QUESTING bandstand

Freddie Aguilar claims fame as one of the best musician-songwriters from the Philippines. He released some early materials like “Ngayon” (1967) and “Kasaysayan Ni Ka” (1974) but the leap to stardom came only after an appearance at the First MetroPop Festival (Manila) in 1978. Freddie sang his own composition “Anak” (a poignant story about parental love for a wayward child *) which gripped the attention of the nation. The song’s message of familial consciousness is enduring; the song has been translated into more than 26 languages (The Alleycats recorded it in Malay as “Dosa”) and it reached the top ten charts in Japan and all over Europe. Freddie is also known for his rendition of “Bayan Ko” (My Country) which became the anthem for the People Power Revolution in 1986.

* Anak was actually about the personal life story of Freddie Aguilar. After realizing and regretting his mistakes, he composed the song apologizing to his parents the best way he knew how. Freddie also released an English version of Anak; however, the translation provided here is more faithful to the original and popularized Tagalog version.

ANAK (MY CHILD)
Noong isilang ka sa mundong ito,
When you were born into this world,
Laking tuwa ng magulang mo
Your parents were very happy.
At ang kamay nila ang iyong ilaw.
And their hands were your guide.
At ang nanay at tatay mo,
And your mother and father,
‘Di malaman ang gagawin.
Didn’t know what else to do.
Minamasdan pati pagtulog mo.
They watch you even while you sleep.
At sa gabi napupuyat ang iyong nanay,
At night your mother stays awake,
Sa pagtimpla ng gatas mo.
Just to prepare your milk.
At sa umaga nama’y kalong ka,
And in the morning your father is happy,
Ng iyong amang tuwang-tuwa sa iyo.
While he plays with you on his lap.
Ngayon nga’y malaki ka na,
Now that you’ve grown older,
Ang nais mo maging Malaya.
What you wanted was to be free.
‘Di man sila payag,
Even if they disagree with you,
Walang magagawa.
They can’t do anything.
Ikaw nga ay biglang nagbago,
Soon you began to change,
Naging matigas ang iyong ulo.
You became stubborn.
At ang payo nila’y sinuway mo.
And you failed to heed their advice.
Hindi mo man lang inisip,
You did not even think,
Na ang kanilang ginagawa’y para sa iyo.
That what they are doing is all for you.
Pagka’t ang nais mo masunod ang layaw mo,
And because you only wanted to follow what you want,
‘Di mo sila pinapansin.
You ignored them.
Nagdaan pa ang mga araw.
A few more years have passed.
At ang landas mo’y naligaw,
And you lost your way,
Ikaw ay nalulong sa masamang bisyo.
You found yourself with many vices.
At ang una mong nilapitan,
And the first person you approached,
At ang iyong inang lumuluha.
Was your crying mother.
At ang tanong,”Anak, ba’t ka nagkaganyan?”
And she asked, “My child, why did this happen to you?”
At ang iyong mga mata’y biglang lumuha,
And your eyes began to form tears,
Nang ‘di mo napapansin.
Without you noticing it.
Pagsisisi ang sa isip mo,
Your thoughts were full of regrets,
Nalaman mong ika’y nagkamali.
You realized that you were wrong.
Pagsisisi ang sa isip mo,
Your thoughts were full of regrets,
Nalaman mong ika’y nagkamali.
You realized that you were wrong.
Kahapon ay nilimot mo,
You then tried to forget your past,
Pati any iyong masamang bisyo.
And also your vices.
Laking pasalamat ng magulang mo.
Your parents were thankful because of this.
Ikaw nga ay tuluyang nagbago.
You finally changed for the better.
Natagpuan ang sarili,
Found yourself,
Galaw ng isip mo matuwid na.
And corrected your thoughts and actions.
Patuloy ang takbo ng araw,
Days have gone by,
At ikaw ay natutong umibig.
And you learned how to love.
Hindi naglaot at ipinasya mong lumagay ka na sa tahimik.
Later you decided it was time to settle down.
Pagkabinata mo’y natapos na,
Your life as a bachelor has ended,
Malapit ka nang maging ama.
And now that you’re almost a father.
Kaya lalong nagsikap ng husto.
You tried even harder to be a better man.
Damating ang iyong hinihintay,
Finally the one that you were waiting for,
Sinilang ang panganay mo.
Your first born, has arrived.
Parang langit ang iyong nadama.
It felt as if you were in heaven.
Ngayon, anak, alam mo na,
My child, now you know,
Kung ano ang pakiramdam ng maging isang ama.
How it feels to be a father.
Ganyan din ang nadarama ng iyong ama’t ina,
That is exactly how it felt for us, your father and mother,
Nang ikaw ay Makita.
When we first saw you.
Ngayon iyong naramdaman,
Now that you’ve felt it,
Ngayon iyong naranasan,
Now that you’ve experienced it,
Ngayon iyong maiintindihan.
Now you will understand.
Tama pala ang iyong ina
That your mother was right.
Tama pala ang iyong ama.
That your father was right.
Ngayon hindi ka na magtataka.
And now, you won’t question it anymore.
Hindi pala birong maging magulang, oh, ngayon iyong dinaranas.
Now you know, it’s not really easy being a parent.
Hindi pala birong maging magulang, oh, ngayon iyong dinaranas.
Now you know, it’s not really easy being a parent.
Hindi pala birong maging magulang, oh, ngayon iyong dinaranas.
Now you know, it’s not really easy being a parent.