prinsipyo
Nagkagulo
Ang bayan ko sa Cotabato, kasing gulo ng isip ko
'Di alam saan nanggaling, 'di alam saan patungo
Kapatid sa kapatid, laman sa laman
Sila-sila ang naglalaban, 'di ko alam ang dahilan ng gulo

Bakit nagkagano'n, ang sagot sa tanong ko
Bakit kayo nag-away, bakit kayo nagkagulo
Prinsipyo mo'y igagalang ko kung ako'y iyong nirespeto
Kung nagtulungan kayo, 'di sana magulo ang bayan ko

CHORUS
Sa bayan kong sinilangan, sa timog Cotabato
Ako ay namulat sa napakalaking gulo
Dahil walang respeto sa prinsipyo ng kapwa tao
Kapwa Pilipino ay pinapahirapan mo
Ang gulo

Ako'y nananawagan, humihingi ng tulong n'yo
Kapayapaa'y bigyan ng daan, kapayapaan sa bayan ko
Bakit kailangan pang maglaban, magkapatid kayo sa dugo
Kailan kayo magkakasundo, kapayapaa'y kailan matatamo ng bayan ko

Kung ako'y may maitutulong, tutulong nang buong puso
Gitara ko'y aking inaalay, kung magkagulo'y gamitin mo
Kung ang kalaba'y walang puso, puso na rin ang gamitin mo
Ituring mong 'sang kaibigan, isipin mong siya'y may puso rin katulad mo

CHORUS
Sa bayan kong sinilangan (bakit may gulo) sa timog Cotabato (sa timog Cotabato)
Ako ay namulat (kailan matatapos) sa napakalaking gulo (ang gulo)
Dahil walang respeto (kailan magkakasundo) sa prinsipyo ng kapwa tao (ang tao)
Kapwa Pilipino (kapwa Pilipino) ay kinakalaban mo (bakit kinalaban mo)
Ang gulo...

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The Land of My Birth
(Original by Asin; translation by Laya)
INTRO


I was born in a town in Cotabato
As troublesome as people, as chaotic as the world
Because they couldn't agree on religion and principles
There was trouble
My hometown in Cotabato, as troubled as my mind
It doesn't know where it came from, it doesn't know where to go
Brother against brother, and flesh against flesh
They turned against one another, I don't know the reason for this trouble

Why did this happen, the answer to my question
Why are you quarreling, why did you create trouble
I would respect your principles if you respected me
If only you helped one another there wouldn't be such trouble in my home town.

CHORUS
In the land where I was born, in South Cotabato
I grew up amidst a great trouble
Because of lack of respect for the beliefs of fellow men
You brought hardship to your fellow Filipinos
Such trouble

I am making this call, asking for your help
Give way to peace, peace in my home land
Why do you need to fight, when you are brothers in blood
When will you agree, when will peace be achieved in my home town

If there were something I could do to help, to help with all my heart
My guitar I offer, for use in times of trouble
If the enemy has no heart, you should still use your own heart
Treat him as a friend, think that he also has a heart like you do

CHORUS
In the land of my birth (why is there trouble) in South Cotabato (in South Cotabato)
I grew up (when will it end) amidst such great trouble (such trouble)
Because of lack of respect (when will they agree) for the beliefs of fellowmen (of men)
Fellow Filipinos (fellow Filipinos) are who you're fighting against (why are you fighting them)
Such trouble...

----------------------

Balita
(Asin)

Chorus:
Lapit mga kaibigan at makinig kayo
ako'y may dala-dalang balita galing sa bayan ko
nais kong ipamahagi ang mga kuwento at
ang mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa lupang ipinangako

I
Ang lupang pinanggalingan ko'y may bahid ng dugo
May mga lorong di makalipad nasa hawlang ginto
may mga puno walang dahon
mga pusong di makakibo
sa mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa lupang ipinangako

II
mula ng makita ko ang lupang ito
nakita ko rin ng munting apoy sa puso ng tao
ginatungan ng mga kabulukan hanggang sa lumago,
ngayon ang puso'y may takot sa lupang pinangako

(repeat chorus)

III
dati rati ang mga bukid ay kulay ginto
dati rati'y ang mga ibon sinlaya ng tao
dati rati ay katahimikan, ang musikang nagpapatulog sa mga batang walang muwang sa mundo

IV
ngayon ang lupang ipinangako ay nagsusumamo
patakan n'yo ng luha ang apoy sa kanyang puso
dinggin n'yo ang mga sigaw ng mga puso
ng taong kung n'yong dadamhing kabilang sa inyo

V
duul mga kaigsuunan ug paminaw kamo
duna koy dala nga mga balita gikan sa banwa ko
gusto ko nga ipahibalo ang mga istorya nga nangakahitabu sa banwang gisaad nato


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News
(Original by Asin; translation by Laya)

Chorus:
Come near my friends and listen
I have brought news from my hometown
I want to disseminate the stories
And the things that are happening in the promised land

I
The land that I came from is stained with blood
There are parrots that cannot fly, in golden cages
There are trees without leaves there are hearts that cannot move
Because of the things that are happening in the promised land

II
From the moment I first saw this land
I also saw the tiny flame in the hearts of men
Fueled by the corruption until it burst into flame
Now hearts are frightened in the promised land

(repeat chorus)

III
Once, the fields were golden
Once, the birds were as free as men
Once, only silence
Lulled to sleep the children who know nothing about the world


IV
Now the promised land is pleading
Drop tears upon the fire in its heart
Listen to the shouts of the hearts
Of men who if you would but feel are part of you


V
Come nearer my brothers and listen
I have brought news from my hometown
I want to disseminate the stories
That are happening in the land that was promised us.