List of Filipino Christmas carols and songs

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This article lists Christmas carols and songs sung by the Filipinos during local Christmas season. As with much Filipino music, some of these songs have their origins in the Spanish and American colonial periods, with others written as part of the OPM movement.

Contents

Daigon

It is an old Ilonggo Christmas carol in Hiligaynon. Daigon is the Hiligaynon term for caroling. Ilonggos are fond of singing this song caroling from house to house. It is sometimes used as a piece for Christmas carol choral competitions.

Daigon (Hiligaynon)
Christmas Carol (English) [a]


O dungga man ninyo
Ang makaluluoy
Nga yari sa idalom
Nga nagapasilong
Nagahulat sang inyo
Maayong kabubut on
Nagabatas sang tun-og
Sining kagab ihon



Sa pagkabulahan nga gab-i
Ang amon karon nga pagkari;
Kay natao ang manunubos
Sa kalibutan nga luhaan



Paalam na sa inyo
Mga kautoran
Kag kabay sang diwa
Kamo kaluoyan


 
Paalam paalam
Sa inyo nga tanan
Kay kami na karon
Ang magataliwan.

Oh listen everyone
To the miserable
Which is below
That sheltering
Looking forward to your
Goodwill on
Withstands dew
Tonight



Oh what a blessed night
With our coming;
For a redeemer is born
In a world of tears



Goodbye to you
Brothers and sisters
And may the spirit of Christmas
Bless you



Goodbye goodbye
To all of you
Because we are now
passing.

"Himig ng Pasko"

"Himig Pasko" or "Himig ng Pasko" is a Christmas carol written by Serapio Y. Ramos in the 1960s. The opening line has become a popular allusion as it describes the Amihan , or cool, northeasterly trade winds that prevail around December.

Himig ng Pasko (Tagalog)
Music of Christmas (English) [a]

Malamíg ang simoy ng hangin
Kay sayá ng bawat damdamin.
Ang tibók ng puso sa dibdíb
Para bang hulog na ng langit

Koro
Himig ng Pasko’y laganap
Mayro’ng siglâ ang lahat
Wala ang kalungkutan
Lubós ang kasayahan

Himig ng Pasko’y umiiral
Sa loob ng bawat tahanan
Masayá ang mga tanawin
May awit ang simoy ng hangin.

*(ultin ang koro at huling saknóng)

The breeze of the cold air:
How happy are each [person's] emotions
The heartbeat in the chest
Is as though heaven-sent.

Chorus
[The] Music of Christmas is widespread
All are lively
There is no sadness
Happiness is full.

[The] Music of Christmas pervades
In the inside every home
Happy are the sights
There is song in the breeze of the wind.

*(repeat chorus and last verse)

"Namamasko"

"Namamasko" is part of a series known as Maligayang Pasko, and was originally an untitled song now commonly known by its incipit. Though more playful in tone as carolling is seen as a pastime reserved for children, its theme is similar to the English carol Here We Come A-wassailing/A-caroling.

Sa Maybahay ang Aming Batì (Tagalog)
To The Householder We Greet (English) [a]

Sa maybahay, ang aming bati,
"Merry Christmas!" na maluwalhati
Ang pag-ibig, 'pag siyang naghari
Araw-araw ay magiging pasko lagi!

Koro:
Ang sanhi po ng pagparito, hihingi po ng aguinaldo
Kung sakali kami'y perwisyo
Pasensya na kayo, kami'y namamasko

To our host we'd like to say,
A "Merry Christmas!" for you and me,
When Love, if it doth reign,
every day will be joyful, always!

Chorus:
The reason we have come
is to ask for kara (money).
If we happen to be a bother,
please be patient, for we are singing!

"Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit"

"Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon" (English: Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year), popularly known as Ang Pasko ay Sumapit (English: Christmas is Coming), is a traditional Filipino Christmas song. It was originally composed by Vicente D. Rubi and Mariano Vestil in 1933 as Kasadya ning Táknaa (English: How Blissful is this Season). A version of the song in Tagalog was used by Josefino Cenizal as a film score for the film Ang Pugad ng Aguila ("Hawk's Nest") in 1938. National Artist Levi Celerio also wrote Tagalog lyrics to the song during the 1950s. The song is still sung today in various communities, especially in churches both in the Philippines and abroad (usually during the end of the Holy Mass). [1]

Ang Pasko ay Sumapit is in public domain as an unprotected work. In his 2011 press statement, former Senator Manny Villar claimed that if the Christmas carol and Celerio's other songs were protected by copyright earlier, Celerio would have not died a pauper. [2]

Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa (Cebuano) [3]
Ang Pasko ay Sumapit (Tagalog) [4] Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit/Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa (Bilingual) [a]
Christmas Has Arrived (English) [a]

Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa
Dapit sa kahimayaan.
Mao ray among nakita,
Ang panagway nga masanagon.

Buláhan ug buláhan
Ang tagbaláy nga giawitan.
Awit nga halandumon,
Ug sa tanang pasko magmalípayon.

Bag-ong tuíg, bág-ong kinabúhì.
Dinuyogan sa átong mga pagbati.
Atong awiton ug atong laylayon
Aron magmalípayon.

Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa
Dapit sa kahimayaan.
Mao ray among nakita,
Ang panagway nga masanagon.

Buláhan ug buláhan
Ang tagbaláy nga giawitan.
Awit nga halandumon,
Ug sa tanang pasko magmalípayon.

Ang Pasko ay sumapit
Tayo ay mangagsiawit
Ng magagandáng himig
Dahil sa ang Diyos ay pag-ibig

Nang si Kristo'y isilang
May tatlóng haring nagsidalaw
At ang bawat isá ay nagsipaghandóg
Ng tanging alay.

Koro:
Bagong Taón ay magbagong-buhay
Nang lumigayà ang ating Bayan
Tayo'y magsikap upang makamtán
Natin ang kasaganaan!

Tayo'y mangagsiawit
Habang ang mundó'y tahimik.
Ang araw ay sumapit
Ng Sanggól na dulot ng langit.

Tayo ay magmahalan,
Ating sundín ang Gintóng Aral
At magbuhát ngayon,
Kahit hindî Paskô ay magbigayan!

Tagalog:
Ang Pasko ay sumapit
Tayo ay mangagsiawit
Ng magagandáng himig
Dahil sa ang Diyos ay pag-ibig

Nang si Kristo'y isilang
May tatlóng haring nagsidalaw
At ang bawat isá ay nagsipaghandóg
Ng tanging alay.

Cebuano:
Bag-ong tuíg, bág-ong kinabúhì.
Dinuyogan sa átong mga pagbati.
Atong awiton ug atong laylayon
Aron magmalípayon.

Kasadya ni'ng Táknaa
Dapit sa kahimayaan.
Mao ray among nakita,
Ang panagway nga masanagon.

Buláhan ug buláhan
Ang tagbaláy nga giawitan.
Awit nga halandumon,
Ug sa tanang pasko magmalípayon.

Christmas has come
Come, let us go forth singing
Beautiful hymns
For God is love.

When Christ was born,
There were three kings who did visit,
And each one did present
A unique offering.

Chorus:
'Tis New Year, so we must reform our lives
That joyful might be our Nation;
Let us strive that we might achieve
Prosperity!

Come, let us go forth singing,
Whilst the world is silent
The day has arrived,
Of the Infant sent from heaven.

Let us love one another,
May we follow the Golden Rule,
And from now on-
Though it not be Christmas, let us keep giving.

"Pasko Na Naman"

"Pasko Na Naman" is a Filipino Christmas carol written by lyricist Levi Celerio and composer Felipe Padilla de León. [5] [6] [ when? ]

"Kampana ng Simbahan"

"Kampana ng Simbahan" is Filipino Christmas song arranged by Ryan Cayabyab and sung by Leo Valdez in 1981, as part of Pamasko ng Mga Bituin album, released by Universal Records (as WEA Records at that time). [7] The song became a TikTok trend in Christmas of 2023. [8] [9]

Other songs

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 NOTE: This is only popular in Davao.

References

  1. "Pasko 2009 Stamps Launched". Philpost. November 19, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  2. "Villar: Protect Filipino artists, amend IP law". Senate of the Philippines. December 7, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  3. Composed by Vicente D. Rubi and Mariano Vestil, originally in Cebuano language.
  4. National Artist Levi Celerio is credited for writing the lyrics of this version, and set to the music by Vicente D. Rubi.
  5. "Pasko Na Naman" with its lyrics and English translation
  6. "Pasko Na Naman! for SATB voices and a cappella". Words by Levi Celerio and Music by Felipe P. de Leon. Arranged by George G. Hernandez. (Pavane Publishing, 2006)
  7. Severo, Jan Milo (August 21, 2019). "WATCH: Cult compositions you never knew Ryan Cayabyab made". The Philippine Star . Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  8. Basina, Carby (7 December 2023). "Klea Pineda, GF Katrice Kierulf get goofy in 'Kampana ng Simbahan' TikTok trend". GMA News Online . Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  9. Madarang, Catalina Ricci S. (25 December 2023). "'So cute': Nova Villa joins 'Ang Kampana' TikTok trend". Interaksyon . Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.